August 2020 Print Edition

AUGUST 2020

WITH THE GLOBAL DNC COVERAGE,

WILL MILWAUKEE WOW THE WORLD? IN THIS ISSUE: • Downtown Milwaukee Dining Guide • Wisconsin Used to be a Player How We Lost our Place in the Presidential Primary?

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NEWS

THE SHEPHERD IS BACK:

NEW LOOK, SAME COMMITMENT is a very difficult industry with a difficult business model. With Facebook and Google having convinced much of the world that “print is dead” and they are the only places to advertise, most media companies have been severely hurt. On the bright side many advertisers are now realizing that print also works well for their businesses, and print is rated one of the top three most effective ways to advertise in some of the latest surveys.

F

or the first time in 38 years, the Shepherd had to suspend publication in mid-March primarily to protect the health of our employees and their families. As you recall at that time, we did not have a good understanding of COVID-19 or its primary mode of transmission and exactly who was most vulnerable. Also, we had a Shelter in Place directive from Governor Evers to try to slow down the transmission of the virus.

Today, even though the number of new cases seem to be on the rise again in Wisconsin and 38 other states, we now have a much better understanding of the COVID-19 and a decent understanding of how to protect ourselves if we follow some basic protocols. So,

2 | Shepherd Express

the Shepherd has decided to return to the streets.

During the almost five months without a print edition, there were major changes going on at the Shepherd. First, without a newspaper, we were able to focus all our resources online. We increased the content on our website and significantly increased our website readership. We also started to produce our e-newsletter daily for our over 50,000 subscribers.

It’s a Difficult Industry When we stopped printing, many readers and even many of my good friends didn’t think we would ever come back as a print publication. I think almost everyone realizes that the media business

Like most small media companies, we understand the Shepherd will never be a highly profitable venture. However, we also understand that the Shepherd has an important role to play in Milwaukee, so we work hard to ensure we will be around for many more years. We have added creative ways to maintain revenue. We have cut costs. I have not taken a salary for years and I have no plans to ever start taking a salary again.

I view the Shepherd as an important institution in Milwaukee, like Summerfest, The Rep, Potawatomi Hotel and Casino, the Outpost, the Pabst Theater, or the Urban Ecology Center. These are all important parts of the cultural fabric of Milwaukee, and I feel it is an honor to be managing this particular institution and keeping it strong for another generation. I tell my friends that since I don’t have children or grandchildren to spend my money on, I will use the money to help support the Shepherd. I believe it is that important for Milwaukee.

Who is the Shepherd Readership?

The Shepherd readership is large and though it dropped from its highest

number according to the well-regarded Media Audit of over 270,000 readers around 15 years ago, it still has over 185,000 print and online readers. In addition to our large readership, Media Audit has consistently shown our readers are smart, active individuals who are engaged in their communities and are better educated and have higher incomes than the average Milwaukee area resident. Shepherd readers are the people who make things happen in Milwaukee.

The Shepherd has made many changes over the past 38 years, but the underlying goals have essentially stayed the same. The Shepherd is committed to honest, intelligent and courageous “call it the way it is” journalism that should be available to all our citizens without any price barriers. The Shepherd has been committed to helping move Milwaukee forward in a progressive direction and has supported all the wonderful things our fellow citizens are doing to make this such a vibrant community.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the Shepherd has always been on the front lines of Milwaukee’s and Wisconsin’s push for social justice.

Social justice, as many of you know, has not always been a popular issue, but this has changed over the past few months. After we have all witnessed the slow and brutal murder of George Floyd captured on cell phone video by a brave young woman who would not stop recording the murder, America has awakened to our need to create some serious change. While some have criticized the Shepherd over the years for its views on social justice and some rightwing business owners have refused to advertise even after admitting that “your readers are our customers,” a majority of Americans and the Shepherd Express are now on the same page on many social justice issues according to the recent national polls.

Our New Model Going Forward So, going forward, what is the new Shepherd model? Over the past five months I have spent a lot of time on the phone with loyal readers, advertisers and fellow publishers of weeklies similar to the Shepherd, and I’ve had many meetings with key staff to work out our model going forward. Our goals will continue to be to provide the Milwaukee area and the State of Wisconsin with honest, courageous journalism, highlight the hundreds of progressive things that our fellow citizens are doing, support the arts and entertainment community and help promote all of Milwaukee’s unique businesses and nonprofit organizations which make Milwaukee such a great place to live, work and play.

Our readers said they wanted the Shepherd to continue what it is doing but would like us to explore some additions--an architecture and design section, a health and fitness column, an engaging business and economics section, more neighborhood features and many other great ideas to be done in a Shepherd way.

Our advertisers said they enjoy our publication, love our demographics and reaching that audience, and they want us to do whatever we can to make their ads “jump off the page.” Some of our fellow publishers are questioning the need for a weekly paper if you combine our daily online content with a well-designed monthly. The fellow publishers are also discussing ways to diversify our revenue streams, so we are not totally dependent on advertising.

All the above discussions have helped us shape the new Shepherd model.

The Shepherd will continue to build our engaging online presence with our website that provides hour by hour news coverage and our daily e-newsletter that comes to your inbox every day.

We will be slowly adding new sections over the next year as we find the right individuals to manage those sections.

Our monthly printed Shepherd will highlight some of the best articles presented in an aesthetic and engaging glossy news magazine. We believe that the creativity along with our dynamic new format will cause our ads to “jump off the pages.”

Friends of the Shepherd Express Finally, we will continue to expand our current efforts to diversify our revenue base beyond advertising. In January we created our Friends of the Shepherd to enable our readers to conveniently provide monetary support. Each year, we would receive a few letters from readers who understood the difficult business environment media companies face and would enclose a check.

They would say things like, “we have been enjoying the Shepherd for years and felt we need to help support it.”

The Friends of the Shepherd Express provide an easy way for our dedicated readers to help us continue to pay the bills by becoming subscribers to the Friends of the Shepherd Express.

Through the Friends of the Shepherd, I met, over the phone, a 104-year-old Milwaukee area woman who has been a lifelong advocate for social justice and a strong supporter of the Shepherd.

When the pandemic has been brought under control, she invited me to her home for coffee. What an honor!

We hope that the future Shepherd model provides you everything you expect from the Shepherd Express plus more.

Stay safe in these uncertain times, Louis Fortis Editor/Publisher Shepherd Express

August 2020 | 3

NEWS

NEWS

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06 Wisconsin Used to be a Player How We Lost Our Place in the Presidential Primary?

10 Milwaukee’s Socialist Heritage 14 Democrats Have a Chance (and the Duty) to Reclaim America’s Past Greatness TAKING LIBERTIES 16 Issue of the Month 17 The Modern World 18 One Person Can Really Make a Difference HERO OF THE MONTH 20 Que El-Amin OFF THE CUFF 23 Taking It to the Streets METRO MILWAUKE TIMELINES

FOOD & DRINK 24 Milwaukee Chefs Moving Cautiously on Reopening Their Dining Rooms 27 North Avenue Grill Serves Comfort Food When We Need It Most 28 The Italians Know What to Do with Parsley FLASH IN PAN

Photo Credit: Tyler Nelson

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SPECIAL SECTION 32 Milwaukee Downtown Dining Guide 38 Patio Guide

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CULTURE

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41 ‘The New Normal’ as Milwaukee Arts Group Plan the Fall Season 44 Generations in Music: Family Legacies in Milwaukee Rock 48 This Month in Milwaukee

LIFESTYLE 50 Telemedicine Moves Forward in the COVID Era HEALTH & FITNESS 52 The Body Speaks OUT OF MY MIND 54 Cannabis is a Big Employer, But Not in Wisconsin HEMP 58 Amp Up Your Abode with Easy Curbside Appeal DOMICILE 60 Take a Hint From the Big Wig DEAR RUTHIE 62 The DNC: Less Party, More Mission MY LGBTQ POV 64 Art for Art’s Sake

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PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Louis Fortis (ext. 3802) GENERAL MANAGER: Kevin Gardner (ext. 3825) MANAGING EDITOR: David Luhrssen (ext. 3804) STAFF WRITER/COPY EDITOR: Jean-Gabriel Fernandez (ext. 3818) ASSISTANT TO THE GENERAL MANAGER: Blaine Schultz (ext. 3813)

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EVENT SALES COORDINATOR: Carrie Fisher (ext. 3823)

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EVENTS OPERATIONS COORDINATOR: Hannah Nestle (ext. 3816) CREATIVE SERVICES: WaterStreet Creative (414) 292-3845 ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Bridgette Ard (ext. 3811) Brian Travis (ext. 3829) EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE SALES DIRECTOR AND PUBLISHER: Jackie Butzler (ext. 3814) BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER: Chuck Hill (ext. 3822)

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IN MEMORY OF DUSTI FERGUSON (OCTOBER 18, 1971 – NOVEMBER 20, 2007) WEB PUBLISHER: Cole Vandermause (ext. 3807) WEB EDITOR: Tyler Nelson (ext. 3810)

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WEB WRITER: Allen Halas (ext. 3803) BUSINESS MANAGER: Peggy Debnam (ext. 3832) CIRCULATION COORDINATOR: Blaine Schultz (ext. 3813) Distribution: Shepherd Express is available free of charge. The Shepherd Express may be distributed only by authorized distributors. No person may, without prior written permission of the Shepherd Express, take more than one copy of each monthly issue. Mail subscriptions are available. No refunds for early cancellations.

One year (12 issues) via First Class mail: $100.00 207 E. Buffalo St., Suite 410, Milwaukee, WI 53202 Phone: 414/276-2222 Fax: 414/276-3312 Advertising Inquiries: jackie@shepex.com e-mail: info@shepex.com URL: shepherdexpress.com

SHEPHERD EXPRESS MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, REGARDING ANY ADVERTISING. DUE DILIGENCE IS RECOMMENDED BEFORE ENTERING INTO ANY AGREEMENT WITH AN ADVERTISER.SHEPHERD EXPRESS WILL NOT BE HELD LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OF ANY KIND RELATING TO ANY AD. PLEASE CHECK YOUR AD THE FIRST DAY OF PUBLICATION AND NOTIFY US OF ANY CHANGES. WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ERRORS IN ADVERTISING AFTER THE FIRST DAY. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO EDIT, REJECT OR RECLASSIFY ADVERTISEMENTS AT OUR SOLE DISCRETION, WITHOUT NOTICE. WE DO NOT KNOWINGLY ACCEPT ADVERTISEMENTS THAT DISCRIMINATE OR INTEND TO DISCRIMINATE ON ANY ILLEGAL BASIS, OR ARE OTHERWISE ILLEGAL. NO REFUNDS FOR CANCELLATION AFTER DEADLINE, NO COPY CHANGES EXCEPT TO PRICE OR TELEPHONE NUMBER.

August 2020 | 5

NEWS

WISCONSIN USED TO BE A PLAYER

HOW WE LOST OUR PLACE IN THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY?

BY MICHAEL CARRIERE

O

n April 7, 2020, Wisconsin voters aligned with the Democratic Party headed to the polls to cast a vote for their preferred presidential candidate. Of course, there were other candidates to vote for that day, including Jill Karofsky, who ended up defeating Daniel Kelly in a closely watched Supreme Court race. But many Wisconsinites turned out to voice their support for who would ultimately take on Donald Trump in November, an election whose importance for the future of the United States cannot be overstated.

Adding to the gravity of such a deci-

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sion was the fact that, as media outlets around the world pointed out with equal parts incredulity and derision, the Wisconsin primary was taking place during the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Republican Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos—while wearing a full-on hazmat suit—told prospective voters it was perfectly safe to stand in line for hours to cast their vote. And many such voters did have to wait in line for hours, particularly in Milwaukee.

