Celebrating What is Great about the Milwaukee Area
The Shepherd Express is proud to be presenting the 35th annual reader-generated Best of Milwaukee competition. The Shepherd’s Best of Milwaukee (BOM) is the oldest, largest, most prestigious, and most trusted, reader generated best-of competition in the state of Wisconsin.
These best-of contests came out of the Alternative Newspaper industry over 40 years ago. Currently there are about 100 alternative publications throughout the country hosting similar reader generated competitions. Others have tried to copy what we do, change the name a little, lower the standards, but no other entity in Wisconsin has ever come close to the popularity and prestige of the Shepherd’s BOM.
The popularity of the BOM contest continues to grow and now our contests have approximately 500,000 votes cast in the various categories.
I got involved with the Shepherd in 1997 when the BOM was in its eighth year with about 150 categories and with our staff counting the votes from the paper ballots that our readers filled out. We have come a long way since 1997 and our 150 categories; today we have nearly 400 categories. As a former Wisconsin state legislator, I appreciate the importance of ensuring an honest election, so today all our voting is online, and we hire a highly regarded out-of-state consulting firm to manage the voting process and tabulate the results. This ensures that no one in Wisconsin can be putting their thumb on the scale and helping a friend win.
AFTER 35 YEARS, OUR BOM CONTINUES TO GROW
Our BOM is a dynamic process where we add and subtract categories. Over the years readers would contact us and ask us to consider a new category. If it was a good idea, it got added. On the other side, we retire categories when things change so, for example, we no longer have a category for video rental stores.
We are fortunate to be living in a city with so many opportunities and so many exciting and entertaining things happening every day. Our BOM introduces our readers to many of these exciting things happening that most people learn something new when they simply fill out the ballot for the finalists. It builds pride in our community when we see all the activities and opportunities availability in the greater Milwaukee area.
Our voting process is designed to give everyone a fair chance to participate. It happens in two stages, similar to primary and general elections at all levels of government. During the nomination phase, which lasts three weeks, you can nominate any organization, business, individual, venue, activity, or anything else in the appropriate category, even yourself or your own business.
After the nomination period ends, our tabulating company identifies the top four nominees in each category. If there’s a tie for fourth place, we include five finalists. These finalists move on to the second round: the final voting phase, which also lasts three weeks. At the end of this round, the nominee with the most votes is declared the winner. The remaining finalists are listed in alphabetical order rather than by vote count.
Winning your category or even being a finalist can help a struggling business to get a significant boost. Winning is great but being a finalist is pretty great too! Walking away with a silver or bronze medal, as a finalist, is still a winner. For example, with our restaurant category, readers often visit all the finalists in the categories of their favorite cuisines. Many find new favorite places to eat. Our readers discover some new things about Milwaukee as they vote in the various categories.
SO HOW CAN YOU PARTICIPATE?
Obviously, you can start by nominating your favorites and then by voting in the finalist round election
Our Best of Milwaukee contest is really a celebration of all that is great in the Milwaukee area. At our annual BOM Party in December where the winners are announced, Mayor Cavalier Johnson and in the past, Mayor Tom Barrett, open the party with a short presentation congratulating the winners and also the finalists.
If you are being nominated, you can campaign for support. There are numerous advertising opportunities to remind the voters of the various things that make your business or entity worthy of their vote. You or your business or your organization can sponsor parts of the Best of Milwaukee or even be the presenting sponsor of the entire program along with the Shepherd, which includes being on stage with the mayor speaking to the crowd at the BOM Reveal Party where the winners are announced.
Please Nominate Your Favorites and Please Vote
Louis Fortis is Publisher and Editor-inChief of the Shepherd Express.
Photo by Tyler Nelson
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MOREOVER, OUR DEDICATION TO SUSTAINABILITY EXTENDS TO THE END OF THE PUBLICATION'S LIFECYCLE. OUR PRINTED MATERIALS ARE DESIGNED TO BE RECYCLABLE, ALLOWING READERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND PLAY A PART IN PRESERVING THE ENVIRONMENT.
06 Wheeling and Dealing in the Middle East
08 Lesson from NYC Mayor Race Pivot from Labeling Wars to Solutions
— Issue of the Month
10 Demonte Moore Awarded for His Dedication to Community Pets
— Hero of the Month
12 Brenda Cassellius The newly hired Superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools takes on a challenging job — MKE SPEAKS: Conversations with Milwaukeeans
15 This Modern World
FOOD & DRINK
16 Sala still a Sicilian Favorite
SPECIAL SECTION
20 An Interview with Marie Greguska of Discount Liquor — Beverages
24 Oktoberfest Guide — Beverages
28 Fall Arts Guide
56 Importance of Agency in a Dogs Life — Pets
CULTURE
58 Tales of the Road Dog Skate Rockers Social Cig Unleash New Chapter with Latest Music
60 This Month in Milwaukee
LIFESTYLE
64 Stuck in Milwaukee — Ask Ally
66 Who are the Screenwalkers? — Out of my Mind
HEAR ME OUT
68 How Soon is Too Soon? — Dear Ruthie
70 Karen Valentine and Maple Veneer’s ‘Bosom Buddies’ Celebrates Its 7th Anniversary at LaCage — My LGBTQ POV
SPONSORED BY
ART FOR ART'S SAKE
74 From the City that Always Sweeps
PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Louis Fortis (louis@shepex.com)
MANAGING EDITOR: David Luhrssen (dluhrssen@shepex.com)
GENERAL MANAGER: Peggy Debnam (peggy@shepex.com)
MEDIA SALES MANAGER: Jackie Butzler (jackie@shepex.com)
SENIOR MEDIA CONSULTANTS: Bridgette Ard (bridgette@shepex.com) Chuck Hill (chuck@shepex.com)
MEDIA CONSULTANTS: Jennifer Jepson (jennifer@shepex.com)
IN MEMORY OF DUSTI FERGUSON (OCTOBER 18, 1971 – NOVEMBER 20, 2007
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Wheeling and Dealing in the Middle East
BY E.G. NADEAU
Aside from President Trump’s whirlwind trip to Pope Francis’ funeral at the Vatican in late April, the first diplomatic foray of his second term was a four-day visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in mid-May.
In an interview with the BBC in early May, economist Karen Young stated that Trump wanted an “announcement of more Gulf money for the US ... and some estimation of what [it would] do to the American economy in terms of job creation or his big push, of course, on domestic manufacturing."
Clearly aware of Trump’s sense of selfimportance, his royal hosts gave him royal welcomes. A second BBC article on May 20 reported that “Escorts of
fighter jets, extravagant welcoming ceremonies, a thundering 21-gun salute, a fleet of Tesla Cybertrucks, royal camels, Arabian horses, and sword dancers were all part of the pageantry. The UAE . . . awarded Mr. Trump the country's highest civilian honour, the Order of Zayed.”
OFFICIAL MEETINGS AND RESULTS
There was serious deal-making as well. He met separately with leaders of each country and attended a joint meeting with the Gulf Cooperation Council, consisting of the three host countries plus Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman. The GCC members plus the United States own approximately one-third of all the oil reserves in the world.
According to a White House announcement released on May 16, “President Donald J. Trump’s first official trip was a huge success, locking in over $2 trillion in great deals—including a $600 billion investment commitment from Saudi Arabia, a $1.2 trillion economic exchange agreement with Qatar, $243.5 billion in U.S.-Qatar commercial and defense deals, and $200 billion in U.S.-United Arab Emirates commercial deals.”
According to the second BBC article, “[T]here remains some doubt as to whether those investment figures are realistic. During his first term in office from 2017 to 2021, Trump had announced that Saudi Arabia had agreed to $450bn in deals with the US.
But actual trade and investment flows amounted to less than $300bn between 2017 to 2020, according to data compiled by the Arab Gulf States Institute.
“The report was authored by Tim Callen, the former International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission chief to Saudi Arabia, and now a visiting fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute.
‘The proof with all of these [new] deals will be in the pudding,’ says Mr. Callen.
“As well as the challenge of delivering what is promised, another potential obstacle to these figures being realised are oil prices.
“Oil prices tumbled to a four-year low in April amid growing concerns that Trump's tariffs could dampen global economic growth. The decline was further fueled by the group of oil producing nations, Opec+ , announcing plans to increase output.”
On August 4, Reuters reported on yet another OPEC+ oil output increase, thus further decreasing oil income per barrel.
TRUMP’S PERSONAL FINANCIAL BENEFITS FROM THE TRIP
Not surprisingly, given the selfenriching priorities of this president, the Middle East trip was also about advancing his and his family’s wealth.
In February, The New York Times, enumerated the large and growing economic portfolio of the Trump family in the region. The upshot of the article is that “The Middle East has in the past three years turned into the hottest spot for the Trump family in terms of new international real-estate deals.” These deals have included luxury apartment buildings, golf courses, and hotels, as well as partnering with LIV Golf, financed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. “LIV Golf pays the Trump family to host [an annual tournament at the Trump National Doral near Miami] . . . , which also drives thousands of customers to its restaurants and hotel rooms during the weekend event.”
On May 1, Reuters published an article entitled, “Trump's stablecoin chosen for $2 billion Abu Dhabi investment in Binance, co-founder says.” Senator Elizabeth Warren is quoted in the article as saying “. . . [T]he Senate is gearing up to pass . . . stablecoin legislation that will make it easier for the President and his family to line their own pockets. This is corruption and no senator should support it.”
On May 25, the Washington Post quoted Trump as saying “[I] got a beautiful big magnificent free airplane for the United States Air Force. . . . Very proud of that.” But there is a lot more to the story. CNN reported that Trump initiated a request to the Qataris for the plane, estimated in other reports to be worth between about $200 million and $400 million.
Thus, it was not a gift, in the traditional sense of the word—perhaps “sheikhdown” would be more accurate. Secondly, in a July 27 article, the New York Times cited anonymous Air Force officials as admitting that over $900 million has already been set aside for upgrading the plane for use as Air Force One. The Post article cited above reported that Qatar is likely to donate the plane “initially to the U.S. government and then later to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation once Trump [leaves] office.”
In short, Trump appears to have pressured Qatar to “gift” a $200400 million plane to the U.S. Air Force, which will in turn use over $900 million in US taxpayer money to upgrade the plane, and then hand it over to Trump’s “Library Foundation” (whatever that is) after he leaves office. What a deal! A few hundred million here and there is camel fodder in relation to a “$1.2 trillion economic exchange agreement” with Qatar. However, the self-dealing built into international agreements like this sets a bad precedent for the long-term future of American international trade.
CONCLUSION
In the Trump era, self-enrichment is a driving force of both domestic policymaking and international diplomacy. Diplomacy on behalf of the interests of the United States has begun to shift to diplomacy on behalf of the President and his allies. There are numerous examples worldwide—from Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe to the Marcos family in the Philippines to the royal families in the Middle East—of autocrats enriching themselves at the expense of their own countries' well-being. The playbook is familiar, and the effects this kind of corruption has on the democratic institutions of the home country are, unfortunately, predictably dire.
E.G. Nadeau is co-director of the Cooperative Society Project, dedicated to the idea that humanity may be on the verge of a new era of cooperation, democracy, equitable distribution of resources and a sustainable relationship with nature.
Illustration of Donald Trump by Luc Nadeau.
Lesson from NYC Mayor Race Pivot from Labeling Wars to Solutions
BY WILLIAM HOLAHAN
If the Democratic Party is to reclaim governing power, it must regain a majority in at least the House of Representatives and, if possible, the Senate. Yet the party continues to struggle with communicating to voters how its policies tangibly serve their interests. To distract from this effort, opponents are already attacking Democratic candidates with cudgels like “socialists,” “Marxists,” “communists” and Trump's new favorite: “left lunatics.”
It's important to pivot away from labeling wars to solutions to problems of interest to voters. Zohran Mamdani, Democratic Party nominee for mayor of New York, provides an early example. Out of alarm over the increasingly upward shift in the distribution of wealth and income, he describes himself as a “democratic socialist.” The socialist label has drawn well-financed opposition eager to remind voters of the 20th century’s collapse of centrally planned economies, complete with old newsreel footage of bread lines, forced job assignments and gulags for people who complain, complete with pics of a scowling Joe Stalin.
In contrast to this dated imagery, each activity in a modern economy—including transportation, housing, food production and distribution—is either a public or private sector responsibility, or a blend. To meet the practical concerns of citizens, market systems require both a private sector and an efficient public sector.
ADROIT PIVOT TO PRAGMATISM
While opponents hurl the socialist label, Mamdani's strategy is to focus on the high prices of everyday purchases— groceries, mass transit, rental housing and home ownership. This “affordability” list attracts voters, including some who previously didn't vote.
Consider how two of his proposals address affordability by reducing the time and money cost of mass transit and addressing the high cost of housing.
Free rides facilitate and would increase ridership, permitting route optimization with express buses for shared destinations, reducing travel time. Full buses help decongest roadways, allowing faster speeds for all vehicles. Moreover, since no fare would be collected, boarding would be faster since riders could use both front and back doors to enter, with the added benefit of allowing faster and more courteous service for seniors and riders with disabilities.
MORE HOUSING, LOWER RENT
Housing and transportation are economic complements; free, faster buses would stimulate investment in the supply of housing, an essential ingredient of housing affordability. As the free-bus policy reduces the time and money cost of commuting, longer-distance commuting becomes more practical, making more land viable for housing construction and building conversion.