The pandemic forced the city to close 175 of its 180 polling places. Thousands of voters thus flocked to just five locations to exercise their voting rights.

Needless to say, social distancing was not an option for such individuals.

On the one hand, it is quite inspiring that so many voters risked their health to cast their ballot under such stressful—and potentially dangerous—conditions. Yet the presidential race was already decided by that date, with Joe Biden using a strong showing in the 16 primaries held on March 3, 2020, or “Super Tuesday,” to pull ahead of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders (Sanders would formally suspend his campaign on April 8, 2020). In fact, Super Tuesday primaries—including such prizes

as Texas and California—now account for about one-third of total delegate allocation for both political parties. Ultimately, such a reality made Wisconsinites’ choice for the Democratic nominee for president irrelevant.

Wisconsin Leads the Nation with the Innovative Direct Primary Such an ignominious ending obfuscates the oversized role Wisconsin has played in the evolution of the presidential primary. Starting in the late 19th century, Wisconsin played a crucial role in the development of what came to be known as the direct primary, or an election in which voters decide their party’s candidate. Candidates from both parties, as well as national media outlets, saw the Wisconsin primary as an early proving ground for anyone vying for the presidency. At the same time, the growing popularity of such a tool in states across the nation weakened the power of Wisconsin’s presidential primaries, at one point the second series of primaries held in the country. After its creation, the direct primary became a way for states to jockey for influence in the realm of presidential politics. Wisconsin, indeed, the nation as a whole, continues to live with this turbulent history.

The story of the modern Wisconsin presidential primary begins in earnest in 1891. In light of the intense political corruption and extreme wealth inequality that marked the Gilded Age (sound familiar?), a cadre of progressive Wisconsin leaders looked for ways to make politics more democratic. That year, the Wisconsin legislation passed a law that sought to eliminate the caucus and convention system that chose candidates for local office. Under such a system, party insiders had close to

absolute control over which individuals would vie for elected office. The primary law of 1891 allowed electors to choose candidates, with information on this process published in newspapers in English, German and Polish. Yet, this law applied to counties with 150,000 or more residents, which at the time included only Milwaukee County.

By the mid-1890s the desire for further primary reform was gathering steam across the state. Looking for a way to get back into politics—he had lost his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1890—Robert M. La Follette Sr. saw the issue as a way to prove his

progressive bona fides. “At that time,” explained La Follette, “I had never heard of the direct primary. Indeed, there was no direct primary statute in any state excepting a weak optional law in Kentucky… I had resolved to attack and, if possible, overthrow the whole system in Wisconsin.” La Follette became governor of Wisconsin in 1900; direct primaries came to the state through legislation passed in 1903 and confirmed by public referendum in 1904. Wisconsin voters now had a direct say in which candidates would run for all state positions, including those allotting congressional representation.

Wisconsin Becomes a Major Player as an Early Primary State As the Progressive Era continued to exert influence on American politics— and as La Follette considered a bid for the White House—Wisconsin legislators extended primary reform to presidential primaries in 1911. Wisconsin held its first direct presidential primary on April 2, 1912, with La Follette defeating William Howard Taft for the Republican nomination. Wisconsin was third on the presidential primary in 1912, following North Dakota and New York. As more states adopted presidential primaries, many of them came to schedule these events before April. Wisconsin would not be third on the primary calendar again until 1936 (and again in 1940, 1944 and 1948). It was second on the calendar in 1960, 1964 and 1968.

For The New York Times, such an early position in the primary calendar made Wisconsin an important bellwether state, “recognized as the first important, perhaps crucial, test of the primary season, a Northern state with a sizable population… and swing-voting tendencies.”

Wisconsin’s place in the primary calendar could help solidify the national viability of a relatively unproven candidate, as it did for John F. Kennedy in 1960. “Wisconsin voters,” the Times reported following Kennedy’s April 6, 1960, victory over Hubert H. Humphrey, “stirred by the primary campaign and the realization that their choice might determine the next Democratic Presidential nominee, turned out in a flood.”

For Kennedy youth organizer Fred Kessler—who would go on to serve in the state Assembly—the primary process was “very exciting… We had a huge presence of Kennedys in the state. We were almost like Iowa [now].”

August 2020 | 7

NEWS

For The New York Times, an early position in the primary calendar made Wisconsin an important bellwether state, “recognized as the first import- ant, perhaps crucial, test of the primary season, a Northern state with a sizable population... and swing-voting tendencies.”

The Wisconsin Direct Primary Produced Some Questionable Results But the Wisconsin primary could also provide a boost to unconventional candidates, giving them an early national platform. This was the case with the presidential campaign of racist demagogue George Wallace in 1964. The segregationist governor of Alabama, while coming in second in the state’s Democratic presidential primary, won 20% of the total vote, “rolling up,” as the Los Angeles Times noted, “twice as many voters as his opponents had predicted.” Such numbers were fueled

by Wisconsin’s use of the open primary, or an election in which voters are not required to declare party affiliation; this had been a component of Wisconsin’s presidential primaries since 1912 (by 2020, more than 20 states employed some type of open presidential primary). Many Republican voters therefore “crossed over” to vote for Wallace in 1964. Despite such a reality, the fact remained that Wisconsin allowed Wallace—and, more importantly, his ideas on race—to find an audience in 8 | Shepherd Express

the white ethnic neighborhoods that had been a part of the Democratic New Deal coalition for decades.

In 1968, Republican presidential can-

didate Richard M. Nixon would draw from Wallace’s strategy to appeal to disaffected white primary voters in both Wisconsin and across the country.

In fact, as baseball legend and budding political commentator Jackie Robinson noted in the Chicago Defender, Wisconsin was actually crucial to the northernization of Nixon’s “Southern Strategy,” or the use of racial issues to turn more whites to the Republican Party. “Perhaps in Wisconsin’s history of warmth toward Wallace,” wrote Robinson, “the ex-Vice President sees hope for a ‘write off the black vote’ policy.” And Nixon himself saw the importance of Wisconsin for his presidential ambitions. In July 1967, he informed the national media that his campaign would flounder without success in such early primaries as the one to be held in Wisconsin in April 1968. Following his decisive win in that contest, Nixon commented that his “total vote” in the state was a “certain sign that Wisconsin will be in the Republican column in November.”

1968 was an important year for more than just the Nixon campaign. In fact, that tumultuous year would prove to be pivotal in the evolution of the presidential primary for both major parties.

Between 1912 and 1968, only a handful

of states made the transition to direct primaries; on both the Democratic and Republican side, just 15 states made use of such a mechanism. Instead, many states continued to employ systems that allowed party insiders the ability to pick candidates. Such a system reached a breaking point during the chaotic 1968 Democratic National Convention. As protesters were met by state violence on the streets of Chicago, Hubert Humphrey secured the nomination without participating in any primaries; he was able to win by currying favor with party leaders in states that had yet to make the move to direct primaries.

The Infamous 1968 Democratic

Convention Lead to Major Changes The turmoil unleashed by the outcome of the 1968 Democratic National Convention led to the creation of the McGovern-Fraser Commission, chaired

by Sen. George McGovern and U.S. Rep. Donald Fraser. This commission called for reforms that the Democratic Party chose to enact by the time of the 1972 nomination season. At their heart, such reforms sought to simultaneously limit the influence of party insiders

during primary season while prodding states to make the transition to direct primaries. Candidate George McGovern’s landslide loss in the 1972 presidential election led some Democratic Party leaders to question the value of certain types of primaries, but Wisconsin—under the leadership of Gov. Patrick Lucey— mounted a spirited defense of such elections.

And this argument appeared to carry the day: Between 1968 and 1992, the number of states holding direct primaries for Democratic presidential nominations, for example, increased from 15 to 40. A similar trend was seen on the Republican side as well. By 1992, 39 states were holding direct primaries for GOP presidential candidates.

Yet, the turn to direct primaries was not without problems. The desire to allow for people to have a say in the primary process was always countered by the perceived need among party officials to ultimately end up with a candidate that was viable in a general election. To many such leaders, this meant working towards a system that would produce a winner earlier in the primary season, thereby minimizing intraparty conflict.

Such a reality led to the “front loading” of primaries, the scheduling of larger, more important states earlier in the primary season. This movement reached its apex in 1996 when California moved its presidential primaries from June 9 to March 26.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the 21st century has seen attempts by both parties to address this phenomenon of front loading. The need to address the

situation became glaring in 2008, when about 60% of Democratic delegates for the presidential race—and 55% of Republican delegates—had been decided

by February 5. For the 2012 election, both Democrats and Republicans agreed to a calendar, under threat of penalty, that would limit most state primaries until after the first Tuesday of March, with the exceptions of New Hampshire, Iowa, Nevada and South Carolina.

Such a rule, however, did not diminish the influence that a handful of places— including lily-white New Hampshire and Iowa—had on the selection of candidates that must be able to speak to a diverse country. Nor did this attempt at reform preclude state legislatures, those that usually set the primary date, from moving their primaries to March 1, 2016, (11 states held Democratic primaries that day, while 14 held Republican races).

And here we see why Wisconsin Democratic voters found themselves in such a powerless role this past April. For the Republican-controlled state legislature, an earlier 2020 primary date for the state would have made little sense.

Greater excitement for a primary— through its ability to influence a general election, for example—increases voter turnout, which then has an impact on “down-ticket” local races. For a party whose candidate faced no competition, the Republicans had no practical need to adjust the state’s April primary date.

Direct primaries may allow the people to have a direct say in the selection of presidential candidates, but the actions

of state legislatures around the country have the potential to limit the clout of such voices.

As the Democratic National Convention nominates Joe Biden as their candidate for president in August, it may be time to revisit how we got to such a place. Is it time for a system based on regional primaries, in which the United States is divided up into a number of zones, which then vote on certain days? Or

should the country move to a national primary model, one in which all voters get to have their voices heard on the same day? There is little doubt, as the debacle that faced Wisconsin voters in April illustrates, that the presidential primary system needs, once again, to be reformed. It is on policymakers in both parties to ensure that the presidential election of 2024 takes such a call seriously.

Michael Carriere is an associate professor in the Milwaukee School of Engineering’s humanities department.

August 2020 | 9

NEWS

HOW DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS

MOVED THE CITY FORWARD ONE STEP AT A TIME

By David Luhrssen

M

y father’s first job in Amer-

Although Milwaukee never elected

contributions to Milwaukee was the

ica was delivering milk

another Socialist since then, the party’s

tradition of clean, honest government.

and butter to the mayor of

pragmatic progressive legacy remains

Instead of the flagrant corruption

Milwaukee. Frank Zeidler (1912-2006),

visible. Milwaukee has one of Ameri-

that characterized many big cities in

Milwaukee’s final Socialist mayor, lived

ca’s most extensive public park sys-

20th-century America, including Mil-

in a modest home along the inner-city

tems, spurred by the Socialists’ belief

waukee when the century began, the

route where my father drove his delivery

that green space and fresh air should

city’s Socialists promoted cost-con-

truck. Years later, he recalled Zeidler

be available to everyone. They raised

scious civic-mindedness and public

as friendly and unassuming, eager for

the minimum wage and promoted the

responsibility.

a short chat in the kitchen on politics

eight-hour workday and the two-day

before leaving to catch the streetcar to

weekend against the objections of

Landslide Victory

his office in City Hall. Zeidler declined

corporate interests. They strengthened

Milwaukee’s Socialists were swept

to seek a fourth term in 1960, partly be-

the city’s health department and sent

into power by the 1910 municipal and

cause of a racist campaign that derided

inspectors into schools, factories and

county election through campaigning

him as sympathetic to Milwaukee’s black

restaurants. They helped establish

against a corrupt, self-serving admin-

population and accused him of actively

Milwaukee Area Technical College, a

istration. The Socialist small-business

recruiting black migrants to the city.

vocational training school for the mass-

owner Emil Seidel led the field and be-

es. They pushed for goals that would

came mayor. Socialist candidates won

later be achieved nationwide, including

21 of the city’s 35 aldermanic seats,

Social Security and women’s suffrage.

10 of 16 county supervisor seats and took two benches in the county court system. Charles B. Whitnall, who later

Milwaukee has one of America’s most extensive public park systems, spurred by the Socialists’ belief that green space and fresh air should be available to everyone.

spearheaded the growth of the park system, became city treasurer. Daniel Hoan was elected city attorney. The leader of the city’s Social Democratic Party, Victor Berger, took a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was a rarity on Capitol Hill in those years as a third-party congressman and a Jew. According to historian John Gurda, whose 2006 PBS series “The Making of Milwaukee” earned an Emmy for Best Documentary, “A potent combination

Frank P. Zeidler. Photo courtesy of the Milwaukee County Historical Society.

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Perhaps one of their most important

of factors made Milwaukee a Socialist stronghold: intellectual currents that

crossed from Germany with leaders of the failed 1848 revolution, a huge working-class population, the corruption of the traditional parties, the killing of seven strikers in the 1886 demonstrations for the eight-hour day, and the organizing genius of Victor Berger.”

Berger set the tone for Milwaukee’s Social Democrats. A school teacher and theater critic, he stressed the importance of inspiring public opinion and founded one of America’s leading Socialist newspapers, Wisconsin Vorwärts (Forward). Although he was an intellectual, he had no patience for the ideological hairsplitting that often divided the left. Berger was content to be described as an “evolutionary moderate” who changed the world through one initiative at a time. He placed his faith in the ballot box of democracy, not the barricades of revolution.

Berger was a skillful tactician, linking

as leaflets passed from hand to hand.

local Democrats and the often relative-

his movement with organized labor

Although Milwaukee’s Social Demo-

ly liberal local Republicans. Although

and mobilizing his “Bundle Brigade”

crats emerged from Turner Hall and

no longer dominant in all branches of

of thousands of volunteers who cir-

other male-oriented German cultural

local government, they continued in

culated tens of thousands of leaflets

institutions, Berger pitched its appeal

key offices and infused the city with

throughout the city; his ideas went viral

across ethnic lines and eagerly enrolled

fresh ideas, implemented pragmatically

women into the party.

and democratically. They were dubbed “Sewer Socialists” for their emphasis on nitty-gritty details such as sanitation

He placed his faith in the ballot box of democracy, not the barricades of revolution.

and garbage collection.

Daniel Hoan, for whom the bridge spanning the Port of Milwaukee is named, became mayor in 1916 and served for 24 years. Frank Zeidler was elected mayor in 1948 and continued his party’s tradition of efficiency,

Pragmatically, Democratically Milwaukee’s Socialists were unable to repeat their landslide in post-1910 elections. For many years they competed with better-funded campaigns by WisEmil Seidel. Photo courtesy of the Milwaukee County Historical Society.

consin Sen. Robert La Follette’s Progressives, the relatively conservative

honesty and concern for the underdog.

That he governed Milwaukee through the era of Joe McCarthy, the infamous Red-baiting U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, testifies to his political acumen as well as the state’s purple-colored political history.

August 2020 | 11

NEWS

12 | Shepherd Express

Milwaukee’s Socialist past has been

effectively ended Milwaukee’s

Zeidler a “model Milwaukeean.”

getting a second look and is featured

socialist experiment.

I asked him why.

“But the socialists won elections

“Frank Zeidler was a model Milwau-

because they listened to the people,”

keean because he was steeped in its

Gousha continues. “Milwaukeeans

history and devoted to its betterment,”

in the 2020 documentary “America’s Socialist Experiment,” aired on PBS stations across the U.S. The program’s co-producer, Marquette University Law School’s Mike Gousha, distinguished fellow in law and public policy, explains the decline of Milwaukee’s Social Democrats. “On some occasions, especially in the early years, they overreached.

They struggled to counter the idea that Socialism and Communism were the same, and they didn’t create the next generation of socialist leaders, which

wanted an end to corruption. The So-

he replies. “No one has ever had a bet-

cialists restored honesty and integrity

ter grasp of our city’s past, and no one

to government. Milwaukeeans wanted

ever worked harder for the common

a cleaner and safer city. The Socialists

good.”

made significant advances in public health. Milwaukeeans wanted to enjoy their lives outside of work.”

In the dedication to his 2007 book,

David Luhrssen has authored several books on American and cultural history. He taught history of Wisconsin at Milwaukee Area Technical College.

Cream City Chronicles, Gurda calls

August 2020 | 13

NEWS

DEMOCRATS HAVE A CHANCE (AND THE DUTY)

TO RECLAIM AMERICA’S PAST GREATNESS

By Joel McNally

W

hen Joe Biden announced his presidential candidacy, no one knew when he accepted the nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee a year later it would no longer be safe for 50,000 people to gather anywhere in Donald Trump’s America.

Trump’s failure to organize a national strategy to protect Americans in an international pandemic left the U.S. with the highest death toll in the world, still rising toward 150,000 fatalities even before an expected second wave surge in the fall.

Trump’s public health disaster led directly to economic disaster, wiping out seven straight years of economic

14 | Shepherd Express

growth under President Barack Obama and Biden, and three more under Trump. The successful U.S. economy crashed, leaving tens of millions jobless in a plunging national depression.

presidency to benefit anyone other than himself. He simply delighted in all the new opportunities for self-aggrandizement and personal corruption to increase his own wealth.

Every American’s life has been upended in ways Trump’s supporters couldn’t have imagined when they elected an unqualified, self-obsessed TV celebrity. Trump never intended to use the

The Highest Aspirations Biden idealistically embraces the highest aspirations of America’s founders.

He launched his campaign with Thomas Jefferson’s words: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.”

“We’ve heard it so often,” Biden said, “it’s almost a cliché. But it’s who we are.

We haven’t always lived up to those ideals; Jefferson himself didn’t. But we’ve never walked away from them before.”

With those words, the president of the United States assigned a moral equivalence between those spreading hate and those with the courage to stand against it Biden contrasted Jefferson’s words with Trump’s after Klansmen, neo-Nazis and other right-wing extremists terrorized Jefferson’s hometown of Charlottesville, Va., in August 2017. Armed militants combined celebrating Trump’s election with protesting Charlottesville’s plan to remove statues of Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson from its downtown.

They waved Confederate flags and swastikas, using the flagpoles to beat African Americans. One self-proclaimed Nazi intentionally drove his car into a crowd of counter-protesters killing a young woman and injuring dozens of others.

“That’s when we heard the words from the president of the United States that stunned the world and shocked the conscience of this nation,” Biden said. “He said there were ‘some very fine people on both sides’… With those words, the president of the United States assigned a moral equivalence between those spreading hate and those with the courage to stand against it."

President of the Confederacy?

Three years later, Trump still vows to stop the removal of more than 1,500 statues of treasonous Confederate generals who fought the United States

to protect slavery as if he were running for president of the Confederacy.

Trump is intensifying the divisive, racist rhetoric that worked for him politically four years ago. But the U.S is a very different country now in the wake of the real-life American carnage created

by Trump himself.

to dismantle nuclear missiles 90 miles away in Cuba. Lyndon Johnson passed civil rights and voting rights laws, Medicare and Medicaid. Obama reversed what was then our second worst economic crisis with a massive stimulus and nationally subsidized health care sought by progressives for decades.

The winning platform for Democrats coming out of Milwaukee’s safely scaled-back convention will simply advocate doing everything any competent administration would do to protect the lives and economic futures of millions of Americans struggling to survive Trump’s failure to effectively respond to cascading national crises.

Protecting and expanding affordable health care remains the Democrats’ most politically popular issue with Trump’s Republicans still fighting before the Supreme Court to destroy all its benefits including guaranteed coverage for pre-existing conditions.

But elections aren’t just about the past. They’re about the future and Democrats can reach back into history for the roadmap. They envision Biden as the experienced, stable leader of a transformative “F.D.R. presidency.” The nation’s worst crises have produced America’s greatest Democratic presidents.

But elections aren’t just about the past. They’re about the future and Democrats can reach back into history for the roadmap.

Refocusing Government In the Great Depression, Franklin D. Roosevelt refocused government on providing economic opportunities for every American and a safety net for hard times. John F. Kennedy coolly stared down Russian aggression, forcing our most threatening adversary

Trump’s open racism also has become a liability for Republicans. An overwhelming majority of Americans were appalled by a video of police slowly murdering a handcuffed black man begging for his life and support ending violent racial inequality in American policing.

Biden wants history to look back on Trump’s presidency as a horrible aberration that doesn’t reflect the true character of the nation. He calls the election a battle for the soul of America.

Americans who love their country want to believe in its fundamental decency.

The worst year for America any of us can remember is the perfect time for Milwaukee’s unconventional Democratic National Convention to connect with safe gatherings of supporters all over the country eager to do everything they can to make America great again.

Like it was back in the days when we had great American presidents.

Joel McNally was a critic and columnist for the Milwaukee Journal for 27 years. He has written the weekly Taking Liberties column for the Shepherd Express since 1996.

August 2020 | 15

NEWS

IS IT TIME FOR OUR RESTAURANTS TO FREE THEMSELVES FROM THE

TYRANNY OF THE NATIONAL FOOD DELIVERY COMPANIES?

By Louis Fortis

R

estaurant food delivery services, along with pick-up and carry-out, have helped to keep many restaurants in business during the pandemic while providing a convenient service for their customers. But unfortunately, there is another side to this relationship that is behind the scenes.

Talk to the owners of your favorite restaurants and you will invariably hear many complaints about the national food delivery giants like Grub Hub and the Uber Eats. You will hear such complaints as “I never asked to be involved with their delivery company and they just latched on to me and started advertising my menu.” Or “they are using an obsolete menu that I never gave them and won’t post my current menu causing me problems with my customers.”

The big complaint, of course, is “they’re charging me 20-30% off the top of my order as their fee.”

And, “They advertise that they are our partners, but some of us never wanted to partner with them but now have little choice. Since these are national or international companies backed by hundreds of millions of dollars, they can do massive advertising to communicate with our customers to go to their websites so it comes down to, do I pay them their 20% or 30%, or do I lose getting the order.” Yes, it does sound like the type of business Tony Soprano could embrace, explaining that “I got a deal for yous restaurant guys.”

What Can Restaurant Owners Do? America has a long history with many

16 | Shepherd Express

examples of how local communities or communities of businesses responded to the predatory actions of the large companies, starting with farmers over 150 years ago. Wisconsin and Minnesota led the way with farmers coming together to address a problem by taking it over and doing it themselves. One of the best models for responding to these circumstances is for the people

nies have become very large businesses.

Land O’Lakes, an industry leader in dairy products, is a member-owned cooperative that deals with a whole array of agricultural products. Golden Guernsey is also a cooperative. Northwestern Mutual, one of Wisconsin’s largest companies, is a mutual company owned by its policyholders.

Should Restaurants Consider Taking Control of Their Destinies?

or businesses to organize and set up their own company. That is why we had and still have mutual savings banks and credit unions, for example, where the customers are also the owners.

The agricultural communities often set up producer cooperatives based on European models where small farmers organized to vertically integrate and take control of the next step by setting up their own processing companies (more importantly in the early years: buying inputs and transporting and marketing outputs cooperatively). Wisconsin dairy farmers, for example, set up their own dairy processing cooperatives that were owned by the small farmers. They became their own middleman. Some of these cooperatives and mutual compa-

Should the restaurant owners come together and form a cooperative or use their well-established restaurant association to organize and create a locally owned producer cooperative to provide their delivery services?