Economic principles and experience show that high rent is best addressed by greater market supply. But increased supply is hampered by construction worker shortages—a problem made worse by the Trump policy of deportation and fear of apprehension on the worksite. To offer some short run relief, Mamdani proposes a two-year rent freeze on rent-stabilized units and construction of 200,000 affordable housing units over the next ten years. Why just two years?
While providing immediate relief, frozen rents, or “rent controls,” suppress the building owner's incentive to maintain, repair and upgrade apartments, and reduces the housing developers’ incentive to increase supply. Government-supplied housing also risks an adverse effect: concentration of low-income people in those buildings. In the long run, housing affordability can be gained by subsidizing the renter. The subsidized increase in demand increases the incentive for the investor/developer to expand supply but also affords the subsidized renter greater choice of where to live.
HOW TO PAY FOR IT?
Fast, expanded bus service generates additional benefits external to the riders, enhancing access to the residential and business enterprises along the bus route. It also improves air quality by reducing car traffic; especially if buses are electric. Because an efficient bus system confers a decongestion benefit to all vehicles, as well as the residential and business enterprises along the bus routes, natural sources of financing include gasoline and property taxes. Improved economic functioning of the city can justify small increases in personal and corporate income taxes.
At the national level, there is no shortage of opportunity to pivot to solutions. Trump's big, bombastic bill not only eviscerates Medicaid, but through the tax cuts is a debt-financed transfer of wealth upward; repeal the bill. Tariffs are a tax on U.S. consumers that bears down most heavily on low-income people; return tariff authority to the Senate and repeal the tariffs. Like the economic issues of transportation and housing, these proposals are more arithmetic than ideology and will make sense to the voters struggling to make ends meet.
William Holahan is emeritus professor and former chair of UWM’s department of economics.
Photo
He calls the Humane Society and the Humane Society calls him. Demonte Moore has made it his life passion to help people take care of pets in his community. For his dedicated efforts, Moore became the recipient of the 2025 More Than A Pet Community Hero Award, a national campaign honoring those who go out of their way to keep families and pets together, bridging critical gaps in access to pet resources and services.
Research has shown that the companionship of pets can greatly improve peoples’ stress levels, mood and mental health. “People treat their pets like family,” Moore reckons. “I treat all my dogs like they’re my babies, and people around here do the same thing. Sometimes, they fall into the unfortunate position where they can’t take care of that family member, and that’s how I look at it.”
The Wisconsin Humane Society’s Pets For Life program helps connect communities affected by poverty with affordable veterinary and pet wellness services, overcoming systemic barriers not unlike those of food security, housing, education, jobs and healthcare. As a member of the program, Moore delivers pet food and supplies to people across Milwaukee in addition to helping with getting pets spayed, neutered or taken to checkups. He primarily works with dogs and cats but is happy to help with other animals like guinea pigs.
Demonte Moore Awarded for His Dedication to Community Pets
BY BEN SLOWEY
“I’m basically a bridge for people,” Moore explains. “I go around the neighborhood and talk to people and let them know that there’s resources to help them out with their pets.”
Warm and Gentle Nature
As a matter of fact, animals seem to sense Moore’s warm and gentle nature. He recalls a few weeks ago when a Yorkshire Terrier wandered onto his porch and hung out there like it belonged. “We took care of him for a couple days and then we found his owner,” Moore says. “He came out of nowhere, he saw my dogs, and he didn’t leave.”
Moore has fostered more than a dozen pets including three dogs in the last three years. He also has five dogs of his own. “I got a couple calls about animals being brought in, and I did my part,” Moore says. “I couldn’t find someone to take the dogs, but I knew I had a little bit of extra room so I adopted them.”
About 15 years ago, Moore’s dog had a litter of puppies, which is how his passion for animals originated. “I was having a hard time getting rid of them, so I joined the Humane Society,” he remembers. “They put me in the Pets for Life program, and I’ve been there ever since.”
Moore is lauded among his peers for always being ready, willing and able to help folks all over the city with their pets, which is why Lisa Michel-Weiss of the Wisconsin Humane Society nominated Moore for the More Than a Pet Community Hero Award, which he won this year in April.
Empathy and Compassion
“Demonte’s empathy and compassion extend to all community members, especially pets,” Michel-Weiss said in a press release. “He’s been an amazing ambassador for our Pets for Life program, eager to share resources and information to his community.”
Amanda Arrington, vice president of Access to Care U.S., Humane World for Animals, adds, “Demonte’s work is a shining example of how one person can make a significant difference, and we hope his story inspires others to get involved and make an impact in their own communities.”
When Moore first found out he was nominated for the award, he was shocked and speechless. “I wasn’t expecting that,” he affirms. “I got to celebrate with my sons, and it was an amazing experience to be honored for doing what I love doing.”
Upon receiving the award, Moore earned $5,000, plus the Wisconsin Humane Society earned a $10,000 grant for being his community organization. Moore’s long-term goal is to open his own dog ranch rescue. On the biggest thing he’s learned doing this work, Moore contends, “There’s always more I can do.”
Ben Slowey is a Staff Writer for the Shepherd Express.
Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) has seen headlines during the past year regarding missed deadlines for state aid and a lack of transparency. Result? A crisis of confidence, with the state withholding funding, the resignation of the superintendent and other top managers, and calls for restructuring.
A recent operational audit, ordered by Governor Tony Evers, stated that “financial mismanagement, lack of honesty and transparency, and ineffective public communications have contributed to a lack of public trust.”
The school board is helping correct the narrative by hiring a new superintendent of schools. Enter Dr. Brenda Cassellius, who began responsibilities in March 2025. I met with her in her office to discuss her plans.
A small woman with big persona—her father is African American, her mother Lebanese—I found Cassellius serious, sincere and driven, and determined to shrink the MPS bureaucracy and provide buoyant learning opportunities for MPS children, most of whom are people of color.
BRENDA CASSELLIUS THE NEWLY HIRED SUPERINTENDENT OF MILWAUKEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS TAKES ON A CHALLENGING JOB
BY TOM JENZ
I am interested in your background. Where you grew up, your parents, neighborhoods, schools?
I had a single mother, but my dad was always with us. I grew up in public housing in Minneapolis. My mom worked, and she had a flower shop, but she was also on welfare and food stamps. I lived in a good neighborhood. There was a park. I could walk to the public school. I went to two different public high schools.
Take me through your higher education and career path and how you ended up here in Milwaukee as the MPS superintendent.
I had scholarship to Gustavus Adolphus College in St Peter, Minn., but I was followed by some boys who hurled racial slurs at me, so I quit, and transferred to the University of Minnesota. I majored in psychology. I had a son when I was 21. After college, I worked in jobs helping neglected and special education students, but I went to school at night to earn my master’s degree. Then, I worked in various teaching jobs, but I also studied to earn my administrative license. I was always interested in leadership.
I became an assistant principal for nine years in Minneapolis Public Schools. Eventually, I moved to Memphis, Tenn. as a middle school principal. I was later put in charge of 31 middle schools. Big job but a great job and a great team of people.
And how did you end up in Boston as the Boston Public Schools Superintendent?
After Memphis, I moved back to Minneapolis as the high school superintendent for three years. In 2010, I became the Minnesota State Commissioner of Education and stayed in that position for eight years. In 2018, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh hired me as the Superintendent of Boston Public Schools. But Marty eventually left to become secretary of labor for Joe Biden. The new Boston mayor wanted her own team, so I came back to Minneapolis and became CEO of Fresh Energy, which worked on climate change. But education pulled me back in when Milwaukee Public Schools hired me.
MPS missed financial reporting deadlines last year. This led to a state-level corrective action plan and the withholding of approximately $17 million in state aid for special education.
Photo courtesy of MPS Schools.
Yet MPS missed the May 16 reporting deadline but still hopes to submit the financial report. Can MPS still receive the $17 million payment from the state?
Yes, I think the state intends to give MPS those reimbursements because it doesn’t want to hold back aid for children with disabilities. But I am uncertain about when we will meet the deadline. Yet, we have fiscal responsibilities to the state to have our books correct. We have been working hard to correct many different past accounts. We are a $1.5 billion organization.
I read that you moved the district's finance staff into your office suite. You said, and I quote, “I had to take it under my leadership to make sure this was getting done and getting done right.” Whose leadership had the finance staff been under previously?
The chief Ffnancial officer had been in charge of the finance department under the previous superintendent Keith Posley, who was held accountable and resigned.
The previous CFO and the comptroller are also no longer in their positions. I have a new CFO, Aycha Sara, and a new interim comptroller, Kim Kelly, who are working together to identify and correct the problems of the past.
I understand that you are cutting central office jobs in order to reduce positions at the central office and that some teachers will need to reapply for their jobs in an effort to fill job vacancies in schools. How many jobs have been cut and who is affected? We will be cutting 141 central office positions, and an additional 42 will return to the classroom. Of the 141 positions cut, some may end up in the classrooms, but some will not.
I recently read this: “Most of the administrative employees that were ‘cut’ were actually promoted to newly created positions and given a 2% raise.” Is that true? Not all of them have been promoted, but everyone in the MPS district is getting a 2.95% increase in pay, authorized by the school board.
But I will say that anyone who will be cut will not lose their job and get a one-year salary.
We will be using seniority as to who will be hired in a teacher or office position.
Not sure if I have this right, but I read that you plan to create eight new superintendents whose constituents are placed throughout the district. These eight will report to the newly created chief schools officer. Is that true?
There is a position called the chief administrative officer who is responsible for 156 schools including five regional superintendents and four instructional leadership people. That is an overwhelming responsibility. I took the chief administrative officer position and divided it into two separate assignments—chief of schools and chief of operations. Under chief of schools , I have six supervisory elementary positions and two high school positions. I want our school principals to be more focused on instruction in the classroom and on parents.
The Ccef of operations oversees information technology, facilities, transportation and food.
You have mentioned the concept of school-based teams in teaching. What are school-based teams?
Right now, we have the MPS central office delivering professional development for teachers to get literacy training. What I want to do is kind of go back to the department chair concept. For instance, the English department teachers work together as a team. I want to shift things more toward the school-based level and away from the central office.
What is “Backward Mapping”?
I read this definition: “A teaching approach that focuses on starting with the desired learning outcomes and working backward to create lessons and assessments that support those outcomes.” Private corporations have been using this method for many years.
The state creates standards that include what children need to know, and then we in school districts work backward in each of the content areas to meet the grade level children have to master to achieve those standards. Then, we scope and sequence a clear map for the entire year on what type of teaching methods and materials will achieve those results.
For many years, the Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association (MTEA) has been very powerful. The statistical results of their teaching methods are not good. What are your plans for working with the MTEA?
META plays a huge role in representing their teachers. We work closely with their leaders on their suggestions and in strategic planning. I want them to co-create ownership on the agenda moving forward. I meet with them regularly, currently twice a week. We have them involved in interview groups and strategic planning. They are a part of the ownership agenda moving forward. If they contribute to the plan, it is more likely the plan will be implemented with fidelity across all of our schools.
The MPS teacher, Angela Harris, has been an activist for better MPS schools. She is the chair of the Black Educators Caucus. To quote her, “Systemic change demands a complete overhaul of how we support students and staff?” Have you met with Ms. Harris to discuss this matter?
I did once but it was at a board meeting. I have not met with her personally. But I have read her opinion pieces in the paper.
Do you plan to meet with her?
I will meet with anybody, and so yes, I will meet with Angela. She represents a constituency that is important.
What do you see in the near future for MPS?
There are some hard decisions ahead of us. Next year, MPS will have $100 million deficit. But if 500 job vacancies do not get filled, we can bank that money. In other words, if we don’t need those positions, we don’t create those positions.
For school year 2024-25, the total MPS student enrollment is 66,377 across 156 schools, a 42% decline since 1997. Ninety% are students of color, 84% economically disadvantaged, 20% have special needs, and 13% are English learners. That is a big educational challenge.
That is why I am here on this job. My life purpose is to work with the most vulnerable students who have limited access to opportunity. I want them to have the same opportunity as I did as a child so that more of them can get out of poverty.
Tom Jenz is a Milwaukee writerphotographer and the author of the weekly Central City Stories column for shepherdexpress.com.
Sala Still a Sicilian Favorite
BY HAZEL WHEATON
When I first moved to Milwaukee and found an apartment near the UWM campus, a coworker insisted I try his favorite local place, a cozy Italian restaurant called Sala da Pranzo, just off Downer Avenue. I loved it: For several years, the authentic Caesar salad and decadent gnocchi in gorgonzola cream sauce were my go-to order. Most of all, I loved that I was being let in on something. It was clearly an old-school family-run place, a longstanding favorite of the people who lived close by and who had been stopping in for years. Decades, even!
I was wrong about that last bit; Sala opened in 2001, only four years before I sat down for my first meal there. It’s a mark of how deeply the concept of “family-run neighborhood joint” is instilled in the DNA of the place that it felt so well-established from the get-go. The brothersister team of Anthony Balistreri and Teresa BalistreriWalsh opened Sala (they officially shortened the name in 2012) to share their great-grandmother’s recipes and showcase traditional Sicilian flavors. Through its history as a crossroads, Sicily’s cuisine was influenced by Greek, Spanish, Jewish and Arab travelers. Fresh vegetables and seafood are a hallmark, along with almonds and pistachios, capers, artichokes, citrus fruits and mint.
Photo of Sala by Timothy Czerniakowski. Photos of food by Hazel Wheaton.
For this visit, I gathered a group of friends so I could explore as much of the menu as possible. (That several of them had recently traveled to Sicily was another consideration.)