Wisconsin has excellent cooperative laws developed over the years that continue to have strong bipartisan support.

Cooperatives are a type of for-profit business.

In a pure cooperative structure, each member is an equal owner and each member gets one vote. However, there can be many variations to the pure model where, for example, members don’t have equal share ownership, or even equal voting. The members elect a board to represent their interests and the board hires a CEO to manage all day to day operations of the business. It is run like any other for-profit business except it is member owned.

The board members are all owners. All profits go to the members who are the owners and are often distributed in an amount proportional to the revenue

they generate for the cooperative.

Where Do We Get the Apps and the Software?

The next step is the technology and apps. There are apps and software that technical people across the country have developed that can be purchased or leased. An entrepreneur in Iowa City appears to have a very good system. It will take some time and energy to get this started, but any restaurant that is in this for the long haul might want to consider taking control of something like their delivery service. Delivery has become a major cost to restaurants and will probably become a bigger part of the fabric of American life even after a vaccine is developed and administered.

Once established, the restau-

rant owners can make it clear that they would love to deliver your order, but there is only one company they use and that is Milwaukee’s own restaurant delivery cooperative.

Now that business is currently slow due to the pandemic, is it time to take more control over your food delivery model?

Louis Fortis is the editor/publisher of the Shepherd Express. He also has experience with cooperatives.

Fortis was CEO of the Wisconsin Community Development Finance Authority in the 1980’s and part of its mission was to assist in the creation cooperatives. He is a Ph.D. economist by formal training and taught an annual graduate seminar at UW-Milwaukee on community economic development that included a major section on cooperatives. Fortis was also on the board and was treasurer of the Outpost Coop in the 1990s.

for wearing masks.

We’re All In is an initiative based on the idea that to move forward, we need to have each other’s backs. Adjusting our behavior is the surest way to slow the spread of COVID-19 and the smartest way to improve our economy.

Discover more things you can do at WeAreAllInWI.com.

August 2020 | 17

NEWS

Photo Credit: Erin Bloodgood

Camille Mays and her fiance Greg Powell sit in front of the garden plot they maintain on Center Street and 39th Street. The plot is next to the new George Floyd and Black Lives Matter murals.

HERO OF THE MONTH

ONE PERSON CAN REALLY

MAKE A DIFFERENCE Camille Mays is an activist, mother and fighter for justice

By Erin Bloodgood

O

f the many heroes in our city, Camille Mays stands out because of the tireless work she has committed to violence prevention and speaking out for our city’s underrepresented neighborhoods. She is a hero because dedicates every free moment she has to helping others. Wheth-

18 | Shepherd Express

er she is supporting families of victims of gun violence, organizing a protest or assisting people to register to vote, she puts her community first.

Activism is her chosen work because she wants to change the systems in this country that were built on racism. She is tired of being oppressed. She ex-

plains physically seeing the neglect of the government in her own neighborhood of Sherman Park. Trash litters the ground, potholes loom large compared to the pristine streets Downtown and school ratings don’t compare to those of mostly white neighborhoods.

Mays first got involved through work

she did on political campaigns, but her true passion was working directly with people in the community. She began helping people register to vote and educating them about the candidates running for office. From there, she immersed herself in the political process, learning how the system worked and going to all the public meetings that she could.

Beautify Neglected Neighborhoods As Mays walked along city streets in neighborhoods such as Sherman Park, she would notice small memorials for people that died from gun violence and other crimes. Those small memorials were the only flowers she could see amidst the unkempt grass with scattered trash. She wanted to beautify these areas of the city that were clearly neglected, which gave her and her fiancé Greg Powell the idea to start the Peace Garden Project MKE. In this ongoing project, Mays and her fiancé work with families who have lost loved ones to crime and helps them build permanent memorials. These memorials serve multiple purposes: They bring the community together to volunteer, they give the families a way to heal and they adorn neighborhoods where residents often describe feeling forgotten by the city.

The first memorial she helped erect was in 2015. The ongoing project led her to do more work with violence prevention in Milwaukee, such as sitting on the board of Crime Stoppers and marching in protests. Then in November of 2019, the violence she had been fighting to end hit home when her son was killed by a gunman. Her world changed, but her work didn’t. She vowed to fight for justice, not because of her son’s death, but because she wanted to keep violence out of her community.

Fight Against Violence Now in 2020, she continues to do everything she can to keep her followers safe. On her Facebook Page, she has been posting updates about COVID-19, as well as information on how other can get involved in the fight against violence. On July 4, she spoke in a march for mothers who have buried a child, called “Mothers Leading the March.”

And on August 15, she is organizing an event where participants will be beating guns into garden tools to support families who have lost loved ones to homicide.

If we want a country where “all men are created equal,” then we must continue to support the organizations leading the movement until real changes are actually made.

need to remember that the police were started as a slave patrol,” she states.

It’s the responsibility of white people to understand the systematic oppression that has been built into our country from the beginning. Black Americans and other minorities have not had the same opportunities as whites, proven by things like redlining, police brutality and mass incarceration. “They don’t understand that, and we need white people to explain it to [other white people],” says Mays. If we want a country where “all men are created equal,” then we must continue to support the organizations leading the movement until real changes are actually made.

Learn more about Mays’ work at www. facebook.com/peacegardenprojectMke.

Erin Bloodgood is a Milwaukee photographer and storyteller. Click the link to see more of her work.

Mays has been fighting these battles for years and is glad to see protesters speaking out against systemic racism.

She explains how she’s been fired up for a long time and that it’s about time for others to feel the same way. Whether change will finally happen in this country, she does not know. The protests need to continue until significant policies and funding are altered to help people of color, she says. The protests and support from allies cannot stop until that happens.

Most importantly, Mays emphasizes that people need to educate themselves on America’s history that was left out of school curriculums. “People

August 2020 | 19

OFF THE CUFF:

BUILDING A NEW, SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY Off the Cuff with Milwaukee activist-developer Que ElAmin

By Louis Fortis

T

he Community Within the Corridor is a multimillion-dollar development project that will transform

an abandoned, inner-city industrial site into a community with affordable apartments and office space, retail shops, a daycare center and amenities such as a skate park and a putting green. I caught up with one of the Milwaukee activists behind the project, Que El-

Photo Credit: Tyler Nelson

Amin.

We have met a few times over the past couple of years to discuss your visionary project when it was in the conceptual stage. Now it is becoming a reality. Please describe your project.

The Community Within the Corridor is

from the trees. MacArthur Award-win-

a $60 million renovation of the former

ner Emmanuel Pratt was my professor

Briggs & Stratton complex on 32nd and

and he opened up my world to sustain-

Center in Milwaukee. Over 380,000

able development, community engage-

square feet is being developed by

ment and an unknown word, aquapon-

Scott Crawford, Inc. and Roers Com-

ics. His leadership then and what he is

panies and will create 197 affordable

currently doing with The Commons in

apartment units; over 25,000 square

Chicago was inspirational. When I got

feet of recreational space and 35,000-

back to Milwaukee after graduating,

plus square feet of commercial retail

I took that inspiration and purchased

space. The development team was

orchards throughout the city, which led

very intentional in providing the ele-

to my current real estate endeavors.

ments to build and sustain a successful family onsite. Urbane Communities and Sharp Creatives were brought on board to procure owners and operators for a laundromat, small grocer, sports facility, daycare center and afterschool programming. Lastly, TCWTC will host the Creative Corridor, with the goal to retain, cultivate and connect local

We want to make sure that this project is developed by members of the community, meaning Milwaukeeans.

artists and creatives to resources which

Photo Credit: Tyler Nelson

Development projects, especially ones as visionary as your project, are one challenge after another, even after it is completed and fully rented. What are your current challenges at this stage of development?

Our current challenges include getting community-based subcontractors signed up and prepared to bid at the suggested capacity to take on a job of

will build capacity and access to local

this size. We want to make sure that This particular project manifested

this project is developed by members

itself much like other projects, through

You have a good reputation.

So, for people who have never heard of you or your project, tell us a little something about you—where you grew up, how you learned the development business, how you came to focus on this particular project.

of the community, meaning Milwaukee-

multiple failures. This was the third

ans. Also, for residents that directly live

redevelopment site that Jennifer Green

around the Center Street area, we are

of Commercial Realty Advisors showed

helping to eliminate some of the barri-

me as she knew redeveloping historical

ers that people have in that process.

I am Que El-Amin, a Milwaukee native

and national markets.

who graduated from Dominican High School. I then went on to earn an undergraduate degree from UW-Madison in art and later attended Chicago State University for my master’s degree in geography. Directly after graduating with my undergraduate degree, a good friend of mine, who was a loan officer at the time, introduced me to real estate. I began flipping smaller properties during the height of the real estate market until it crashed. It took me attending Chicago State for my master’s

buildings was an interest of mine. We were able to agree on site control in

Other challenges include programming.

2016 with the owners and 4-years later,

While we have already raised capital

finally able to purchase it.

to redevelop the structure itself, there is an ongoing effort of greater magni-

You have completed the purchase of the property and have the architectural designs completed. What are your next steps.

The next steps for the project are many,

tude to raise capital for enriching the residents that will live onsite, as we also help the surrounding community to thrive in life through the hiring of the most talented people.

including a Workforce Development

We are still looking for healthy food

meeting on August 4, hosting commu-

options to occupy space within the

nity tours in September and continuous

corridor, including a small grocer, food

conversations with the community for

delivery systems and urban agriculture

feedback. Construction starts in No-

options.

vember 2020.

degree that I began to see the forest August 2020 | 21

NEWS

Shop Women’s Clothing, Footwear, Accessories and Gifts!

Photo Credit: Tyler Nelson

I think this will be the catalyst to the revitalization of the 30th Street Industrial Corridor, which is the heartbeat of Milwaukee, into a thriving neighborhood.

tance of including ancillary services into affordable housing developments.

Second, we will be able to provide an entrepreneurial based STEAM educational program that has been proved to be effective for over 3,500 students nationally. It has embedded the skillsets needed to ensure success in the digital age, with the effect of creating employers and employees that create value, locally, nationally and internationally.

Thirdly, I think this will be the cata-

Once this project is completed, what effect do you think it will have on the community?

lyst to the revitalization of the 30th

Once completed, I think this project will

thriving neighborhood. This project

be an example of what can be done in

has the capacity to become what the

the community in multiple realms. First,

Sabine Lofts is to the Houston Bayou

I think it will be a shining example of

and the Fulton Cotton Mill Lofts to the

community-based development, mean-

Atlanta Beltline. These developments

ing members of the community, politi-

bring hundreds of thousands of people

cians and financiers working together

together through art and recreational

to better the community. It will help to

activities.

show real estate developers the impor-

22 | Shepherd Express

Street Industrial Corridor, which is the heartbeat of Milwaukee, into a

TAKING IT TO

THE STREETS Demonstrations are not new to Milwaukee

By David Luhrssen

Milwaukee on Strike

Open Housing for All

May 3, 1886

Aug. 28, 1967

A general strike brought the city to a standstill as factory workers and employees of all kind, even newsboys, walked off the job as word of the action spread across Milwaukee. The unplanned, unanticipated event spun out of May Day protests on behalf of better working conditions and a shorter workday. The strike was peaceful until May 5, when Wisconsin Gov. Jeremiah Rusk arrived in town with the militia. He ordered troops to open fire on Polish immigrant workers at the Bay View rolling mill, killing at least five.

Father James Groppi led an NAACP youth group across the 16th Street Viaduct, a bridge symbolic of the divide between the black North Side and the white South Side. The march to protest racial discrimination in housing was opposed by demonstrators who supported the status quo of legal segregation.