Sala had renamed, updated, expanded their menu … would it be as good as I remembered? Would it pass muster with the international travelers? The expanded sidewalk patio section gives the place the feel of a European street café, so we were off to a good start.
Suitable for the summer heat, we started with a refreshing round of spritzes: Classic Aperol, Grand 75 (Grand Marnier and orange), Hugo (elderflower and mint) and Capri (limoncello and mint). At the heart of the wine list are Italian wines — especially reds, categorized by region. A few choice Californian wines slot in under “other reds of note.”
We selected two appetizers: Carciofi, long-stem artichoke hearts coated in seasoned breadcrumbs and flavored with lemon, and Baked Goat Cheese in the family’s traditional tomato-basil sauce. Both were passed around with delight.
Entrees come with soup or salad, an increasingly rare, budget-friendly perk. The Caesar was just as I remembered it, with anchovy and eggs making the dressing perfectly salty and creamy. The spinach and artichoke cream soup was light and summery; the traditional minestrone had fresh tomato flavor and a nice peppery bite.
LIVELY AND SATISFYING
I passed on the gnocchi (yes, it’s still on the menu) and chose one of the specials, incredibly tender pork medallions in a rich Dijon cream sauce. One companion opted for the lively and satisfying seafood special—pan-seared scallops, confit potatoes and spicy sausage in a sage cream sauce. Others chose from the regular pasta menu, enjoying a simple and light Da Mare, a delectable Saporito, with shrimp and fresh tomatoes with a white wine butter sauce, and what one called “one of the better bologneses I’ve ever eaten.”
Sala’s range of options is perfectly pitched to its location close to a university in a well-heeled neighborhood. You can splash out on a beef tenderloin in a port wine demi glaze and a sincerely nice bottle of wine, or enjoy a classic pizza with a glass of red. They have also recently added morning and lunch hours, with a menu of coffee and espresso, pastries, soup and paninis.
Our appetites were satisfied, but we couldn’t pass up dessert; after discussion, we settled on one of each. We all had our favorites between the tiramisu, cannoli, cheesecake, and flourless chocolate cake. All were delicious and all leaned into traditional Italian flavors that avoided sugary overkill. The dense, fudge-like chocolate cake even edged into a dark-chocolate bitterness that balanced perfectly with Sala’s excellent espresso. Service throughout was enthusiastic and attentive—one might say, downright neighborly.
Sala offers gluten-free options that include pasta and pizza, but the kitchen is not strictly separated, so those with extreme sensitivities should be wary. Street parking can be difficult, so give yourself time to park before your reservation (which is recommended).
Sala
2613 E. Hampshire St. (414) 964-2611; saladining.com
Hours:
Tuesday–Wednesday, 3–9 p.m.
Thursday–Saturday, 3–10 p.m.
Breakfast & Brunch Tuesday–Saturday, 8 a.m.–2 p.m.
Appetizers: $10.50–$15
Entrees: $20–$45
Pizzas: $12.50–$20
Desserts: $8–$10
Breakfast/Brunch sandwiches: $6–$14
Hazel Wheaton is a Milwaukee writer and the Shepherd Express magazine’s regular dining critic.
An Interview with Marie Greguska of Discount Liquor
BY GAETANO MARANGELLI Marie Greguska of Discount
Ask anybody who has an intimacy with beer in the city of Milwaukee, “Where do you shop for an extraordinary variety of beer?
The answer is Discount Liquor.
Marie Greguska is the beer buyer, as well as one of the co-owners of Discount Liquor. She tells me how she and her colleagues curate all of what Discount Liquor offers the city.
How many years have you been at Discount Liquor?
My parents, Frank and Irene, opened our first store on 45th and Forest Home Avenue in September 1960. I have worked at the store my entire life. My first job was sorting returnable beer and soda bottles and taking empty boxes up to the registers for the cashiers to use to pack the customers’ orders. We moved from Forest Home to our current location on 51st and Oklahoma Avenue in 1991. My parents opened our second location in historic downtown Waukesha in 1978.
What is your job title at Discount Liquor?
As one of the owners, I wear many hats. In addition to overall management of the store, I do all of the advertising, I share in management of both accounts payables/receivables, I do all of the beer purchasing for our Milwaukee location, as well as all of the domestic and imported specialty food purchasing for Milwaukee, and I am involved in the purchasing of non-alcoholic products and gift sets. Finally, I also make all of our custom gift baskets.
What is the history of how Discount Liquor came to assemble its beer selection?
My mom originally purchased all the beer at our Milwaukee location. She was foremost in creating the vast selection we now stock. She went out of her way to carry imported beers when most other stores at that time were just selling Pabst, Schlitz, and Miller. We became known as the store that any ethnicity could come to and find something from their home country, be it beer, liquor, or wine.
With her innovative ideas as a guide, I took over managing the Beer Department in 1991. And with that same innovative spirit, my oldest brother, Frank Jr., began managing the beer department at our Waukesha location in 1978. His daughter Karen took over the department in 2010. And we’ve been voted Best Beer Selection by Shepherd Express for the last 20-plus years.
How do you account for the success of Discount Liquor’s beer selection?
It’s multifaceted. First and foremost, it’s the depth of our selection. We stock over 2000 varieties of beer. Our imported beer selection is by far the largest in the state. We also go out of our way to seek out the newest and hottest craft breweries in order to get them to our shelves so our customers can stay on trend.
Secondly, it’s our dedication to the knowledge and education of our products. We not only sample every single product that comes into our store, we also read up on trends and reviews, and we travel both domestically and abroad to breweries, distilleries. and wineries.
Like I have always told people, this is not just a job, this is our livelihood. As a family-run business, we live and breathe every single product (beer, liquor, and wine) that comes into our store, and I like to think that passion and dedication comes across to all of our customers.
Finally, it’s our pricing. Our purchasing power allows us to buy products in the deepest quantities at discounted prices. We, in turn, then pass those savings along to our customers. That’s why we are able to have everyday low prices, a major factor in what sets us apart from our competition. In addition, because we are a locally owned independent retailer—in other words, not a chain store or national big box retailer—we can implement price drops more quickly.
What methodology do you use to select beer for Discount Liquor?
A number of factors go into product selection. Most importantly, we sample every product before it gets put to our shelf. Although everyone has their individual taste preferences, we do our best to make sure we have a product to match their needs. That being said, we also take customer requests and are happy to special order any item a customer is interested inpurchasing.
We also go out of our way to talk with brewery owners and sales reps to get their input and suggestions on products currently available and arriving in the future. The amount of support a product receives both by the brewery itself and through advertising will also factor into whether or not we stock the product.
How have you seen demand and supply of beer change in the years you've been in the trade?
Oh, my gosh, how much time do you have? In my 30plus years in the business, there have been a multitude of changes. Quite simply it comes down to the sheer number of products that are now available.
Back in 1990, there were roughly 300 breweries in the United States, the majority of which were brewing easy drinking lagers or ales. Now there are over 4,000 craft breweries in the United States brewing a wide range of beer styles, the most popular being IPA (in every possible iteration), as well as fruited sours, pastry stouts, barley wines, English ales, German- and Czech-style lagers, bourbon/whiskey/tequila/ rum/wine barrel-aged beers, the list goes on and on. Not to mention even some very esoteric styles of beer like Sahti, Gruit, andBraggot.
If you’re looking to try something new, now is the absolute best time! Some of the other big trends we are seeing:
a huge increase in gluten-free beer options (both craft and imported. The last few years have also brought an explosion in the amount and varieties of non-alcoholic beer options, both from the craft world and overseas imports. Everything from hop waters to sours to traditional styles.
People are definitely taking a more mindful approach to their drinking now than they have in years past. And finally, the biggest trend of the last year has been the surge in the availability of THC/Delta 9/CBD beverages. These products are all non-alcoholic with a portion of them being produced by local craft breweries.
What are your favorite styles of beer?
Well, honestly, that’s a tough question. I find enjoyment to be situational. There are beers I enjoy with food, some I enjoy seasonally, some bring back fond memories, but overall, I’d say I enjoy a nice dark barrel aged beer, or something with more of a malty rich flavor profile.
Which beers should beer drinkers, both experienced and inexperienced, explore at Discount Liquor?
Well, the beauty of having over 2,000 brands of beer with a wide range of styles is that we have something for every level of drinker, from the novice, to the connoisseur, to the beer aficionado, and even the home brewer.
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.
Milwaukee Oktoberfest Guide 2025
Oktoberfest, which generally actually is celebrated in September, is a time-honored tradition in Milwaukee, and this year promises plenty of Ein Prositing no matter where you live, so here's our annual guide to help you find an Oktoberfest of your own!
BARKTOBERFESTWALK RUN WAG 2025 FOR MADACC
Estabrook Beer Garden 4600 Estabrook Pkwy., Milwaukee Saturday Sept. 13.
runsignup.com/Race/WI/Milwaukee/ WalkRunWagForMADACC2025
BAVARIAN BIERHAUS OKTOBERFEST
Old Heidelberg Park at the Bavarian Bierhaus 700 W. Lexington Blvd., Glendale Closed Mondays
https://www.thebavarianbierhaus. com/
CEDARBURG OKTOBERFEST
Cedarburg Community Center Parking Lot W63 N641 Washington Ave., Cedarburg
October 4-5
business.cedarburg.org/events/details/ oktoberfest-33066
DUESTERBECK'S BREWING COMPANY
OKTOBERFEST
Duesterbeck's Brewing Co. N5543 County Road O, Elkhorn Saturday, Oct. 4
dbcbrewery.com/event-details/ oktoberfest
ELKTOBERFEST IN ELKHART LAKE
Celebrated throughout Elkhart Lake Saturday, Sept. 20
www.elkhartlake.com/elktoberfest/
ELM GROVE OKTOBERFEST
Elm Grove Village Park
Sept. 19-20
13600 Juneau Blvd., Elm Grove
GERMANTOWN HUNSRUCKER OKTOBERFEST
Dheinsville Historical Park
Holy Hill Road, Hwy 145/Fond du Lac Ave. & Maple Rd., Germantown
Sept. 27-28
germantownhistoricalsociety.org/ oktoberfest
MILWAUKEE OKTOBERFEST
Henry Maier Festival Park Oct. 3-5
NEW GLARUS OKTOBERFEST
418 Railroad St., New Glarus (608) 527-2095
Master Brewer Dan Carey of New Glarus Brewing Co smiles as he pours fresh beer from a wooden keg during Oktoberfest, capturing the lively spirit of the festival’s Bavarian celebration. Come celebrate with us September 2629 in America's Little Switzerland! Swisstown.com/oktoberfest
OKTOBERFEST OF GREATER RACINE
Franksville Craft Beer Garden 9614 Northwestern Ave., Franksville Thursdays through Sundays hopheadscraftbeer.com/beer-garden
Photo of Beer Stein by GettyImages/AlexRaths, photo of Bavarian tablespread by GettyImages-Rimma_Bondarenko.
Photo courtesy of New Glarus.
OUR LADY OF LOURDES MILWAUKEE OKTOBERFEST
ARTISAN FAIR
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church 3722 S. 58th St., Milwaukee Oct. 10-12
ololmke.org/Oktoberfest
SAINT AUGUSTINE OKTOBERFEST
Saint Augustine of Hippo Catholic Church 2350 S. Howell Ave., Milwaukee Sept. 28
staugies.org/Oktoberfest
SCHOOL SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS OKTOBERFEST
St. Joseph Center Garden S. 29th St. & W. Orchard St., Milwaukee
Saturday, Sept. 13, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Make a “wunderbar” difference when you support the School Sisters of St. Francis’ fall fundraising event. Featuring two live bands, fun and games, homemade bakery, craft sale, delicious food and more. Saturday, Sept. 13, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
sssf.org/SSSF/Media-Room/ Oktoberfest-2025.htm
WAUKESHA OKTOBERFEST
Frame Park 1150 Frame Park Drive, Waukesha Friday, Sept. 19
waukesha-wi.gov/residents/ oktoberfest.php
Fall Arts Guide 2025 Fall Arts Guide 2025
Ken-David Masur's Finale as MSO
Music Director
BY DAVID LUHRSSEN
"
Ihad heard that Milwaukee was a wonderful city, a best-kept-secret kind of place. And I already knew that it had a wonderful orchestra with an amazing group of musicians,” says Ken-David Masur, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s music director. He was guest conductor for the MSO in 2018 and was appointed music director in 2019. 2025-26 will be his final season with the orchestra.
Only 41 when he first conducted the MSO, Masur brought fresh perspectives to his role as music director. “A modernday orchestra has the ability and the responsibility to make the listener feel that they belong,” he says. “Audiences should know that regardless of the composer, the music they’re hearing in that moment is a story and encounter for them and could’ve been written just yesterday—and some of it is, of course.”
During his tenure, the MSO moved to the Bradley Symphony Center, a lavishly restored theater from the age of movie palaces. Masur reflects on the experience of seeing a symphony orchestra live. “Once you’re actually sitting in the concert hall and the vibrations and the resonance of every instrument join in the atmosphere of everyone’s anticipation, audiences know viscerally the enduring power of live musical performance of a symphony orchestra,” he says.
The rich musical legacy from past centuries is a valuable inheritance, yet orchestras must keep ears open to the present, Masur insists. “I believe we demonstrate this embracing of the past, present, and future season after season at the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.
Whether it’s with Beethoven or Bach or with contemporary composers like John Adams, Takemitsu, Wynton Marsalis or Anna Clyne, the artform continues to be as relevant in 2025 as it was in 1650.”