Despite a police escort, the march was targeted by some 5,000 white counter-demonstrators hurling epithets, bottles and stones. He continued marching for 200 nights—in minus 7-degree temperatures that winter—until March 14, 1968. The City of Milwaukee eventually passed an open-housing ordinance.

Civil Rights Protests Begin Aug. 23, 1963 The eyes of America were on Washington, D.C, as Martin Luther King Jr. declared, “I have a dream.” On that same day, the Civil Rights Movement emerged in Milwaukee when the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) staged a sit-in at the County Courthouse and occupied the City Hall office of Mayor Henry Maier. CORE demanded the resignation of sausage tycoon Fred Lins from the city’s Social Development Commission (SDC) after Lins said that many blacks had “an IQ of nothing” and look “so much alike that you can’t identify the ones who committed the crime.”

Fighting War with NonViolence

waukee 14, as the men became known, stood together, sang songs and read from the words of Jesus while awaiting arrest. Twelve were found guilty of theft, arson, and burglary.

Reclaiming Native Land Aug. 14, 1971 As part of a nationwide series of occupations, Native American activists from the American Indian Movement (AIM) seized an abandoned U.S. Coast Guard station on Milwaukee’s lakefront (1600 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive). AIM established the Indian Community School on the site. The institution, which incorporates indigenous culture into a contemporary curriculum, remains vital today in its new location, 10405 St. Martins Road, Franklin.

Sept. 24, 1968 Five Roman Catholic priests and nine other activists entered the Downtown Milwaukee offices of the Selective Service, seized draft records and burned them in a nearby public park. The Mil-

August 2020 | 23

FOOD & DRINK

CHEFS MOVING CAUTIOUSLY ON

REOPENING THEIR DINING ROOMS

By John R eiss

L

ocal chefs and restaurateurs are taking thoughtful steps as they navigate the challenge of re-opening their dining rooms in the new reality of the COVID-19 era. While many hoped that the worst had passed, case numbers continue to climb making decisions difficult. The chefs and restaurateurs I’ve talked to have decidedly mixed feelings on getting back to business. Many are weighing the health concerns of their employees versus the need to make a living. It’s not an easy choice. Chef Adam Pawlak of Eggs & Flour Pasta Bar at the Crossroads Collective on Milwaukee’s East Side says, “It’s very difficult to be a restaurant owner right now.” He should know, his Bay View restaurant was set to open right when the shutdown hit back in March.

Karen Bell of Bavette La Boucherie in the Third Ward is taking a slower approach about opening up indoor seating saying, “We would really like to focus on outdoor dining for the imme-

24 | Shepherd Express

diate future.” AJ Dixon at Lazy Susan in Bay View said she, too, is committed to “take out or small patio outdoor-only dining for as long as I financially can.”

Andy Schneider of Le Reve in Wauwatosa opened up indoor dining and added a food truck but has since backtracked on the truck to focus just on the restaurant. He, like Bell and Dixon, has been doing carryout meals to stay afloat. Schneider says he’ll continue selling the family meals packs even though he’s reopened his dining room because he’s “found a diversified concept in the menu options” that appeals to a larger clientele with “different comfort levels.”

The pandemic fallout has made closures inevitable in a business with thin profit margins.

Whether restaurants can open at 50, 75 or even 100% capacity, the reality is that social distancing ultimately dictates how many you can seat in your dining room or outdoor space.

Joe Singer at Uncle Wolfie’s Breakfast Tavern in Brewers Hill says that “given the size of the space and our inside seating capacity of 40 (60 to include

the patio) the numbers don’t balance out.” Dane Baldwin at The Diplomat on Brady Street echoed similar concerns.

Those with outdoor seating have been able to serve more customers with the city helping out by issuing permits for restaurants to offer expanded outdoor seating.

Conscious About Safety Chefs, in general, are very conscientious about food safety and the added layer of protection now needed has made them even more vigilant. Requiring employees to wear masks appears to be a standard and some are adding protective barriers, too. They all have stated their desire that customers wear masks but don’t think it’s an enforceable option. All are providing hand sanitizer, and most are requesting guests to not walk around unless using the restrooms. As the pandemic wears on, businesses may be forced to be even more cautious because one COVID positive test, like Steny’s in Walker’s Point recently, will require you to shut down for deep cleaning.

Cullen: "Wages are not family sustaining; insurance benefits are lousy and the work is physically demanding," adding, “We need to treat our workers better.”

Caitlin Cullen at The Tandem restaurant in Lindsay Heights decided to pivot her restaurant to something different by providing free meals to those in need, with the help of funding from José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen

charity. She’s also been able to spread out the production to other chefs and restaurants, including Bavette, Lazy Susan and Sanford, to help keep them going during this time. Cullen is taking a measured approach to reopening and hopes to do so by late summer.

But the way of operating her business is going to change, saying that the hospitality business is “not taking care of their people. Wages are not family sustaining; insurance benefits are lousy and the work is physically demanding," adding, “We need to treat our workers better.” She’s been a force and a refuge in the community and talks about her staff like family.

Most restaurants, regardless of whether they continue to offer carryout service or not, have had to lay off lots of employees. Dixon says she’s only had to lay off three out of a staff of 10, but larger restaurateurs like Bartolotta’s, in shutting down all of their venues, had to lay off 950 employees. Some have seen this as a way to reorganize and streamline their operations. Menus have been simplified as well as service.

August 2020 | 25

This is just the first chapter in the new normal of the foodservice business.

Lost Revenue Cost cutting has also come from rent breaks. Jason Alston at Heaven’s Table BBQ at the Crossroads Collective says that getting a break on rent has helped to soften the blow of lost revenue. Dixon says that her landlord gave a break on rent as well, and their meat supplier, Gahn Meat Co. has been working with them on cost. And Pawlak says he’s getting a break on the rent at his Bay View location till it opens.

The pandemic fallout has made closures inevitable in a business with thin

profit margins. Blue’s Egg in Shorewood was one of the first. At the Mequon Public Market, Beans & Barley and Bavette decided to close their second restaurants to focus on their flagship operations. Other restaurants include Crawdaddy’s in West Allis and Crazy Water in Walker’s Point. Joe Parajecki, Pritzlaff Wholesale Meats sales rep and president of the local chapter of the American Culinary Federation, says that caterers in particular are “struggling the most and we are going to lose a lot of them.” This is just the first chapter in the new normal of the food-service business. There will be progress and pullback depending on how the virus travels. As Parajecki says, “The ones thinking on their feet are really killing it.”

John Reiss is a culinary arts instructor at Milwaukee Area Technical College and has taught many of Milwaukee area’s top chefs.

percorn Horsey” burger ($13), topped with bacon, cheese, delicate haystack onion strings and peppercorn horsey sauce, you are missing out on one of the best burgers in town.

All burgers are served with North Avenue Grill’s delicious house-cut fries, which are great on their own, but for a small upcharge you can elevate them even more by getting them “loaded” with cheese, bacon, green onions and sour cream.

NORTH AVENUE GRILL

SERVES COMFORT FOOD WHEN WE NEED IT MOST

By Susan Harpt Grimes

F

or more than seven years, North Avenue Grill in Wauwatosa has been a local hot spot for generously portioned breakfasts, enormous burgers and a fish fry that could compete for best-in-town. They remained open for carryout dining throughout the weeks of shelter-at-home, much to the relief of everyone needing a comfort-food fix. While the carryout business is still going strong, North Avenue Grill has returned to outdoor café tables and limited, well-spaced indoor seating.

Those choosing to dine on-site should make note to come early or plan to wait a bit for a table as there are fewer seats available.

If you want an excellent breakfast to fuel you up for the day, North Avenue has lots of options. One deceptively simple favorite is the bacon avocado quesadilla ($11), a perfect blend of eggs, bacon, avocado and cheese, served with crispy housemade cinnamon sugar fried chips. If you’re looking for a more traditional stick-to-your-ribs breakfast choice, go with the meat lovers skillet ($12), featuring North Avenue

Grill’s signature house-cut American fries topped with eggs, ham, steak, bacon and sausage, then smothered with cheddar jack cheese. Tasty omelets ($11-$12), yummy pancakes, waffles and French toasts ($7-$9), best versions of classics like corned beef hash ($12), eggs benedict ($11) and variations of breakfast wraps ($11-$13) round out the menu.

For lunch and dinner, excellent sandwiches, wraps and quesadillas ($10-$12) are all good choices. That said, it’s the burgers at North Avenue Grill that really standout. A fresh, half-pound of pure Angus beef, cooked to your specification of doneness, on a grilled bun that is sturdy enough to support the burger is perfection! Diners may choose their own toppings, with the “B.Y.O.B.” ($11), which include cheese, lettuce, onion and tomato ($1.50 per extra toppings).

Blue cheese lovers may prefer to go with the incredible “You’re My Boy Blue” burger ($12), topped with bacon, crumbled blue cheese, fried onions and lightly dusted with Cajun seasoning. If you’ve never tried their signature “Pep-

On Fridays, North Avenue Grill, embraces the original Milwaukee comfort food, the fish fry. They offer beer battered cod ($12); lake perch beer battered or pan fried ($13); walleye, available beer battered, pan fried or blackened ($14); battered bluegill ($14); and a platter featuring walleye, perch and bluegill ($16). All include housemade tartar sauce, creamy coleslaw and choice of house-cut fries or fan-favorite potato pancake.

North Avenue Grill 7225 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa 414-453-7225 | $-$$ Handicap accessible: Yes

Susan Harpt Grimes is a longtime restaurant and features writer for the Shepherd Express.

VEGETARIAN CAFE

BREAKFAST • LUNCH • DINNER

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FOOD & DRINK

FLASH IN PAN

THE ITALIANS KNOW

WHAT TO DO WITH PARSLEY

By A ri LeVaux

T

he farm-to-table movement

portion sizes at the farm table convey

put in a kettle with ham-

has motivated chefs to

the true reality of life on a farm. I just

burger, garlic, onions

got two recipes from my farmer

and steam-sauté it in

find creative ways

to showcase the harvest

friend Luci, one for beet greens

of their local producers.

and one for parsley, to con-

Menus are loaded with information about where the ingredients came from and how they were treated, but the recipes themselves often struggle to keep the story going. Dishes like roasted heirloom carrots or braised radicchio can sound pleasingly earthy, but are all too often boring, like overcooked and under-dressed salads. And some recipes try too hard, injecting foams and pickles into dishes that don’t add up to anything greater than the sum of their parts.

vert from bucket loads to cups.

Some of the ways Luci has of serving vegetables remind me of the menu of a fine Chinese restaurant, where dishes are named after a single vegetable like “eggplant” or “pea greens,” each with a simple, specific recipe that reflects the chef’s personality. Luci’s parsley and beet green recipes both contain ground meat, and like most of her recipes, healthy doses

But when the farmers who grow the

of fat. “I am not a low-fat cook.” she

food that feeds this movement sit down

announced, unprompted, before giving

at their actual farm tables, it’s a differ-

me the parsley recipe.

ent story. The food is not so fancy, but the dishes have meaning and history.

Many of the recipes come from other farmer friends similarly rich in vegetables. Many of the dishes are built and scheduled around seasonal surplus, and

28 | Shepherd Express

Luci doesn’t waste time or mince words, and barely needed a sentence to relay her parsley recipe to me over the phone. “Go out with a bucket and fill it halfway with parsley. Wash, chop,

chicken broth and fat with the lid on. Let it simmer so it’s nice and soupy juicy and delicious and green. Serve over buttered rice, and everyone is happy.”