In programming the MSO’s seasons, Masur has shown curiosity about less known or new composers, “music that goes under your skin and that I would feel could really profoundly move both the audience and the musicians playing it.” He programs concerts with many ideas in mind, including musical contrasts or a connecting theme. He cites the 2024 season finale featuring work by “Lyatoshinsky (Ukrainian), Sibelius (Finland) and Tchaikovsky (Russia), because we wanted pieces by composers from the region of where the Ukraine-Russian conflict was happening and show that at least in the concert hall,” harmony and peaceful dialogue is possible.
For 2025-26, Masur is “greatly looking forward” to shining a spotlight on the 50th anniversary season of the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus and its director, Cheryl Frazes. Masur will continue as principal conductor of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and who knows, maybe we’ll see him on the Bradley Center podium again. He leaves with nothing but good words for Milwaukee, a city “filled with incredible trails to hike, amazing cultural experiences, a thriving arts community and “a wonderful place to raise a family.”
Photo of Ken-David Masur by Jonathan Kirn.
5 POINTS ART GALLERY 5ptsartgallery.com
ACACIA THEATRE COMPANY acaciatheatre.com
Freud’s Last Session, Oct. 24-26, Oct. 30-Nov.2., Nov. 6-9
It is a question as old as time, as infinite as the universe: Does God exist? In Mark St. Germain’s cleverly written play, Freud’s Last Session, we don’t get an answer. But we do gain a better understanding of its two sparring protagonists, psychiatrist Sigmund Freud and theologian/philosopher C.S. Lewis. (Harry Cherkinian)
ALL IN PRODUCTIONS allin-mke.com
Embers , Sept. 12-20 (The Brick House)
ALVERNO ART & CULTURES GALLERY
Women of Wisconsin Director's Invitational, Sept. 5-Oct. 3
AMERICAN PLAYERS THEATRE americanplayers.org
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, through Oct. 5
Anna in the Tropics , through Sept. 26
“Art,” through Sept. 28
Fallen Angels , through Oct. 3
Picnic , through Sept. 13
The 39 Steps , Oct. 22-Nov. 30
The Barber and the Unnamed Prince, through Sept. 25
The Winter’s Tale, through Oct. 4
Tribes , through Sept. 27
APERI ANIMAM aperianimam.com
ARTS @ LARGE artsatlargeinc.org
BACH CHAMBER CHOIR bachchoirmilwaukee.com
Fall: Americana, Oct. 19 (St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church)
American choral works and a new piece by Christopher Rich showcasing St. Christopher’s newly restored organ.
BAYVIEW GALLERY NIGHT, SEPT. 26 bvgn.org
BEL CANTO CHORUS belcanto.org
BLACK ARTS MKE blackartsmke.org
BLACK HOLOCAUST MUSEUM abhmuseum.org
BOERNER BOTANICAL GARDENS boernerbotanicalgardens.org
China Lights, Sept. 12-Nov. 2
BOMBSHELL THEATRE CO. bombshelltheatre.org
BOULEVARD THEATER milwaukeeboulevardtheatre.com
THE BOX THEATRE CO. boxtheatreco.org
Broadway Highlights, Sept. 20-21
Annie, Oct. 2-19
Girl Power Cabaret, Oct. 25-27
BRONZEVILLE ARTS ENSEMBLE facebook.com/BronzevilleArtsEnsemble
BRONZEVILLE CENTER FOR THE ARTS Bcamke.org
Black Defined 1: Ceramics, through Jan. 9 (Gallery 507)
BROOM STREET THEATRE, MADISON bstonline.org
Willy Street Funnies, Sept. 12-21
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
20th Anniversary Performance, Oct. 4-5 (Baumgartner Center for Dance)
“Everything I live, I dance,” says Catey Ott. “This show means so much to me because the body of work the Catey Ott Dance Collective has done over the past 20 years is, abstractly, the living map of my life, and also, ideally, of where we fit in the community and the global society, the collective unconscious. It includes a video montage of 20 years of my solos, followed by a movement montage of those solos in my present body. I’m resetting two key works, you’ll see company members in a swirl of solos, and a large new group finale.” (John Schneider)
CEDARBURG ARTISTS GUILD cedarburgartistsguild.com
Covered Bridge Art Studio Tour,
Oct. 10-12
CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST stjohncathedral.corg
Wednesday concert series
CEDARBURG ART MUSEUM cedarburgartmuseum.org
Outdoor Sculpture: Kendall Poster, through Oct. 5
Collecting Her: Women from the Cedarburg Art Museum’s Permanent Collection, through Nov. 9
CEDARBURG CULTURAL CENTER cedarburgculturalcenter.org
CEDARBURG PERFORMING ARTS CENTER cedarburgpac.com
CELTIC MKE CONCERT SERIES celticmke.com
CHANT CLAIRE CHAMBER CHOIR chantclaire.org
CHARLES ALLIS ART MUSEUM charlesallis.org
Hattie Grimm: Bird Body, through Sept. 25
Bruno Ertz & Winslow Homer: Waves and Wings, Masterpieces in Motion, through Sept. 28
CHAZEN MUSEUM OF ART (UW-MADISON) chazen.wisc.edu
Toshiko Takaezu: Worlds Within
Pablo Delano: Caribbean Matters, Assemblage and Sculpture
CHORAL ARTS SOCIETY OF SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN choralartsonline.org
CIVIC MUSIC MKE civicmusicmilwaukee.org
Live at the Ivy, Oct. 15 (The Ivy House)
Enjoy an eclectic program of jazz, classics and standards.
THE CONSTRUCTIVISTS theconstructivists.org
Bed and Breakfast of the Damned, Oct. 25-Nov. 7 (Broadway Theatre Center’s Studio Theatre)
Cameron McNary, a self-described “deeply committed geek,” penned his take on that pervasive pop culture theme, the zombie apocalypse (some say it’s already happened and we’re living in the end times). A young couple take shelter in a bed and breakfast, breathing a deep sigh of relief, but find that people can be just as monstrous as zombies in this “door-slamming, Feydeau-style sex farce.” Jaimelyn Gray will direct the world premiere. (David Luhrssen)
CONCORD CHAMBER ORCHESTRA concordorchestra.org
Dancing Through Time, Oct. 18 (St. Sebastien Parish)
“Our 50th season is about honoring where we’ve been, celebrating who we are, and making space for what’s next. The October concert captures that spirit. We're connecting to history as our musicians perform on instruments that survived the Holocaust as part of the Violins of Hope residency and we're also premiering a bold new commission by Autumn Maria Reed, speaking with today's voice,” says Concord’s Dana Robb. (David Luhrssen)
CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY cuw.edu
COVERED BRIDGE ART STUDIO TOUR, OCT. 10-12 cedarburgartistsguild.com
DANCECIRCUS dancecircus.org
DANCEWORKS PERFORMANCE MKE danceworksmke.org
DAVID BARNETT GALLERY davidbarnettgallery.com
Artchitecture, Architecture in Art, through Oct. 18
The Artwork of Marc Chagall, Featuring New Acquisitions, Oct. 17-Jan. 13
Few 20th century artists painted as distinctively as Marc Chagall. He was a modernist grounded in a tradition—the landscape and folkways of Russia’s Pale of Jewish Settlement. His figures often float, literally, as if dreaming of places lost forever. (David Luhrssen)
DAWN SPRINGER DANCE PROJECT dawnspringer.com
DEAD MAN’S CARNIVAL facebook.com/Dead-Mans-Carnival-338362982860387
DOOR COUNTY CONTEMPORARY ART FAIR
doorcountycontemporary.com
DOOR SHAKESPEARE doorshakespeare.com
EARLY MUSIC NOW earlymusicnow.org
Cabaret Baroque: Les Goûts Réunis, Oct. 25 (St. Paul's Episcopal Church)
François Couperin was a court musician for Louis XIV, France’s “Sun King.” He composed suites of original beauty for harpsichord. The lute, recorder and harpsichord trio will perform other composers from the Baroque era, including \ Vincenzo Pellegrini. (David Luhrssen)
EX FABULA exfabula.org
FALLS PATIO PLAYERS fallspatioplayers.com
Steel Magnolias , Sept. 19-21, Sept. 26-28
Beetlejuice Jr, Oct. 17-19
FESTIVAL CITY SYMPHONY festivalcitysymphony.org
Hope, Resilience and Copland’s American Symphony, Oct. 18 (Bradley Symphony Center) In partnership with Violins of Hope
Halloween Pajama Jamboree, Oct. 29
FINE ARTS QUARTET fineartsquartet.com
FIRST STAGE firststage.org
Goosebumps: Phantom of the Auditorium, Oct. 11-Nov. 2
FLORENTINE OPERA florentineopera.org
Don Giovanni, Oct. 24-26
(Marcus Performing Arts Center)
Most of Mozart’s music has endured for his lightness of touch, the sheer smartness of his melodies and harmonies. Farcical in tragedy, exquisite in folly, Don Giovanni ranks high among his achievements. Tchaikovsky called Donna Anna, daughter of the opera’s licentious nobleman, “the most superb and wonderful human presentation ever depicted in music.” (David Luhrssen)
FORTE THEATRE COMPANY fortetheatrecompany.org
South Pacific , Oct. 11-19
Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein were artists in sync with their time, nowhere less than in South Pacific, a musical whose setting was the recently ended, island-hopping war with Japan. The story of G.I.s and the social consequences of crossing ethnic lines is buoyed by memorable songs (“I’m Gonna Wash that Man Right Out of My Hair”) and melodies that became jazz standards. (David Luhrssen)
FORWARD THEATER, MADISON forwardtheater.com
Primary Trust, Sept. 4-21
FOUR SEASONS THEATRE, MADISON fourseasonstheatre.com
FRANKLY MUSIC franklymusic.org
Voices Unforgotten, Sept. 28 (Milwaukee Youth Arts Center)
FRESCO OPERA THEATRE, MADISON frescoopera.com
Opera on the Point, Sept. 21, Sept. 27
GALLERY 218 gallery218.com
GALLERY 224 Gallery224.org
GALLERY 2622 gallery2622.com
GALLERY NIGHT AND DAY, OCT. 17-18 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
GROHMANN MUSEUM msoe.edu/grohmann-museum
The Legend Lives On: 50 Years Later, Oct. 1-Dec. 1
Few maritime tales resonate like the wreck of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald. Immortalized in art and song, the fateful day of November 10, 1975, lives on in Great Lakes lore,” says the Grohmann’s director, James Kieselburg.
“For the 50th anniversary of this this tragic event, we commemorate the ship and her impact on popular culture through this display of paintings, photographs, models, and drawings of the ship under construction and on the water.” (David Luhrssen)
GROVE GALLERY gallerygrove.com
HAGGERTY MUSEUM OF ART marquette.edu/haggerty-museum
No One Knows All It Takes, through Dec. 20
Life Lines, through Dec. 20
Capturing the Senses: Beauty and Horror in Early Modern Art, through Dec. 20
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
ArtOnThePlazaVIII & WAAC Artists Showcase, September
Lee Grantham Exhibit, September
Theatrical Tendencies Cabaret Show, September
Paul Terrien & John Zieloski Exhibit, October
Theatrical Tendencies Production: She Kills Monsters, October
JAMES MAY GALLERY jamesmaygallery.com
JAZZ GALLERY CENTER FOR THE ARTS jazzgallerycenterforarts.org
Free Improvisation, Saturdays
Milwaukee Jazz Institute, Sundays
Open Gallery Exhibition, Thursdays
Second Muse: Inspiration’s Multiple Manifestations, through Sept. 13
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
Ashwini Bhat: Reverberating Self, through Jan. 11, 2026
Familiar Texture: The Fibers of Childhood and Home, through April 5, 2026
A Beautiful Experience: The Midwest Grotto Tradition, through May 10, 2026
“Buol’s grotto is a part of a lineage that continues today, and the exhibition brings this tradition of Midwestern grottos to life with other artifacts from our permanent collection as well as new commissions by artists Stephanie H. Shih and E. Saffronia Downing who reimagine the (grotto) tradition in a contemporary context,” says curator Laura Bickford. (Michael Muckian)
Silvio Barile, through Spring 2026
KETTLE MORAINE PLAYHOUSE kmplayhouse.com
Beating a Dead Horse, Sept. 5-7, Sept. 11-14
Dead Man’s Cell Phone, Oct. 17-19, Oct. 23-26
KETTLE MORAINE SYMPHONY kmsymphony.org
KIM STORAGE GALLERY kimstoragegallery.com
Tim Anderson: Stay the Course, through Sept. 27
KITH AND KIN THEATRE COLLECTIVE kithandkintheatre.com
Caesura, Oct. 10-10 (Resurrection Lutheran Church)
KNEELAND-WALKER HOUSE wauwatosahistoricalsociety.org
KNIGHTWIND ENSEMBLE knightwind.org
Jose Alberto Pina’s The Ghost Ship, Oct. 26 (South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center)
KOHLER MEMORIAL THEATER kohlerfoundation.org
KO-THI DANCE COMPANY ko-thi.org
LAKE ARTS PROJECT lakeartsproject.com
LAKE COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE lakecountryplayhousewi.org
Anastasia: The Musical, Sept. 26-Oct. 12
Journey from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the glittering lights of Paris in this sweeping Broadway hit, filled with romance, intrigue, and a soaring score.
Anastasia; The Musical Youth Edition, Oct. 16-26
Based on the 1997 animated film, the Broadway musical explores the legends surrounding the possible survival of Russian Princess Anastasia.
LAKEFRONT FESTIVAL OF ART mam.org
LATINO ARTS, INC. latinoartsinc.org
Palimpsests +Memories: The Student to the Teacher, through Oct. 8
Day of the Dead Ofrendas, Oct. 20-Nov. 14
A Journey through Mexico from North to South Featuring Ometochtli Mexican Folk Dance, Oct. 31
LION PERFORMANCE HALL lionperformancehall.com
LILY PAD GALLERY WEST lilypadgallery.com
Ocean House 2025, through Sept. 3
LUTHERAN A CAPELLA CHOIR OF MILWAUKEE lutheranacapella.org
LYNDEN SCULPTURE GARDEN lyndensculpturegarden.org
Chris Salas: Forms of Remembrance, through Nov. 2
In Chris Salas’ first solo exhibition, the Chicago artist “explores material cultures as living reflections of ecological and ancestral relationships across the Americas. From ceramic, to dirt, to seed—what vibrant stories are held within their inanimacy?”
(David Luhrssen)
MADISON BALLET madisonballet.org
Compagnie Herve Koubi: Sol Invictus, Sept. 27
MADISON MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART mmoca.org
2025 Wisconsin Triennial, through Sept. 14
MADISON THEATRE GUILD madisontheatreguild.org
An Ideal Husband, Sept. 26-Oct. 11
MAKING MUSIC VOCAL ARTS mmvocalarts.com
MARCUS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER marcuscenter.org
Maa Vue and the Dream Carrier, Sept. 6
Bill Blagg Family Magic, Sept. 17
Duane Betts and Palmetto Hotel, Sept. 28
Mrs. Doubtfire, Sept. 30-Oct. 5
Il Divo by Candlelight, Oct. 7
Black Violin, Oct. 9
The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Oct. 10
Les Misérables , Oct. 28-Nov. 2
Victor Hugo probably never imagined that his 1862 novel about social injustice in 19th century France would be repurposed as a musical. The production premiered in an appropriate place, Paris (1980), before setting records on London’s West End before becoming a Broadway hit and a film. Les Mes is part of this season’s Broadway at the Marcus Center. (David Luhrssen)
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
Blithe Spirit, Oct. 24-Nov. 2
Noel Coward was one of England’s most popular playwrights in the first half of the last century, cited by a contemporary for his “gay and impudent dialogue.” His amusing story of marriage and ghosts, Blythe Spirit (1941), was adapted for a 1945 film by David Lean. (David Luhrssen)
MENOMONEE FALLS SYMPHONY www.mfso.net
Jeanyi Kim: Vivaldi’d The Four Seasons, Oct. 25
MIAD GALLERY AT THE AVE galleryattheave.miad.edu
MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM mam.org
Farm to Frame, through Sept. 28
Reviving the Dance of Death, through Nov. 30
Bradley Collection of Modern Art: A Bold Vision for Milwaukee, Sept. 26-Jan. 18
MILWAUKEE BALLET milwaukeeballet.org
Giselle, Oct. 17-19 (Marcus Performing Arts Center)
Adolphe Adam wrote grand as well as comic operas, but the French composer’s enduring contribution to the canon is his ballet, Giselle. The twoact romance has been a tour-de-force for great ballerinas since its 1841 premiere, and the Ballet’s Michael Pink will doubtlessly find new ways to present the classic. (David Luhrssen)
MILWAUKEE CHAMBER THEATRE Milwaukeechambertheatre.org
Old Wicked Songs , Sept. 19-Oct. 15 (Broadway Theatre Center Studio Theatre)
In Jon Marans’ Old Wicked Songs, a burned out American piano prodigy finds himself giving lessons in Vienna, a musical city haunted by ghosts of its past. Elyse Edelman directs actor-pianists Brett Ryback and Jack Forbes Wilson. (David Luhrssen)
MILWAUKEE CHILDREN'S CHOIR milwaukeechildrenschoir.org
MILWAUKEE COMEDY milwaukeecomedy.com
Milwaukee Comedy Festival: Patton Oswalt, Oct. 9
MILWAUKEE FESTIVAL BRASS mfbrass.org
MILWAUKEE FILM mkefilm.org
Michael Schultiz Tribute, Sept. 12-13 (Oriental Theatre)
Dialogues Documentary Festival, Sept. 18-21 (Downer and Oriental theaters)
MILWAUKEE FRINGE FESTIVAL mkefringe.com
MILWAUKEE INSTITUTE OF ART & DESIGN GALLERY miad.edu
Constant Practice: New Work from Faculty & Staff, Sept. 27 – Nov. 20 (Brooks Stevens Gallery)
Meet Me at Dandy Draw, through Sept. 13 (Brooks Stevens Gallery)
Our Mothers, Ourselves, Sept. 19-Dec. 13 (Frederick Layton Gallery)
The Drypoints, Sept. 19-Dec. 13 (Fredrick Layton Gallery)
MILWAUKEE IRISH ARTS milirisharts.wordpres.com
MILWAUKEE JAZZ INSTITUTE milwaukeejazzinstitute.org
MILWAUKEE JAZZ ORCHESTRA mjojazz.com
MILWAUKEE MAKERS MARKET https://www.milwaukeemakersmarket. com/
Sept. 21 (American Family Field) Oct. 19 (Discovery World)
MILWAUKEE MUSAIK milwaukeemusaik.org
MILWAUKEE OPERA THEATRE milwaukeeoperatheatre.org
H.M.S. Pinafore, Oct. 8-12 (UWM Theatre Building Mainstage Theatre)
MOT’s Jill Anna Ponasik directs the Gilbert and Sullivan classic in conjunction with UWM’s Theater Department. (David Luhrssen)
MILWAUKEE REPERTORY THEATER milwaukeerep.com
It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, Oct. 31-Dec. 21 (Stackner Cabaret)
Frank Capra directed the classic, 1946 Jimmy Stewart film from a story by Philip Van Doren Stern, inspired in turn by Charles Dickens’ deathless A Christmas Carol. Although crafted for the screen, It’s a Wonderful Life debuted as a radio play as early as 1947. The Rep’s Jonathan Hetler will direct Joe Landry’s adaptation at the Stackner. (David Luhrssen)
MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA mso.org
A Hero’s Life, Sept. 13-14
Batman 1989: Film with Orchestra, Sept. 19-20
Disco Divas, Sept. 26-28
Ode to Joy: Beethoven’s Ninth, Oct. 3-4
While up late in Europe at the close of 1989, I enjoyed watching the TV stations’ sign-off: the stars of the European Union jumping one by one into a circle to the melody of “Ode to Joy.” For me, it’s a memory of a more hopeful time—the Berlin Wall about to fall, the Soviet Union about to dissolve. Beethoven must have felt a similar emotion when he composed “Ode to Joy,” a setting for Schiller’s poem featured in his Ninth Symphony. Ken-David Masur will conduct. (David Luhrssen)
Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, Oct. 6
Dvorak’s Seventh Symphony, Oct. 10-12
Mendelssohn’s Reformation, Oct. 17-18
MILWAUKEE YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA myso.org
Violins of Hope, Sept. 24-Jan. 25
The Nazis did their best to destroy the Jews and every aspect of their lives including music. They confiscated thousands of musical instruments, destroying most, but many survived. Amnon and Avshalom Weinstein collected surviving violins and, as skilled violinmakers, brought them back to life. Their collection is called Violins of Hope and travels the world where they can be displayed and played: wherever there is music there is hope! The Violins of Hope will be here in Milwaukee this September through January. A variety of programs will be presented to the Wisconsin community. The Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra will have use of the instruments, and a concert is being planned for September. (Ken Kapp)
MILWAUKEE YOUTH THEATRE milwaukeeyouththeatre.org
MKE BLACK THEATRE FESTIVAL blackartsmke.org
MKE STUDIO TOUR, OCT. 4-5 mkestudiotour.com
MORNING STAR PRODUCTIONS morningstarproductions.org
Declaration! Oct. 12 (Old Falls Village Park, Menomonee Falls)
In its next outdoors production, Morning Star sets the audience up as the jury hearing the case against Thomas Jefferson: Was he a racist? Did he write the Declaration of Independence? Did he involve the U.S. in needless foreign wars?
(David Luhrssen)
MUSEUM OF WISCONSIN ART wisconsinart.org
Erinn Springer: Dormant Season, through Sept. 14
Hideki Suzuki, through Sept. 14
Frank Lloyd Wright: Modern Chair Design, Oct. 4–Jan. 25, 2026
When Frank Lloyd Wright built a house, he wasn’t only thinking of four walls, a floor and a ceiling. His homes and offices were total works of art, down to the furnishings. The exhibit includes more than 40 domestic furniture pieces by the Wisconsin architect—many on view for the first time—as well as working sketches, archival photographs, and animated renderings. (David Luhrssen)
MOWA | DTN
(SAINT KATE-THE ARTS HOTEL)
MOWA ON THE LAKE
(ST. JOHN’S ON THE LAKE)
NEXT ACT THEATRE nextact.org
Sanctuary City, Sept. 10-Oct. 5
Jake Penner from APT will direct this play by Martyna Majok, written during the first term of the White House’s current occupant. “It’s about two young people, Dreamers who were brought to this country by their immigrant parents,” says Next Act’s A.J. Magoon. “They exist in a legal gray area, desperately clinging for any opportunity to find connection— anything they can call home.”
(David Luhrssen)
NŌ STUDIOS nostudios.com
NO INSTRUCTIONS GALLERY moinstructs.com
Tanner MacArthur, Recent Work, through Sept. 19
Cody Tumblin, Sept. 26-Nov. 7
The Chicago artist is a mixed-media painter whose work “emerges at the intersection of textile craft and emotional archaeology.” Working with dyeing, sewing, threadwork, and collage, he builds “layered pictorial landscapes from scraps, remnant fabrics, and recycled paintings. As he cuts, re-dyes, bleaches, and resews, these materials transform with memory, longing, and renewal.” (David Luhrssen)
NORTH SHORE ACADEMY OF THE ARTS facebook.com/northshoreacademyofthearts
NORTHERN SKY THEATER northernskytheater.com
The Bachelors , through 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
Four Guyz in Dinner Jackets: Moments to Remember, Sept. 25-28, Oct 2-5
Girls Like Us: Barbra, Bette, and Bernadette, Oct. 18-19
I Can Go On Singing: A New Judy Garland Musical, Sept. 20
Two of Us: The Music of Famous Duos, Sept. 14
OIL A CITY GALLERY oilmilwaukee.com
OPTIMIST THEATRE optimisttheatre.org
OUTSKIRTS THEATRE outskirtstheatre.org
OVER OUR HEAD PLAYERS overourheadplayers.org
Lizzie, Sept. 26-28, Oct. 3-5, Oct. 10-12, Oct, 17-19
PAINT CEDARBURG: A PLEIN AIR PAINTING EVENT cedarburgartistsguild.com/paint-cedarburg
PENINSULA PLAYERS peninsulaplayers.com
Steel Magnolias, Sept. 3-Oct. 19
PENINSULA SCHOOL OF ART peninsulaschoolofart.org
PHILOMUSICA QUARTET philomusicaquartet.com
PIANOARTS pianoarts.org
PINK UMBRELLA THEATER Pinkumbrellatheater.org
PORTRAIT SOCIETY GALLERY portraitsocietygallery.com
Lauren Semivan, Sept. 12-Oct. 25
Work by the Appleton photographer has been included in group exhibitions at Portrait Society. This will be her first solo exhibit at the Third Ward space. (David Luhrssen)
PRESENT MUSIC presentmusic.org
All Souls Eve, Oct. 31 (Milwaukee Art Museum)
The concert honors the Mexican Day of the Dead with works by Latin-American composers Gabriela Ortiz and Miguel del Aguila, as well as Evan Chambers’ “The Old Burying Ground.” Eric Segnitz describes Chambers’ contribution as “a song cycle based on epitaphs.” Also on tap is the premiere of Present Music’s commission for Vietnamese American composer Viet Cuong, “Music of the While.” (David Luhrssen)
PROMETHEUS TRIO wcmusic.org
QUASIMONDO PHYSICAL THEATRE quasimondo.org
RACINE ART MUSEUM ramart.org
RAM Artist Fellowship and Emerging Artists Exhibition 2025, through Nov. 22
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
Violins of Hope: A Concert of Remembrance and Resilience, Oct. 11(First Presbyterian Church, Racine)
In partnership with the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, this evening will feature Respighi’s Ancient Airs and Dances No. 3 and Max Richter’s evocative The Four Seasons Recomposed, performed by violin soloist Alexander Mandl on instruments rescued from the Holocaust. (David Luhrssen)
RACINE THEATRE GUILD racinetheatre.org
The Importance of Being Earnest, Sept. 5-Sept. 11
Oscar Wilde was seldom funnier than in this 1895 drawing-room comedy about the tangled lives of two young men, wooing women and evading social obligations. RTG’s artistic director, Douglas Instenes, will helm the show (David Luhrssen)
Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors, Oct. 24-Nov. 9
REAL TINSEL GALLERY realtinsel.com
Milwaukee Punk & Postpunk: 50 Years of Poster Art, Sept. 26-Dec. 31
Milwaukee has always been a seedbed of musical creativity with bands developing their styles outside the intense scrutiny of larger cities. The onset of punk rock in the late ‘70s brought a flurry of poster-making, DIY art projects meant to be ephemeral but often displaying a keen sense of design. This exhibit will feature work by local music poster artists from 1978 through the present and will include performances, panel discussions and pop-art retail. (David Luhrssen)
Now Playing! Tyanna J. Buie, through Sept. 20
RENAISSANCE THEATERWORKS r-t-w.com
Switzerland, Oct.19-Nov. 9
By some accounts, Patricia Highsmith (Strangers on a Train, The Talented Mr. Ripley) wasn’t far removed from the dubious characters that populated her fiction. In Joanna Murray-Smith’s play, Highsmith might meet her match when she encounters a sinister fan who encourages her to keep the Ripley series going. A film version is in the works starring Helen Mirren. (David Luhrssen)
SACRA NOVA CHORALE sacranovacathedrale.com
The Peaceable Kingdom: Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Randall Thompson and more, Oct. 24 (Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church) and Oct. 26 (Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist)