It’s an Italian recipe, she added, that

version contained a single tablespoon

Beef with chicken stock, olive oil and

she got from our mutual friend Sarah

of parsley. DeSilvey’s mom used quite

butter might seem an awkwardly re-

DeSilvey, former farmhand of Luci’s

a bit more. Like a giant game of tele-

dundant combination, but they all make

who returned home to Vermont and

phone between Italian cooks and their

parsley taste better, and vice versa.

became a doctor. She says it was her

farmy overseas counterparts, this reci-

For a compromise between buttered

favorite dish growing up, her “every

pe has evolved at each stop (including

rice and bucatini, I went with orzo, the

birthday feast.”

mine). You may not find meaty piles

pasta that looks like grains of rice. It

of parsley and beet greens on many

carries the parsley sauce and sucks up

farm-to-table menus, but these simple,

the jus like rice, but has that springy,

veggie-centric recipes embody the es-

dreamy pasta feel, and, for fun, is more

sence of farm cooking, with a legitima-

true to its Italian roots.

DeSilvey’s mom got the recipe from The Complete Book of Italian Pasta

by Jack Denton Scott, who enjoyed versions of this dish in many kitchens around Rome, usually over the strawlike noodle called bucatini. Scott’s

cy that most farm-to-table restaurants can only crave.

August 2020 | 29

FOOD & DRINK

Parsley Serves 4 • 1 lb ground beef or similar red meat • 3 tablespoons butte • 1 tablespoon olive oil • 3 cloves garlic, chopped • Cup chopped onion • Teaspoon black pepper • 2-3 bunches parsley, preferably flat-leafed, which is much easier to clean • 2 cups chicken broth • 1 cup orzo (or some other pasta or rice) • 1 lemon • Red hot pepper flakes, to taste In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, fry the ground meat in the oil and two tablespoons of the butter on medium. Break up the meat with a spatula and cook until nicely browned. While the burger browns, put some water on for orzo and cook it.

Then, hold each parsley bunch by the leaves and mince the stems as finely as you can. Add the minced stems to the pan.

When the meat is browned, stir in the garlic, onion and black pepper.

When the onions disappear, add the parsley leaves and chicken broth. Simmer for five minutes.

Use the final tablespoon of butter on the orzo. At serving time, give each plate a squeeze of lemon and a dusting of hot pepper flakes.

30 | Shepherd Express

DINE-IN • TAKE-OUT

CURBSIDE SERVICE • LIVE MUSIC

Beat Greens This recipe also came to me in units of bucket loads.

We’ll call it the greens from one bunch of beets. I prefer the foliage of yellow beets, which are less earthy. You could also make this recipe with chard.

Serves 4 • 1 lb Italian sausage, uncased or chopped • 2 tablespoons olive oil

W180S7808 Pioneer Dr, Muskego, WI 53150 marxpioneerinn.com • (262) 971-1171

• Cup minced onion • 1 bunch beet greens • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 2 tablespoons soy sauce • 1 teaspoon black pepper Fry the sausage in the oil in a heavy bottom pan on medium heat. While it cooks, mince the stems of the beet greens. When the sausage has browned, add the onions and stems and cook until the onions disappear, about 10 minutes. Add the leaves, soy sauce, black pepper and garlic. Give it a good stir and cook until the leaves wilt.

Serve as a meaty veggie side dish, or on toast.

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

August 2020 | 31

SPECIAL: DOWNTOWN DINING GUIDE

DOWNTOWN MILWAUKEE

DINING GUIDE

By Allen Halas, Catherine Jozwik and David Luhrssen

M

ilwaukee became a leading city in the foodie movement during the past 15 years with plentiful farm-to-table and locally sourced options joining an increasingly diverse array of ethnic restaurants.

rants near the Wisconsin Center, 400 W. Wisconsin Ave., the site for the 2020 Democratic National Convention.

Before visiting, it’s a good idea to call these establishments to inquire about social distancing procedures.

As of July 2, the City of Milwaukee moved into Phase Four of its COVID-19 reopening plan, meaning bars and restaurants can now operate at 50% capacity. A new City of Milwaukee ordinance mandates that any person 3 years old and up should be masked when in public. Many restaurants had already put social distancing and safety precautions in place, including one-time use menus, and indoor and outdoor tables spaced 6 feet or more apart.

DOWNTOWN

Below is a guide to bars and restau-

AJ Bombers 1247 N. Water St. 414-221-9999 | ajbombers.com Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. daily Outdoor seating: No

Amilinda, which specializes in Spanish and Portugueseinspired cuisine, is currently open for takeout and curbside pickup orders. The restaurant plans to open for in-house dining in August.

Benihana 850 N. Plankinton Ave. 414-270-0890 | facebook.com/BENIHANA. MILWAUKEE/ Hours: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5 p.m.- 9:30 p.m.

Monday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m.-9 p.m. Sunday.

Outdoor Seating: No This sushi restaurant and Japanese steakhouse provides guests with a unique experience—food is prepared on steel grills right in front of them.

AJ Bombers, one of Milwaukee’smost popular hamburger joints, is known for its burgers, shelled peanuts and kitschy décor.

Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery

Amilinda

901 W. Juneau Ave. 414-630-1609 | bestplacemilwaukee.com

315 E. Wisconsin Ave. 414-369-3683 | amilinda.com Hours: 4 p.m-8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

Outdoor Seating: No

Patio: Yes Best Place, which originally housed The Pabst Brewing Company’s corporate offices and an area for hospitality, includes a beer hall, gift shop, a brewery tour center, two courtyards and a coffee shop.

It’s been said that absence makes the heart grow fonder.

We couldn’t agree more.

Our parks, trails, RiverWalk, museums, restaurants and retailers await your safe reacquaintance. With so much to discover and rediscover, we’re certain you’ll feel right at home again. So MKE the most of your time out.

MKE it back Downtown.

MDI25526-AD4_shepExMkeItBack_17x5_v02.indd 1

Currently, every area of Best Place is closed except for the coffee shop, which celebrated its reopening July 3.

Captain Pabst Pilot House 1037 W. Juneau Ave. 414-908-0025 | captainpabst1864.com Hours: 2 p.m.-9 p.m. Friday, 12 p.m.-9 p.m.

Saturday, 12 p.m.-7 p.m. Sunday.

Patio: Yes Built in 1872, Captain Pabst Pilot House started off as Milwaukee’s First German Methodist Church. After two years of renovations, Pabst reopened the church in 2017 as the Pabst Milwaukee Brewery & Taproom.

The church now served as a pilot house brewery, creating new and unique beers in the basement, while the taproom on the second floor was used as a music venue, restaurant and hosted brewery tours.

The Five O’Clock Steakhouse was one of the reasons cited when Forbes named Milwaukee as America’s Best Place to Visit in 2020. The pandemic may have reduced tourism, but the venerable supper club with its Swing Era vibe continues to serve some of the city’s best steaks and chops.

Hours: 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays (lounge open until 11 p.m.).

Outdoor Seating: No

Glass + Griddle

Sanford

1130 N 9th St 414-918-1550 | Glassgriddle.com Hours: 4 p.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday.

Patio: Yes One of Milwaukee’s newest beer halls, Glass + Griddle features a menu with creative eats and an everchanging craft beer lineup.

Jackson’s Blue Ribbon Pub: Downtown 1203 N. 10th St. 414-276-7271 | jacksonsmke.com Hours: 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to Close Friday, 1 p.m. to Close Saturday, 1 p.m.-8 p.m. Sunday.

Patio: Yes

Five O’Clock Steakhouse 2416 W. State St. 414-342-3553 | fiveoclocksteakhouse.com Patio: No

Jackson’s Blue Ribbon, nestled within the historical Pabst Brewery complex, features pub fare such as chicken wings, burger sliders and pizza, and regularly hosts events including Trivia on the Patio.

Mo’s…A Place for Steaks 720 N. Plankinton Ave. 414-272-0720 | mosaplaceforsteaks.com

This upscale steak and seafood restaurant also offers delectable desserts and elegant cocktails.

1547 N. Jackson St. 414-276-9608 | sanfordrestaurant.com Hours: 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 5:30-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Outdoor seating: no Sanford, which has been serving its high-end New American cuisine to Milwaukeeans for three decades, is currently open for curbside pickup only.

Swingin’ Door Exchange Saloon & Eatery 219 E. Michigan St. 414-276-8150 | swingindoorexchange.com Kitchen Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday.

Outdoor seating: yes Located in the historic Mackie Building, the Swingin’ Door serves American comfort food in a vintage saloon environment.

WEST TOWN/DEER DISTRICT Buck Bradley’s Saloon and Eatery 1019 Old World Third St.

MilwaukeeDowntown.com

7/27/20 10:19 AM

SPECIAL: DOWNTOWN DINING GUIDE

414-224-8500 | buckbradleys.com Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Outdoor seating: yes Buck Bradley’s, known for having the longest bar in Wisconsin, features pub grub such as onion rings and nachos, along with burgers, sandwiches, soups and salads and a brunch menu.

The Capital Grille 310 W. Wisconsin Ave. 414-223-0600 | thecapitalgrille.com Hours: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Friday, 5 p.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, 5 p.m.9 p.m. Sunday.

Outdoor seating: No This national chain steakhouse is also known for its fresh seafood and excellent wine list.

Carson’s Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue of Milwaukee 301 W. Juneau Ave. 414-223-3311 | ribs.com Hours: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m.

Friday and Saturday.

Outdoor seating: No With locations in Milwaukee, Chicago and Deerfield, Ill., the family-owned Carson’s has been serving steaks and its signature barbecue since 1977.

Mader’s 1041 N. Old World Third St. 414-271-3377 | madersrestaurant.com Outdoor seating: Yes Milwaukee’s oldest restaurant opened a new beer garden and continues to offer hearty German fare such as sauerbraten, schnitzel and giant pretzels.

The Mecca Sports Bar & Grill 1134 N. Vel R. Phillips Ave. 414-908-0401 | themeccamke.com Hours: 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Sunday.

Outdoor seating: Yes Although the Bucks and Brewers seasons have temporarily been halted, Fiserv Plaza’s sports bar is still operating, serving up bar favorites such as cheese curds, chili cheese fries, nachos, and chips and salsa.

Curbside pickup is available.

Milwaukee Brat House 1013 Old World Third St. 414-273-8709 | milwaukeebrathouse. com Hours: 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-2:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Outdoor seating: Yes Perhaps the most quintessentially Milwaukee restaurant in the city, the Brat House serves many variations of—you guessed it—bratwurst, along with other American pub cuisine.

Since 1946 • Formerly Coerper’s Five O’Clock Club

READY TO SERVE YOU… Outdoor Dining Available Reservations Required

Best of Milwaukee 2019 2018 2017

2016 2015 2014 2013

WINNER

“One Of America’s Best Steaks” (FOOD NETWORK & TRAVEL CHANNEL)

www.fiveoclocksteakhouse.com 414-342-3553 34 | Shepherd Express

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Good City Brewing 333 W. Juneau Ave. 414-539-4343 | Goodcitybrewing.com Hours: 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Sunday.

Outdoor Seating: Yes Good City Brewing is a local craft brewery focused on lasting friendships, a love of great beer, taking risks and a commitment to seeking the good of Milwaukee. Their menu features a great selection of local brews and affordable pub food.

The King and I 830 N. Old World Third St. 414-276-4181 | kingandirestaurant.com Hours: 4 p.m.-9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Outdoor seating: No Named after the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, The King and I serves up authentic Thai dishes such as coconut shrimp, Tom Yum soup and vegetable tempura.

Oak Barrel Public House 1033 N. Old World Third St. 414-897-8320 | oakbarrelmilwaukee. com Outdoor Seating: Yes Hours: 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 a.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-2:30 a.m. Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m. Sunday.

Pub specializing in artisan pizzas, smash burgers, tacos and sandwiches. The bar features a wide assortment of craft beers and whiskeys.

Who’s On Third 1007 N. Old World Third St. 414-897-8373 | whosonthirdmke.com Hours: 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 a.m.

Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m.

Sunday.

Outdoor Seating: Yes Sports bar located just one block from Fiserv Forum, featuring a menu of pub food and known for their famous wings.

EAST TOWN

seafood and a patio overlooking scenic parks near Lake Michigan.

Buckley’s Restaurant & Bar

Rare Steakhouse

801 N. Cass St. 414-277-1111 | buckleysmilwaukee.com Hours: 4 p.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.

Outdoor Seating: Yes

833 E. Michigan Ave. 414-273-7273 | raresteaks.com Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Friday, 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Saturday Outdoor Seating: No

A family-owned and operated establishment is dedicated to providing guests with an enjoyable dining experience in a comfortable atmosphere.

A fancy steakhouse with an old-school vibe serving classy cuts & sides paired with fine wines.

Café at the Plaza (Plaza Hotel) 1007 N. Cass St. 414-276-2101 | plazahotelmilwaukee.com/eat/ Hours: 7a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday through Sunday Outdoor seating: Yes The café in Milwaukee’s historic art deco hotel is currently offering carryout menu items only. Orders can be placed through the café’s website.

Mason Street Grill (Pfister Hotel) 424 E. Wisconsin Ave. 414-298-3131 | masonstreetgrill.com Hours: 4 p.m.-9 p.m. daily.

Outdoor seating: Yes Mason Street Grill’s classic American fare includes steaks, sandwiches and richly extravagant desserts.

Café Calatrava (Milwaukee Art Museum)

Elsa’s On the Park 833 N. Jefferson St. 414-765-0615 | elsas.com Hours: 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Monday through Friday, 5 p.m.-1 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Outdoor seating: No Since 1980, this cosmopolitan lounge in the heart of Milwaukee on Cathedral Square Park has been serving up creative cocktails and American comfort food such as burgers and nachos.

The Harp Irish Pub 113 E. Juneau Ave. 414-289-0700 | facebook.com/The-Harp-IrishPub-1102001463168544/ Hours: 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 1 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Outdoor seating: Yes This popular Milwaukee pub offers Milwaukee River views from its wooden deck, plenty of Irish brews, and menu items such as cheese curds, burgers and chicken wings.

The Knick (Knickerbocker Hotel) 1030 E. Juneau Ave. 414-272-0011 | theknickrestaurant.com Hours: 11 a.m.-12 a.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-12 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Patio: Yes This New American restaurant, located in the classy Knickerbocker Hotel, features sandwiches, fresh

540 E. Mason St. 414-223-0135 | wardshouseofprime.com Hours: 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

Outdoor Seating: No The East Town steakhouse is known for its high-end entrees served at reasonable prices in an atmosphere that’s upscale yet relaxed. Ward’s succulent prime rib was named by “Food Paradise” as “The Best in the USA.”

Zarletti 741 N. Milwaukee St. 414-225-0000 | zarletti.net Hours: 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 4 p.m.-9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

Outdoor Seating: Yes Enjoy a Northern Italian menu featuring signature dishes, homemade soups, pastas and desserts. The bar also features highly sought after and limited format wines.

Aloha Poke Co. (Carry-Out Only) 220 E. Buffalo St. 414-585-0000 | alohapokeco.com Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

County Clare Irish Inn & Pub

This cozy pub serves up traditional Irish food and brews in a warm atmosphere.

Ward’s House of Prime

THIRD WARD

700 N. Art Museum Drive 414-224-2300 | mam.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. when the Milwaukee Art Museum is open.

Outdoor Seating: No

1234 N. Astor St. 414-272-5273 | countyclare-inn.com Restaurant Hours: 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Bar Hours: 3 p.m.-midnight Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m.-midnight Saturday and Sunday.

Outdoor seating: yes

cocktails and food and drink specials daily.

Points East Pub 1501 N. Jackson St. 414-277-0122 | thepointseastpub.com Hours: 11:30 a.m.-9:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m.- 8:15 p.m. Sunday, curbside delivery only.

Outdoor seating: No This unpretentious pub is known for its chicken wings with savory sauces and Friday night fish fry.

Rodizio Grill

Hawaiian restaurant offering authentic seafood flavors and more.

Bavette La Boucherie 330 E. Menomonee St. 414-273-3375 | bavettelaboucherie.com Hours: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 11 a.m.9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.

Outdoor Seating: Yes Contemporary butcher shop and cafe offering sustainable meats, plus a daily lunch and dinner menu.

777 N. Water St. 414-431-3106 rodiziogrill.com Hours: 4:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4:30 p.m.-10 p.m. Friday, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday.

Outdoor Seating: No Outpost of a Brazilian steakhouse chain offering skewered meats carved tableside plus a salad bar.

Third Coast Provisions 724 N. Milwaukee St. 414-323-7434 | thirdcoastprovisions.com Hours: 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m.-9 p.m.

Sunday.

Outdoor Seating: No

Blue Bat Kitchen & Tequilaria 249 N. Water St. 414-431-1133 | bluebatkitchen.com Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Daily Outdoor Seating: Yes

Contemporary oyster bar and eatery specializing in seafood paired with cocktails and beer.

Airy, energetic outlet offering an array of global eats plus bowls, salads and more than 160 tequilas.

Victor’s on Van Buren

Café Benelux

1230 N. Van Buren St. 414-272-2522 | facebook.com/ VictorsOnVanBuren/ Hours: 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Monday through Thursday, 3 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Outdoor seating: Yes The popular and longstanding nightclub offers classy

346 N. Broadway 414-501-2500 | cafebenelux.com Hours: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. Brunch served from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday.

Outdoor seating: Yes The sister restaurant of Café Hollander and Café

Join Carrie Fisher as she heads to your favorite restaurant or undiscovered eatery to highlight specialty menu items and deals.

DECEMBER 3RD | SAINT KATE ARTS HOTEL

www.shepherdexpress.com/shepherdevents for more info! *event subject to change*

Centraal, Café Benelux specializes in cuisine from the Benelux region of Europe (Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands) and features an extensive beer menu.

Club Charlies 320 E. Menomonee St. 414-763-8548 | clubcharlies.com Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday.

Milwaukee Ale House 233 N. Water St. 414-276-2337 | ale-house.com Hours: 3 p.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 2 p.m.-8 p.m. Friday, 12 p.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, 12 p.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.

Outdoor Seating: Yes Microbrewery and restaurant on the Milwaukee River

Delightful neighborhood bar and restaurant offering a variety of drinks and pub fare in Catalano Square. Patio seating only available at this time.

Colectivo Coffee

offering house beers, live music and patio seating.

DanDan

Onesto

360 E. Erie St. 414-488-8036 | dandanmke.com Hours: 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Saturday.

Outdoor Seating: Yes

221 N. Broadway 414-308-1600 | onestomke.com Hours: 7 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.

Patio: Yes

Chinese plates of dim sum, noodles, stir-fries and more, doled out in a happening dining room.

Onesto (Italian for “honest”) serves locally sourced and modern Italian cuisine and offers an extensive wine list, along with decadent desserts and an espresso bar.

Freshfin Poke

Riverfront Pizzeria Bar & Grill

316 N. Milwaukee St. 414-763-0473 | freshfinpoke.com Hours: 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

Saturday.

Outdoor Seating: No

509 E. Erie St. 414-277-1800 | mkeriverfront.com Hours: 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

Outdoor Seating: Yes

408 E. Chicago St. 414-220-1155 | kanpaimke.com Hours: 3 p.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

Sleek, modern Japanese restaurant/cocktail spot putting spins on sushi and Pan-Asian small plates.

Lucky Ginger 221 N. Water St. 414-269-8699 | luckygingermilwaukee.com Hours: 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 4 p.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 4 p.m.-10 p.m.

Friday, 12 p.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, 4 p.m.-9 p.m.

Sunday.

Outdoor Seating: No

Tre Rivali (Kimpton Journeyman Hotel) 200 N. Broadway 414-291-3971 | trerivalirestaurant.com Hours: 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Patio: Yes

FIFTH WARD

Local coffee-chain Colectivo offers signature coffee and espresso drinks, bakery, sandwiches, and a breakfast menu.

Kanpai Izakaya (Carry-out Only)

Hip spot for breakfast and lunch classics plus coffee and cocktails in an understated modern environment.

With warm ambience (including striking floor tiles) Mediterranean restaurant Tre Rivali features fresh cuisine cooked over a woodburning oven and grill and several dining areas including a café, lounge, private dining area and sidewalk patio.

223 E. St. Paul Ave. 414-220-8330 | colectivocoffee.com Hours: 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.

Outdoor seating: yes

Locally owned and operated seafood group featuring signature bowls and several healthier options.

Hours: 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. daily.

Outdoor Seating: No

Light-filled, trendy waterfront tavern and bistro with lots of windows and casual Italian fare.

Screaming Tuna 106 W. Seeboth St. 414-763-1637 | screamingtuna.com Hours: 4:30 p.m.-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 4:30 p.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Outdoor Seating: Yes Casual Asian-fusion bistro offering sushi, seafood and steak plus skyline views, wine and cocktails.

Smoke Shack

Camino 434 S. Second St. 414-800-5641 | caminomke.com Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.

Unfussy neighborhood eatery and bar serving American pub grub, burgers and craft beers.

The Iron Horse Hotel 500 W. Florida St. 414-374-4766 | theironhorsehotel.com Hours: 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 4 p.m.-12 a.m. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m.-12 a.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday.

Patio: Yes Enjoy cocktails, cheese curds, or a fish fry at The Yard, the Iron Horse’s spacious and comfortable outdoor lounge beneath the Sixth Street Viaduct. (Note: the hotel’s two other restaurants and pubs, Ash Hearth & Bar and Branded, are currently closed).

Merriment Social 240 E. Pittsburgh Ave. 414-645-0240 | merrimentsocial.com Hours: 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 5 p.m.-10 p.m.

Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Sunday.

Outdoor Seating: No Open-air, urban-chic spot for globally influenced New American comfort food, plus beer, wine and cocktails.

332 N. Milwaukee St. 414-431-1119 | smoke-shack.com Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Outdoor Seating: Yes Slow-smoked barbeque and scratch handmade sides available for brunch, lunch and dinner.

Asian restaurant and takeaway outlet with Thai, Japanese, Lao and Vietnamese dishes on the menu.

Milwaukee Public Market 400 N. Water St. 414-336-1111 | milwaukeepublicmarket.org Hours: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday.

Outdoor seating: Yes Modeled after Seattle’s Public Market, the Milwaukee Public Market boasts a number of locally owned food and merchant vendors plus a second floor eating area.

Masks are now required for building entrance.

O’Lydia’s Bar and Grill

Sweet Diner 239 E. Chicago St. 414-488-9600 | sweetdiner.com

338 S. First St. 414-271-7546 | olydias.com Hours: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.- 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Outdoor Seating: Yes Irish pub in a historic building offering weekly food specials, regional beers and TVs showing sports.

SPECIAL: DOWNTOWN DINING GUIDE

PATIO GUIDE 2020

FIVE GREAT PLACES BEYOND DOWNTOWN

P

erhaps the safest social activity we can enjoy during this most unusual summer involves

some of life’s simple pleasures: fresh air, friends, a meal and a drink. For many years, the Shepherd Express published our annual Patio Guide at the start of the summer season with recommendations for outdoor eating and drink-

ing during Milwaukee’s precious warm months. We’re pleased to include the Patio Guide in the inaugural issue of our Shepherd Express monthly magazine as part of our ongoing commitment to the city’s cultural life.

Lakeside Pub and Grill 3800 E. Layton Ave., Cudahy 414-212-8090 Lakeside Pub and Grill, located on Layton Avenue in the heart of Cudahy, is a place that can’t be missed. Known for their burgers, friendly service and cold drinks. We also offer a wide array of other delicious meals and bar fare. Their house smoked brisket is always a crowd pleaser. Many TVs line the bar so that you can catch your favorite teams. Enjoy our new patio for bag toss, giant dice and giant Jenga too!