SAINT KATE - THE ARTS HOTEL GALLERY
saintkatearts.com
Expensive Attention, The Slow Looking Tradition in Art: featuring Sutton Allen, Francie Cook, Olivia Hiester, Tucker Love, Blake O'Brien, and Liam Murphy-Torres. (Opens Oct. 17)
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
Tangorium, Sept. 13 (Mainstage)
Terri Warpinski: Restless Earth, through Sept. 24 (Ploch Art Gallery)
Live From Laurel Canyon: James & Joni, Oct. 3 (Mainstage)
Live from Laurel Canyon is a tribute act focused on the LA folk-rock of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. For their Wilson Center performance, Laurel Canyon will perform an evening of songs (and stories) by James Taylor and Joni Mitchell. (David Luhrssen)
Karen Goetzinger: Beauty in the Inconsequential, Oct. 4-Dec. 28 (Ploch Art Gallery)
Marty Stuart, Oct.24 (Mainstage)
SHEBOYGAN THEATRE COMPANY stcshows.org
Young Frankenstein, Sept. 26-Oct. 4
SKYLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE skylightmusictheatre.org
Fiddler on the Roof, Oct. 3-26
One of the world’s most recognized fictional characters is a Jewish milkman from a tiny village in pre-revolutionary Russia. Tevye, a recurring figure in the short stories of Yiddish author Sholem Aleichem, danced his way into American popular culture as the protagonist of the Broadway musical Fiddler on the Roof. From there, he reached the wider world through a popular film version that etched the story’s characters and songs in memory. (David Luhrssen)
SOUTH MILWAUKEE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER southmilwaukeepac.org
Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Sept. 25
Swan Lake, Grand Kyiv Ballet, Oct. 2
Russia’s Peter Tchaikovsky was happy to compose within prescribed limits, and his made-to-order compositions were brilliantly tailored to requirements. Little wonder that his ballets, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker, are the enduring works in their field. In the current world situation, the Grand Kyiv Ballet’s tour embodies the unifying power of great art in the face of political catastrophe. (David Luhrssen)
The Rat Pack, Oct.19
Knightwind Ensemble, Jose Alberto Pina’s The Ghost Ship, Oct. 26
SUNSET PLAYHOUSE sunsetplayhouse.com
Murder at the Howard Johnson, Sept. 4-21
I Can Go on Singing, Sept. 4-13
Broadway Showstoppers, Sept. 15-16
Shining Like the Sun: An Abba Tribute, Oct. 9-12
Those tuneful Swedes have had a long afterlife since their hitmaking years in the ‘70s, with the Broadway jukebox musical Mama Mia! spawning two Hollywood adaptations. Will the audience singalong to “Dancing Queen” and “Knowing Me, Knowing You”? (David Luhrssen)
Pippin, Oct. 16-Nov. 2
David Seebach’s Illusions in the Night, Oct. 17-19
What Goes Up: Horn Bands, Oct. 20-21
THEATRE GIGANTE theatregigante.org
THEATRICAL TENDENCIES theatricaltendencies.com
A Miscast Cabaret, Sept. 10-11
She Kills Monsters , Oct.10-12, Oct. 17-19
THIRD AVENUE PLAYHOUSE, STURGEON BAY thirdavenueplayworks.org
Ryan’s Pub, Trivia Night, Sept. 24-Oct. 12
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)
TOOTH-AND-NAIL GALLERY toothandnailmke.com
TORY FOLLIARD GALLERY toryfolliard.com
The Salon Show, through Sept. 6
Michael Hedges: New Paintings, Sept. 12-Oct. 11
Mark Mulhern: New Paintings, Oct. 17-Nov. 29
UNDERSCORE (INSIDE REAL TINSEL) underscoreprojects.info
1013 W. Historic Mitchell St.
UW-PARKSIDE THEATRE uwp.edu/the rita/theatreperformances.cfm
UW-MILWAUKEE PECK SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
uwm.edu/arts/events
Sum Total: Art & Design Faculty Exhibition, Sept. 5-28 (Kenilworth Square East Gallery )
Woven Images, Sept. 12-28 (Kenilworth Square East 3rd Floor Gallery)
Sing Out! Tenor-Bass Festival, Sept. 19 (Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts, Bader Hall )
Heartland Marimba Quartet, Sept. 19 ( Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts)
Kenilworth Open Studios, Sept. 28
(Kenilworth Square East)
(Kenilworth Square East)
Korea Day Celebration & Symphony Orchestra Concert, Oct. 3 (Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts, Bader Hall )
Fall Choral Showcase, Oct. 4 (Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts, Bader Hall)
Fall Choral Invitational, Oct. 5 (Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts, Bader Hall)
H.M.S. Pinafore, Oct. 8-12 (Theatre Building Mainstage Theatre)
Arthur Sullivan was a Royal Academy of Music graduate who wrote stuffy oratorios—until he hooked up with William S. Gilbert, a sour but witty man who became his librettist for a series of memorable operettas. Among them H.M.S. Pinafore, whose hilarity and infectious gaiety left the world a merrier place. Milwaukee Opera Theatre’s Jill Ana Ponasik will direct in collaboration with and the UWM Theatre.
Chamber Music Milwaukee: Celebrating UWM Alumni, Oct. 16 (Music Building Recital Hall)
UWAY Concert, Oct.19 (Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts, Bader Hall)
UWM Pop Ensemble, Oct. 20 (Music Building Recital Hall)
Jazz Ensembles, Oct. 23 (Kenilworth Square East, Jan Serr Studio)
UWM UNION ART GALLERY uwm.edu/studentinvolvement/ arts-and-entertainment/union-artgallery
UW-WHITEWATER CROSSMAN GALLERY uww.edu/coac/crossman
UW-WHITEWATER YOUNG AUDITORIUM uww.edu/youngauditorium
VAR GALLERY & STUDIOS vargallery.com
VILLA TERRACE DECORATIVE ARTS MUSEUM villaterrace.org
The Beat Goes On! The Art and History of Sheet Music, 1897-1957, through Jan. 18
The exhibit’s 60-year span with some 60 examples of sheet music cover pages encompasses the format’s golden years.
Like LP covers in the late 20th century, “sheet music covers helped to sell the music,” co-curator Annemarie Sawkins says. “Sheet music is American historical ephemera. What excites me are the colors, the fonts, the graphics.” (David Luhrssen)
VILLAGE PLAYHOUSE villageplayhouse.org
VOICES FOUND voicesfoundrep.com
WALKER'S POINT CENTER FOR THE ARTS wpca-milwaukee.org
WATER STREET DANCE MILWAUKEE waterstreetdancemke.com
WAUKESHA CIVIC THEATRE waukeshacivictheatre.org
Dad’s Season Tickets , Sept. 12-28
Around these parts, Packers tickets are worth their weight in (green and) gold. Written by West Allis playwright Matt Zembrowski, Dad’s Season Tickets tells the story of a family’s bond and the role of the tickets. Decades ago, Mom broke her ankle (or foot, depending on whose version of familial history you choose). Eldest daughter Rhonda stayed home to help Mom in the kitchen. She is not the football type. Gabby went to the Packers game with Frank, their Dad, thus cementing the daughters’ roles in the family dynamic. (Blaine Schultz)
The Lion King Kids , Oct. 2-5
Plein Air Artists Reception: Oct 4
Laughter on the 23rd Floor, Oct. 17-Nov. 2
WEST ALLIS PLAYERS westallisplayers.org
WEST BEND THEATRE COMPANY westbendtheatreco.com
WEST PERFORMING ARTS CENTER nbexcellence.org/community/westpac. cfm
WILD SPACE DANCE COMPANY wildspacedance.org
InSite: At Havenwoods State Park, Oct. 10-11
WINDFALL THEATRE windfalltheatre.com
WISCONSIN CLASSIC STAGE joshpohja.com
WISCONSIN CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC wcmusic.org
WISCONSIN CRAFT wisconsincraft.org
MKE Fine Craft Studio Tour, Oct. 4-5
WISCONSIN DANCE THEATRE wisconsindancetheatre.com
WISCONSIN LUTHERAN COLLEGE CENTER FOR ARTS AND PERFORMANCE wlc.edu
WISCONSIN MUSEUM OF QUILTS & FIBER ART wiquiltmuseum.com
WISCONSIN PHILHARMONIC wisphil.org
Music of the Soul, Sept. 14 (Sharon Lynn Wilson Center)
As part of the Violins of Hope project, involving musical instruments that survived the Holocaust, the Wisconsin Philharmonic will perform Hasidic melodies and Jewish folk songs alongside classical selections. (David Luhrssen)
Prairie Voices, Oct. 12 (Oconomowoc Arts Center)
WOODLAND PATTERN BOOK CENTER woodlandpattern.org
WUSTUM MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS ramart.org
Importance of Agency in a Dogs Life
BY CANINE EINSTEIN
Ihave traveled to several countries around the world and I have noticed some key things regarding dogs and behavior. What I have observed is not ground breaking in the industry, many others have noted these as well, but to the average pet owner, they may be eye opening.
When we travel to other countries, I am always interested in how they treat their animals, especially dogs. Some countries, like Morocco have a high concentration of street dogs. Some, like Peru and Costa Rica, have pet dogs that are allowed to free roam all day. Then there are some, like Ireland, where the pet population are pets and not free roaming all day.
The thing that always strikes me is how few behavior issues, such as reactivity, anxiety, aggression, and fearfulness there is. Whether a street dog, a free roaming pet or a pet walked on a leash, these dogs are typically very well socialized and have few behavior issues. Some of this is because there is no room for a boorish, pushy over excited dog. The social pressures of the other dogs will help teach correct ways to interact. The other part though, may surprise you.
These dogs all have agency!
Agency is the dogs ability to make decisions. In our urban lifestyle, we often tell our dogs where to go, when to play, when to potty, when to sleep and what to eat. We dictate where they go on walks and at what pace. Most urban dogs don’t have a lot of agency or ability to make choices in their own lives.
In Ireland, I was struck by how people purchase dogs that are suited for their lifestyle (smaller dogs in the city center of Dublin, or herding breeds on the farms). More than that though, when people walk their dogs, they are walking with them. Dogs are allowed to move at their pace, to sniff, to explore and move on when they are ready.
They have some ability to decide the pace of the walk and were they are going. The same is true of street dogs in Morocco- they decide when to move, where to go and whom to interact with.
Photo by Jennifer Gauger, Unleashed with Love Pet Photography.
Think of free roaming pets in South America. These dogs are let out in the morning and are free to explore their neighborhood, choosing who to interact with an who not too. They decide if they want to rest in the sun or instigate play with another dog. They decide when they want to return home. That is a lot of choice for a dog!
In our urban environments, we cannot let our dogs run free and be loose all day. That is dangerous for them and not safe for others, but we can offer them plenty of choices. We can offer two puzzle toys at dinner and let them decide which to use. We can do a sniffy walk and let our dogs lead the way and set the pace. Even giving our dogs the ability to say no to petting, grooming, etc, when it is not affecting their health is important.
Giving our dogs agency helps them feel confident, they learn to problem solve and how the world works. Science tells us that the more agency we can give our pets, the less stress and anxious they are. It makes sense, they feel like they have some control over their lives.
Canine Einsteins gym rentals are designed to give your dog all the agency they could want in the time they are with us. They decide what type of enrichment they want, where to go and when to move on. Try it and see if your dog is not more content after a 30 min session!
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)
Tales of the Road Dog
SKATE ROCKERS SOCIAL CIG UNLEASH NEW CHAPTER WITH LATEST MUSIC
BY JOSHUA M. MILLER
When it comes to creating music, Milwaukee’s Social Cig creates big-hearted skate rock anthems that sound best with the volume turned way up. A typical Social Cig song includes a healthy dose of guitars, drums and bass. There’s little electronics, just pure, unabashed DIY rock and roll.
“It's somewhat indie surf rock, but I don’t surf,” says singer-songwriter Parker Schultz, who started the group in 2019. “I've grown up skateboarding, so that definitely fit my identity a little bit more. It just sounds like it’d be in a Tony Hawk Pro Skater game. I just love catchy melodies, so anything that's really catchy and fun to sing, and just getting weird with it as of lately too, just really fits into the idea of skate rock or Midwest skate rock.”
That sound has evolved over the course of several releases, as Schultz and the band have gotten better at writing and playing. The group has grown from a solo project during college to a full-fledged band. Their latest evolution can be heard on their fourth studio album Patchwork: A Road Dog Story
“I've been definitely experimenting more with different sounds and just kind of having fun with it,” says Schultz.
For Schultz, each release represented a new chapter in his life. The songs for the band’s 2020 debut Prettier in Person were written while he was in college and made initially purely for fun and a way to share music with friends. He’s always “gravitated mostly towards writing” songs “from my perspective.”
He calls subsequent albums an “evolution of expression where it's always changing, maybe getting better with trying different things, changing different ways of writing songs and just grabbing from its personal experiences. It sort of brings me back to that era of my life of what was going on,” he says.
For example, the band’s sophomore album Nothing Is Ever for Sure and Everything Is Always Changing was written during COVID and a breakup. 2022’s Cheesehead is “a lot about the post-college adjustments to life and friends moving away and thinking about how things used to be.”
For its part, Patchwork focuses on the past two years. In that time, Schultz became a full-time musician and has gone on many tours with the band. “It's been a very different lifestyle compared to the last albums and my life in general,” he says. “I'm grabbing a lot from the experiences of being on the road and just seeing the world through the lens of a DIY musician.”
A ROAD DOG’S LIFE
Schultz, a West Bend native, moved to Milwaukee in 2017. He continues to grow confident in his abilities with every song, performance and encouraging words from family, friends and fans.
Touring has been a big part of his and the band’s growth. Schultz says that lyrically the band’s new album is a “tour diary of my travels and experiences on the road or being back home in Milwaukee.” He picked the “road dog” part of the title in reference to the toughened mentality he’s gained as a touring musician.
It also is fitting as he is a “dog dad” to a dog named Crab Cake, who often accompanies him and his girlfriend on solo tours.
“Road dog encapsulates being on the road and road dogging it, getting dirty, maybe not showering for a few days and ripping shows and just keeping on moving and going from city to city,” he says. “I'm on the road playing gigs, being a traveler amongst being a dog dad.”
He always enjoys seeing different parts of the country and cities he hasn’t been to before. It’s a chance to see different people and share his songs with new fans. It’s also a chance to reconnect with family and friends who are scattered around the country. “That definitely fulfills me a lot and just brings me back to my roots,” he says. “It just makes being on the road feel a little bit more like home.”
VALUABLE LESSONS
Being on the road has taught Schultz and the band valuable lessons of how to navigate everything. For example, he says they’ve had some tours where they’ve gone in and “not known where we were going to spend the night” and others where some of the shows were booked a week prior.
“Staying present amongst it all is a big one because when you're on the road time moves differently. It's like each day, just waking up, driving for a few hours and then unloading, it's just a pretty monotonous cycle of being. But to me it really feels like living and it's a whole lot of fun. But also, you can get pretty disoriented,” Schultz says.
Lessons of the road are detailed on new Social Cig songs such as “Midwest Cowboy.” Schultz wrote it in fall of 2024 when they were “headed to a show in Fort Wayne and the check engine light popped on.” After an unsuccessful attempt to get it fixed, they got back on the highway and were t-boned by another car.
“I literally thought the whole tour was going to be over,” he recalled. “We had seven or eight shows in a row, so I was like, ‘this is canceled.’ But we managed to get the rear wheels replaced, the van was still drivable, and we kind of figured it out with the help of some friends.
Just being very vulnerable on the road and making it work and just trying to get to the next destination. That song is about that tour and getting through it.”
There are also many lighthearted moments of touring, such as countless times goofing off with his bandmates. The band also features Elias Dorsey on bass guitar, Kai Dee on drums, Isaac Repinski on lead guitar, and, occasionally, Anthony Kopczynski on keys.
“It’s a little party in the van,” he said. “We have fun. I'm fortunate that the band guys that I'm with right now, we all get along pretty darn well.”
Schultz enjoys the flexibility of having a rotating lineup of the band that allows them to perform in different configurations.
“I've been friends with these guys for years, so it just was natural to have them on,” he says. “It’s just more of a vibe thing than a musician thing. And they're all just the craziest [talented] musicians on top of that too. But first they're friends.”
Social Cig will celebrate the release of their album September 12 at Turner Hall Ballroom with The Dead Bolts, Moonglow, and Mary Don't Care.
Joshua M. Miller is a Wisconsin writer who has contributed to Rolling Stone, Spin, Guitar World and MTV News.
This Month in Milwaukee NINE THINGS TO DO IN SEPTEMBER
BY SOPHIA HAMDAN, DAVID LUHRSSEN
AND BLAINE SCHULTZ
SEPTEMBER 5-6
TosaFest
Village of Wauwatosa
TosaFest returns on Friday, Sept. 5 from 5-11 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 6 from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Join Tosans for a vibrant, free street festival with live entertainment, an artisan market, beer gardens and so much more. Shop locally at your favorite community stores while sipping on delicious wine from The Village Cheese Shop. Learn more about the event at wauwatosavillage.org.
SEPTEMBER 13
Kid Congo Powers & The Pink Monkey Birds w/ Devils Teeth and Spidora X-Ray Arcade
Three years ago, Kid Congo Powers’ Some New Kind of Kick: A Memoir detailed experiences that ultimately led to his joining The Cramps, Gun Club and Nick Cave’s Bad Seeds. While he continues to tour, release albums, DJ and set fashion trends, Powers remains a vital artist whose concerts offer a direct link to some of the 20th century’s most iconic underground music.
SEPTEMBER 18-21
Dialogues Documentary Festival
Downer and Oriental Theatres
Milwaukee Film’s Dialogues Documentary Festival, presented by Potawatomi Casino Hotel, will consist of over 30 documentary programs screening at Milwaukee Film’s historic cinemas, the Downer and Oriental Theatres. Many of those films will be followed by in-cinema talkbacks and panels.
SEPTEMBER 20
Lene Lovich
Shank Hall
Lene Lovich was among the first wave of artists to record for Stiff Records in the late ‘70s; “Lucky Number” was the featured cut from the quirky vocalist’s debut album Stateless. In 2023, Cherry Red Records released a four CD set, Toy Box, containing material Lovich recorded for the Stiff label between 1978 and 1983. Her Milwaukee stop is part of Lovich’s first full North American tour in 35 years.
SEPTEMBER 21
Puerto Rican Festival
Summerfest Grounds
For the first time, Milwaukee’s annual Puerto Rican Festival will take place on the Summerfest Grounds. The new location gives plenty of stage-room for acts such as Impacto Salsa, Merengue All Stars, DJ Breezy, DJ Kenny Perez, Gego y Nony, Dibora Matos, Orquesta Ayala and many more. There will be a Puerto Rican cooking class and plenty of good food.
SEPTEMBER 23
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
The Pabst Theater
Here’s a prediction: one day in the future Gillian Welch and David Rawlings will grace a commemorative U.S. postage stamp. Transcending the parameters of folk music since 1996, the duo’s career has been based on richly detailed songwriting and telepathic acoustic guitar interplay. As if they needed more inspiration, in 2020 the duo’s Nashville studio was struck and severely damaged by a tornado.
SEPTEMBER 24
Dream Theater
Miller High Life Theater
With their 1989 debut album, When Dream and Day Unite, Dream Theater helped set the direction for progressive metal. Their live shows are known for their length as well as their volume, often clocking in at three hours, sometimes without intermission, and often leavened by unpredictable song choices. They have released 16 studio albums.
SEPTEMBER 26
The Gig is Up: 50 Years of Milwaukee Punk Posters
Real Tinsel Gallery
Imbued with punk rock’s DIY ethos, visual art followed the music. Phone poles on the East Side and Riverwest were covered in band posters from the ‘70s through the ‘90s, some produced by amateurs and others by art students who applied their design sensibility to the music they loved. This show will trace the city’s punk poster art from then through now.
SEPTEMBER 27
Trapper Schoepp - Osborne Album Release Show
Vivarium
For his recent album, Osborne, Milwaukee songwriter Trapper Schoepp draws from personal experiences. The album traces Schoepp’s path through addiction, recovery and chronic pain brought on by BMX accidents in his youth. Osborne borrows its name from the unit Trapper stayed at a Minnesota rehab facility and is also a nod to the songwriter's muse Ozzy, who attended the same facility.
PUERTO RICAN FESTIVAL
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Dear Ally,
I can’t sleep. I’m kept awake at night by negative recurring thoughts. I’m so unhappy. I thought I’d be further along in the world and judge myself harshly. I’m stuck in all aspects of my life. Everything: work, relationships, living situation. I can’t seem to move forward in any direction. If I could reduce all of my angst into one word; it would be fear. I’m afraid of everything. It’s not just failure; it’s the unknown. My world feels like it’s becoming smaller while at the same time, falling apart.
I’m falling apart. I don’t know how to deal with it. Where is this fear coming from? I’m in a dead-end job, which I don’t like at all. How can I apply for a new job when I feel like this? My girlfriend wants to take the next step in our relationship, but in this state, I’m not ready for a commitment. She tries to encourage me, but I’m too disgusted with myself, which makes me feel even more miserable.
I’m lost and have nothing to look forward to.
Can you help?
Stuck in Milwaukee
Dear Stuck in Milwaukee,
It sounds like things are not going your way.
You are not alone. Believe it or not, we’ve all been there. I think the first thing to think about is changing your mindset about your current status. When you think of yourself as stuck, it’s always negative. There’s nothing positive about feeling stuck.
Rather than judging yourself, try to imagine that you are In Between.
In Between is recognizing that you are in a transition phase. Transition implies movement. Your feet are in both worlds. The world of your past, which you’re trying to change and the world of your future, which you know nothing about.
Sometimes In Between can feel a lot like waiting, which many of us don’t like. Waiting implies feeling passive; of not being in control. Doris Reach, executive coach and courage specialist, believes that “growth often happens in the waiting.”
She accepts “that waiting is not unproductive time, but it forces us to learn patience, emotional regulation, adaptability and acceptance of uncertainty.” It also teaches us how to be more present.
In between can be scary because of all of the unknowns. But it also leaves lots of room for growth, exploration and discovery.
“She found a part of herself that she didn’t know was there.” That journey transformed her fear into courage.
What would exploration look like? It might involve and is not limited to: 1) paying close attention to what sparks your interest; 2) asking your friends when they’ve seen you the most enthusiastic about one of your or their ideas; 3) if you have a good relationship with your parents or siblings, ask them what you loved to do as a kid.
All of these ideas can help you ignite a fire for change, a connection to your new world, and will open new doors to discovery.
When singer Billie Eilish was interviewed on CBS Sunday morning with Nora O’Donnell, she talked about her fear of going on tour by herself. This would be the first time she would be performing without her brother, Finneus O’Connell. She was especially scared about being able to reach a high note in one of her songs. Finneus had always been supportive, how could she appear solo without him? She was riddled with dread and trepidation.
Rather than be overcome by fear, she took voice lessons. She said that the experience opened so many doors for her.
Billie Eilish feeling afraid and taking voice lessons is a perfect example of the In Between phase. Being scared, but still exploring and finding something wonderfully unexpected.
Besides that, Billie rediscovered her joy in music. Can you try to find some joy in your life? Can you play your favorite music, see a friend or read an inspirational poem—anything that can transport you to a different space?
Jennifer Wagner said it best. “Mornings are for fresh starts. Evenings are for soft landings. In Between, we simply do our best.”
If you can work on believing that it’s OK to be scared, ask for help, find some joy and trust that you’ll land on your feet, you’ll be able to thrive in the In Between and excel in your self -exploration.
You can do this!
Here for you,
Send your questions
WHO ARE THE SCREENWALKERS?
BY PHILIP CHARD
You’ve seen them. Perhaps you are among them. I call them “screenwalkers.” In terms of their state of awareness, they bear some resemblance to sleepwalkers and often face similar hazards. Sleepwalkers sometimes tumble down stairs, careen out of windows and suffer other damaging falls. In kind, the social media junkyard provides lots of videos of screenwalkers smacking into trees, parked cars, doors and even nose diving into fountain pools, as well as myriad other obstacles.
When doing my morning yoga routine, I see them shuffling by on the neighborhood sidewalks, sometimes pushing baby carriages or walking dogs. Face planted on their screens, usually smartphones, they ghost through the world like zombies, on occasion with similar facial expressions. While present in the physical world, these folks are cognitively elsewhere. This split screen existence (pun intended) is illustrated by a line from the comedy troupe Firesign Theater who crooned, “How can you be in two places at once when you’re not anywhere at all?” Seems to fit.
ENSNARED BY DEVICES
Look, I realize there are good reasons for engaging with these devices, that they are deeply intertwined with our work and personal lives.
However, given that the average adult spends seven hours a day staring at screens, often doing so while walking, sitting with others, going to the bathroom or, heaven forbid, driving, the whole scenario feels like a tragic comedy.
Not unlike the creatures in the movie Alien that lock on to the face of their human host and impregnate them with a gestating alien egg, smartphones do something similar to our brains, but psychologically. Once infected, the human host interacts with that device intently and frequently, sometimes more than with their fellow Homo sapiens.
If sufficiently addicted, screenwalkers become less emotionally intelligent (research backs this up). After all, when your constant companion doesn’t require empathy, deep conversation or terms of endearment, you get lazy. This dispassionate indifference can begin seeping into one’s human interactions, which suffer accordingly.
Illustration by GettyImages/vatrushka67.
If you spend more time texting people or watching cute cat videos than truly socializing with members of your species, don’t expect to remain good at doing so.
COMATOSE LIFE
Not long ago, a screenwalker almost took me out on a stairway, me going up and she descending. It was a twolane affair, so to speak, but she was smack in the middle. Fortunately, just before she careened into me, I saw her agape, defocused gaze and grabbed the railing.
Startled by our crash, she blurted out a brief, mumbled apology and then resumed her descent, her face once again locked on her smartphone’s screen. I didn’t speak what I thought, which was “Enjoy your life in a coma.”
Of particular concern are the yappy screenwalkers. You know, they are speaking to their smartphone as they amble along and, ostensibly, there’s another human on the other end. Although, increasingly, they are talking to chatbots, who also live in that little handheld computer we call a phone.
I’m more of a private person, so the thought of sitting in a restaurant, on an airplane or even on a park bench with other people around and conducting a conversation is just not my thing, so there’s my bias. Nonetheless, what I find fascinating about yappy screenwalkers is their willingness to broadcast their personal saga to strangers, most of whom are not the least bit interested. Count me among them.
Obviously, none of this is the smartphone’s fault. Screenwalkers are simply a demonstration of what happens to some humans when they get a shiny new toy and then bequeath it their autonomy. That’s how we know when technology is psychologically and socially harmful; when it becomes the master and one is relegated to servant.
The thing screenwalkers and many technology geeks don’t grasp is summarized in this quote from humanistic psychologist Rollo May: “Technology is the knack of so arranging the world that we don’t experience it.”
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.
HOW SOON IS TOO SOON?
DEAR RUTHIE,
I’m a transgender man, and I keep getting ghosted when I disclose. Should I stop telling people so early on?
HELP,
Wondering Wayne
DEAR WONDER,
You do you, my friend! If you’re comfortable in your own skin and proud of who you are, you should, indeed, share whatever your heart desires. If they ghost ya, screw ‘em! You don’t need people like that in your life anyway,
If, on the other hand, you feel that disclosing certain things about yourself too early is upsetting relationships, consider scaling back a bit. Do some soul searching and see how that feels. Note, too, that the timing of telling others personal info can change from friend to friend. Disclosing that you’re a transgender man, doesn’t need to follow a cookie-cutter formula.
In the end, you’re the only one who can make this decision. Being proud of who you are, feeling safe to share details and staying true to yourself are most important. Follow your heart, honey.
Ruthie's Social Calendar
SEPTEMBER 4
PRIDE IN PREVENTION AT WAUWATOSA PUBLIC LIBRARY (7725 W. NORTH AVE.): This four-hour resource fair focuses on mental health, connection and support among the LGBTQ+ community. Starting at 3:30 p.m., panel discussions, presentations and materials focus on suicide prevention and creating safe spaces.
SEPTEMBER 7
FIREFLY ART FAIR AT WAUWATOSA HISTORICAL SOCIETY (7406 HILLCREST DRIVE): What happens when Judy Garland stops by a bar in 1969 Brooklyn? A spirited night of song, story and success! The team at Fiddlin’ Theatrical produces this new musical that runs through September 13. Stop by www.sunsetplayhouse.com for details.
SEPTEMBER 12
OPENING NIGHT OF “ONE THING LEADS …” ART EXHIBIT AT AQUAE NGUVU GALLERY AND STUDIO (207 E. BUFFALO ST.): Wearable art and freestanding sculptural shapes combine in this intriguing exhibit from Val Kupczak. Enjoy the installation before it closes November 15.
SEPTEMBER 14
BIG GAY 5K WALK/RUN AT VETERANS PARK (1010 N. LINCOLN MEMORIAL DR.): The team at MGSN (Milwaukee Gay Sports Network) hosts this fundraiser sure to start your Sunday off on the right foot. Walk, run or just have fun, but swing by registration at 8:30 a.m. before the step off at 10:30 a.m.
HOKUS POKUS LIVE! AT THE PABST THEATER (144 E. WELLS ST.):
Drag super stars Ginger Minj, Jujubee and Sapphira Cristál fly into Cream City as America’s favorite spooky sisters. Featuring powerhouse vocals, the mustsee comedy brings the cult classic to the stage with an 8 p.m. performance. Visit www.pabsttheatergroup.com for tickets.
SEPTEMBER 16
BONNIE RAITT: LIVE 2025 AT THE RIVERSIDE THEATER (116 W. WISCONSIN AVE.): The renowned songstress returns to Milwaukee with a stop on her latest tour. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for the concert that begins an hour later. See www.axs.com to guarantee you have seats to the unforgettable event.
SEPTEMBER 20
TENNIS BALL 2025 AT LACAGE NITECLUB (801 S. SECOND ST.):
Cream City PAH hosts this daylong celebration for the kink, leather and LGBTQ+ communities. In addition to vendors, presentations and lessons, attendees will also enjoy a formal dinner followed by a night of dancing. Check out www.creamcitypah.org for details.
SEPTEMBER 21
PACKER PARTY AT POP (124 W. NATIONAL AVE.): Touchdown Tony and Kickoff Kujo host this wild Packer-watching party that includes a jock strap contest, halftime prizes, raffles, and food and drink specials. The game starts at noon but get there early to nab a good seat.
SEPTEMBER 27
THE QUEENS: 4 LEGENDS, 1 STAGE AT FISERV FORUM (1111 VEL R. PHILLIPS AVE.): Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight and Stephanie Mills all on one stage? Celebrate decades of music excellence and pure diva deliciousness during what is sure to become a memory-making experience. Nab seats to the 8 p.m. extravaganza via www.fiservforum.com.
SEPTEMBER 30
OPENING NIGHT MRS. DOUBTFIRE AT MARCUS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER (929 N. WATER ST.): The much-loved film comes to life with this musical that has theater-lovers talking! Check out the gender-bending comedy that’s sure to become one of your new favorites before the run closes October 5. See www.marcuscenter.org for more.
Karen Valentine and Maple Veneer’s
‘Bosom
Buddies’ Celebrates Its 7th Anniversary at LaCage
BY PAUL MASTERSON
The seventh anniversary performance of Karen Valentine and Maple Veneer’s “Bosom Buddies—The Original Cocktail Hour Drag Show” takes place September 13 at Milwaukee’s La Cage NiteClub. It is not an ordinary drag show by any means. The cocktail hour production has a bit of history and a back story.
The hook devised back when the show was launched in 2018 was its unusual 5 p.m. curtain time. According to Maple Veneer (James Strange), the duo approached LaCage owners George and Cory to pitch the show and suggested the time slot. “George and Cory were all for it and it stuck,” Veneer said, adding, “A lot of us don’t like to go out late.” For LaCage, it is an opportunity to welcome a broader audience at an otherwise quiet hour.
Smashing the old myth of drag queens not appearing before 10 p.m. (and always late, at that), this pioneering early bird special was an instant success. Its advantages did not go unnoticed. Audiences (skewing older, Veneer notes) embraced the cocktail hour niche as the perfect time for grabbing a drink and enjoying a light-hearted divertissement before heading out for dinner, a grand night out on the town, or a relaxing night back at home on the couch. Of course, imitation is the greatest form of flattery. Soon other drag shows got in on the action, starting a trend that has now established itself as an integral part of the entertainment circuit.
Karen Valentine (Michael Johnston) explained the premise. “It’s civilized. We wanted a casual Saturday atmosphere like the days of having events at people’s homes. Our banter is unscripted. Karen is a trying to be sophisticated, Maple is not. We do Broadway and stage numbers, sometimes with guest performers from local theater groups like the Rep and the Skylight who promote their shows—especially the LGBTQ themed ones.” That cross pollination is another unique feature of the “Bosom Buddies’ brand. The midmonth performance dates are also strategic. “Shows have been traditionally held in the middle of the month so people have money—they’re broke at the beginning and end of the month,” Valentine quips. “It’s an honor to host the show and the guest performers. If you can make an audience laugh or cry, it’s like an orgasm.”
THE BACKSTORY
It should not be a surprise that “Bosom Buddies” has become such staple of Cream City’s drag must-sees. Both Karen Valentine and Maple Veneer are long-term veterans of their craft as well as high profile activists of their community. Meeting in 2004 the pair discovered their mutual affinity and compatibility as performers. “We found we work well together,” Veneer said, “We share the same sense of humor but Karen’s has less swearing.”
As a member of Dale Gutzman’s troupe of itinerant actors, James Strange performed in Kviv and Odessa, Ukraine, in 1993 and 1997. On the second tour he played the lead role in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. His later Off the Wall Theatre appearances include a broad and varied range of roles in such works as Tennessee Williams’ Camino Real (2015), Jean Paul Sartre’s No Exit (2016), and Gutzman’s adaptations of Christopher Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus (2018) as Mephistopheles himself no less, and Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol (2019).
He also did numerous fundraising gigs for a range of charities that includes the Metropolitan Community Church; MKE Drag Queen Story Time for Courage MKE; One Heartland, a local organization dedicated to serving youth health and social needs; Progressive Moms of Milwaukee; and Thrive Learning MKE.
As a player for the Saturday Softball Beer League’s (SSBL) Kruz Bar, the lofty 6’6” outfielder thwarted many batters, snatching fly balls with ease by merely stretching his gloved hand over his head. For those unfamiliar with his alter ego, it took a triple take and some convincing that the lanky drag queen Maple Veneer glamorously towering in stiletto heels (channeling 1930’s Berlin aesthetic, “I feel like Marlene Dietrich It’s all coming back,” she says), was indeed the same person.
Michael Johnston, too, has a long history of activism. “I found my community on the stage. I was never an athlete, so I performed,” Johnston said. As a founding member of Milwaukee’s first gay chorus, Fest City Singers in 1985, he helped the community weather the AIDS crisis both emotionally through music and through funding raising in support of the Milwaukee AIDS Project. Over the years, his roles have included bartender, bingo caller, cabaret performer and, since the pandemic, as hostess for Sunday Funday Showtunes.
Johnston was recognized in 2017 with the Shepherd Express LGBTQ Progress in Art and Culture Award for her lifetime of service as performer and as administrator of the Cream City Foundation’s arts dedicated Valentine Fund. In that role, he has distributed thousands of dollars in support of the community’s and the city’s cultural landscape.
Boom Buddies upcoming show dates are September 13 and October 18 at LaCage Niteclub at 5 p.m. Admission is absolutely free.
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
BY ART KUMBALEK
I’m Art Kumbalek and man oh manischewitz what a world, ain’a? So listen, here we be confronting the month of September, the so-called “harvest month,” according to 8th-9th century French top-dog Charlemagne’s calendar, so I’ve heard.
Calendars. Seems like every Tom, Dick and Dickless had some kind of calendar back in the very olden days.
Cripes, you had your Julian calendar, your Gregorian calendar and who-knows-what-the-fock calendar, all figuring which day of which month is the one saintly designated to toss a virgin (female, I’m guessing) into the mouth of a volcano, so’s to assist the success of some kind of harvest.
Yeah yeah, September, what the fock. Am I mistaken (always a good bet), but wasn’t it just August, and now out of nowheres we’re into the ninth month of the year? (Although, given a tad of research, I found this: As to the “Old English from Latin: the seventh (month) according to the original calendar of ancient Rome, from septem seven.” That means that September, technically, ought to be the seventh month of the year and not the ninth. Jesus H. Christ, my head spinneth like a globe orbiting a hot-focking star, forsooth.
Hey, I’ll tell you’s, when it comes to calendars, I prefer my “Strumpets of the South Seas” photographic 12-month wallmount, attached by a simple nail hammered into my kitchen wall. Such a source of modern monthly informational fount it has provided to be.
For instance, the precise date that the Monday holiday called Labor Day falls upon when we honor the workingman by pissing the day away drinking somebody else’s beer in some in-law’s backyard or a picnic park somewheres. Hey, how ’bout next year instead we pay tribute to our bluecollar people by working twice as hard and twice as long that day? You think? Yeah, that’s what I thought.
And speaking of the last extended weekend of the summertime courtesy of the Labor day; I happen to believe that if your free-will choice involved the secluded spectacle of outdoor camping out in the boon-focking-docks to celebrate summertime’s denouement, that is a notion that not only flies to the face of the natural course of human evolution but may also be some kind of unnamed perversion to boot, just so you know.
But do you’s remember regarding this ba-dee-ya month that’s certain to be full of earth, wind and fire, that there is one downside to September for me, you betcha.
That downside rears its ugly head when I hear the words “back to school.”
To this day of my advanced age—my scholastic career began back when President Ike Eisenhower had difficulty choosing which short iron to use for an approach to the green—I still get the heebie-jeebies.
And I’m a guy who hardly went to focking school even when I was going to school back at Our Lady In Pain Because You Kids Are Going Straight To Hell But Not Soon Enough. I believe it’s called Back-To-School-Syndrome or BTSS (ask your doctor), as the TV commercials for drug-pills would name it, and it’s not uncommon among veteran survivors of the old-school parochial school system, I kid you not.
I’ve been told that a symptom of the syndrome is an overwhelming urge to skip out of doing something you don’t feel like doing. I brought this up to my buddy Little Jimmy Iodine who set me straight and eased my mind. He said, “Artie, I’ll bet you a buck two-eighty that this need to skip out of stuff is some kind of misguided attempt to recapture the temporary joy you experienced as a lad whenever you skipped goddamn school. Yes, you were partaking in atrisk behavior, in that you could’ve been run over by a beer truck while attempting to duck the truant officer. But big focking deal. Life is temporary. At least you would’ve died doing what you loved best—focking off.” Thank you for the therapy, Jimmy.
And in conclusion, let us not forget that September marks the return of Lord Football and circled on my South Sea Strumpets calendar is Sunday, Sept. 7, when our beloved Green & Gold are scheduled to storm Lambeau Field so’s to demolish the formerly hapless Detroit Lions on our way to Super Bowl LX, what the fock.
Okey-doke, Genug ist genug, and as the song says, “When the autumn weather turns the leaves to flame,” I hope these precious days serve you well, today, tomorrow and forward, ’cause I’m Art Kumbalek and I told you so.
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