38 | Shepherd Express

Lost Valley Cider Co.

Mulligans Irish Pub & Grill

408 W. Florida St. lostvalley.com

8933 S. 27th St., Franklin 414-304-0300

Summer is here and it’s always a beautiful day on the Lost Valley Cider patio! Cool down and kick back with a delicious cider pop or enjoy one of their popular slushies. Howlers of their house favorite, cider sangria, are also available to-go for relaxing on your own patio.

A stop here is the perfect way to end your day!

Enjoy lunch or dinner on Mulligans’ beautiful, spacious, smoke-free patio that is perfect for private parties and large groups. You can also catch live music with Ian Gould each first Tuesday of the month (weather permitting).

Movida at Hotel Madrid

Von Trier

600 S. Sixth Street 414-488-9146 | movidamke.com

2235 N. Farwell Ave. 414-272-1775 | vontriers.com Hours: 4 p.m.-Close Wednesday and Thursday, 3 p.m.-Close Friday, 1 p.m.-Close Saturday and Sunday, Happy Hour: 4 p.m.-6 p.m.

Milwaukee’s best-kept summer secret is the patio of Movida at Hotel Madrid. The perfect place for sippin’ sangria, snackin’ on tapas, and enjoying MKE’s summer.

With lawn and covered seating available at more than 25 tables, your perfect night awaits. The patio is open seven days a week, features high-top and table seating.

So, book your outdoor experience now, and enjoy Milwaukee’s own outdoor Spanish paradise. You’ll leave saying “Sangria Made Me Do It.”

Gemütlichkeit, the untranslatable German word that conveys the feelings of cheer, friendliness and warmth, hangs in the air in the beautiful ambiance of Von Trier’s Biergarten. Consistently rated simply as one of the best establishments in the greater Milwaukee area (with the history to boot!), there are few more rewarding places to share an afternoon or evening conversing amongst friends and family; a rare place where one can walk in with strangers and truly find life-long friends.

August 2020 | 39

16 BEERS ON TAP

DAILY SPECIALS

AUTHENTIC IRISH SPECIALITIES & PUB FAVORITES

PATIO NOW OPEN

ONE OF THE LARGEST PATIOS IN FRANKLIN

Best of Milwaukee

2019

WINNER

FOR BEST HAPPY HOUR

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THE ‘NEW NORMAL’ AS MILWAUKEE ARTS GROUP PLAN THE FALL SEASON

By Harry Cherkinian

H

ow to gather together while

First Stage

ing into account potential revenue from

staying apart is the paradox

Artistic Director Jeff Frank continued

streaming in-person performances to

being addressed by perform-

to monitor Centers for Disease Control

audiences who are unable or unwilling

ing arts groups across the world during

and Prevention (CDC) guidelines while

to attend live theater.”

the Age of Pandemic. And yet, in the

working with various performance

familiar phrase, “The show must go on,”

spaces and unions. But he points out

as actors and artistic directors continue

that reopening is still yet to be deter-

to imagine performances in the face of

mined. “We are not able to predict

COVID-19.

when we will be able to safely return to

Several Milwaukee companies shared their thoughts as of July as they planned for a fall season under conditions that could change in an instant.

in-person rehearsals and/or present to a live audience,” he explained. “In addition to safety concerns, the projected downturn in revenue due to limitations on audience size are proving to be a significant challenge—even when tak-

First Stage was evaluating all options with regard to casting, rehearsal, cleaning, shared props, front of house, back of house, understudies, blocking while physical distancing and more, Frank emphasized. The focus will be on a phased approach to reopening but, as he pointed out, “We don’t anticipate reaching 100% capacity at any point during the coming season.”

August 2020 | 41

CULTURE | SPONSORED BY THE MIWAUKEE ART MUSEUM

Given the pause in programming, First Stage is committed to moving forward in other ways. “While we are taking a step back—an intermission of sorts, from our standard level of production—we will be putting our focus on serving our young people and ensuring they have opportunities and access to our Theater Academy and Theater in Education programming,” Frank said.

“This is also a time where we will further our internal Equity Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) work and seek to build more meaningful relationships with our broader community.”

experiments,” Davis-Koch said. “Perhaps we will find a new way to connect with the audience because of these

Jeff Frank: “We are not able to predict when we will be able to safely return to inperson rehearsals and/ or present to a live audience.”

current limitations, or a more intimate way for people to perform that has a different kind of reward.”

Milwaukee Ballet The Milwaukee Ballet established a health and safety committee in late

Milwaukee Rep The Rep has designated five operational categories that it must “navigate in order to reopen,” Executive Director Chad Bauman explains. They include: Regulatory Environment; Artistic Operations; Front of House/Building Operations; Financial Viability; Human Resource Challenges.

April 2020 with the goal of establishing

“We will incorporate all recommenda-

best-practice COVID-19 protocols for

tions and guidelines from city, state

the company and its school and acad-

and national public health officials,” he

emy, according to Managing Director

said. “This will almost certainly mean

Anne Metcalfe. The committee focused

significantly reducing the capacity of

on the new Baumgartner Center for

our venues, increasing our cleaning and

Dance, a 52,000-square-foot facility

sanitization efforts after every perfor-

“Trying to produce grand opera in a

that allows 120 square feet per student

mance, and could include the wearing

pandemic, while a fascinating chal-

in its studios. The Ballet capped the

of face masks,” he pointed out.

lenge, would not produce outcomes

number at 15 students per studio.

Florentine Opera

that live up to our values—especially artistic excellence,” said Kristine Davis-Koch, Florentine Opera’s director of audience development. The Florentine had to postpone its fall production of Rigoletto with a new focus on outdoor performances such as “Pasta & Puccini,” with Italian songs accompanying a meal in the garden behind the Lueders

“We amended our original plan for a

away from reopening, we will have to

six-week program with 140 local, na-

remain flexible in our reopening plans.

tional and international students (with

That said, the safety of our patrons,

dorm housing available at UW-Mil-

staff and artists is of primary impor-

waukee) to be a four-week program

tance.” The Rep is currently scheduled

for local students only (living in the

to open with its first production of the

radius of a 90-minute drive from the

season, Dad’s Season Tickets, on Oct.

studio),” Metcalfe explains. “Although

30.

Opera Center in Riverwest.

we planned vigorously for the re-open-

“As challenging and frustrating as this

for confirming the program, pending

has been for all of us, we are trying to

local health and safety guidelines on

look at these smaller performances as

re-opening.”

42 | Shepherd Express

Bauman adds, “We are several months

ing, we gave ourselves a late deadline

With the Rep being one of the largest arts organizations in Milwaukee, Bauman emphasizes that the theater company is able to rely on its donor base.

But he is well aware of COVID’s impact

on other groups.

“Our plans have been revised numerous times as governmental orders and CDC

“To date, we’ve been able to weather

information changed,” Lemmon contin-

this unprecedented storm through the

ued. “We have listened to, and sought

generosity of private philanthropy,” he

counsel from collaborative discussions

said. “But I fear several of the arts and

with other arts groups in Milwaukee.

cultural organizations that make our

We have also held meetings with actors

city such a vibrant and wonderful place

and artists in our Skylight family and

to live will be forced to close without

gotten feedback from patrons and our

additional support soon.”

board of directors.”

Next Act Theatre

Added Skylight’s Artistic Director Mi-

For Next Act’s Producing Artistic

chael Unger, “In April we canceled all

Director David Cecsarini, the season is

summer events and postponed the two

still moving forward while knowing it

remaining shows in Skylight’s 2019-

can change at any time.

2020 season, Evita and Candide. We still plan to present these two pro-

“First, we waited, watched, listened, waited some more,” he explained.

ing so to regain our livelihood.”

“And we’re still waiting, because any plans we make will be affected by what

Skylight Music Theatre

happens in the future, which remains a

“Our focus has been on determining

fluid situation.”

how to present and preserve the ex-

The company is keeping to its original schedule and as Cecsarini pointed out, “The November show [The Christians, a Wisconsin premiere by Tony Award-nominee Lucas Hnath] may actually lend itself well to an altered form.”

The company’s 18-foot-tall ceilings coupled with its U-shaped seating allows for enough social distancing room within its 164-seat space. The company plans on taking every precaution in terms of sanitizing surfaces and using masks and gloves, even in rehearsal.

ductions in the future, with almost the entire creative teams and casts intact.”

Harry Cherkinian is a veteran Milwaukee writer who covers arts for the Shepherd Express.

perience of live theatre while ensuring the safety of our patrons, performers, crews and staff. A senior leadership team representing administration, artistic and production departments has met almost daily since the COVID-19 shutdown to formulate plans,” Skylight Music Theatre Executive Director Jack R. Lemmon said. “These discussions involve every aspect of producing and presenting live music theatre, including safety protocols during rehearsals, backstage, onstage and reviewing performance dates and cast sizes. For audiences, we are developing guidelines for distanced seating, audience capacity, intermissions, touchless ticketing, how to enter and move through the building, and food

Said Cecsarini: “My philosophy is this:

and beverage service, as well as pro-

Most of us have kept ourselves healthy

tocols for masks, temperature checks,

and out of harm’s way for almost four

cleaning and sanitation and other as-

months, and we will need to keep do-

pects of the ‘new normal.’

August 2020 | 43

GENERATIONS

IN MILWAUKEE MUSIC

Local families that passed the ‘rock gene’ down from father to son

BY BLAINE SCHULTZ

M

ilwaukee has a rich and

Several of these artists spoke about

mark with A.B. Skhy and Short Stuff in

varied history of artists who

what it was like growing up with a

the ’60s and ’70s and continues to per-

passed the music gene on to

working musician in the household,

form. His son Matt’s steady gig these

the next generation. Jim and Matt Liban,

what it was like seeing their children

days is with 5 Card Studs, on drums.

Greg and Dylan Koch and Kurt and

pick up the torch and even what it is

A few years ago, Matt played in Jim’s

Andrew Koenig have played occasional

like performing together.

band.

al band, Blues Genes. The Carr family

The Libans

“It is incredible knowing the same

boasts three generations of musicians.

Harmonica virtuoso Jim Liban started

There are many other examples. In rock,

as a drummer. Inspired by the British

the generational torch-passing has

Invasion of the 1960s, he was initially

mostly been father to son, but this is

self-taught on harmonica but eventual-

bound to change in the next few years,

ly found his real teachers—the Chicago

reflecting the greater participation of

blues wizards who he saw perform in

women in bands since the ’90s.

person and got to know. He made his

shows together as a multi-generation-

blood was pumping through him and me. It was a connection I never felt with anyone else,” Jim says of their time playing together. “He pretty much took it seriously from the git-go,” Jim says of his son’s musical path. “It was obviously a passion for him, taking all the steps to get better. He sought out teachers and

saw the shows he could when he was young.”

Matt’s childhood memories include a day-long Washington Park concert, playing in the maze of tunnels under the stage. “The sound men and bandmates became a surrogate family. I remember getting a check from someone at Summerfest early in my career. The stage manager said, ‘So when the third generation is asking me for a check, I will have been doing this for too long, ’” Matt recalls.

He played in his father’s band for about five years, including recording an album. “It is both good and bad—if you’ve ever worked with a family member you know what I’m talking about,” Matt says. “He was always an amazing performer, and I enjoyed people watching him. I sit back and think fondly what we have done together.”

age, but also a deep sense of mystery,”

There was always some cool, historic

Jim Jr. said. “I always knew musicians

venue he was playing and I loved being

had an identity that radiated from

along for the ride,” he says.

them. They were content to be their authentic selves as they watch the world go by. That was my dad and his friends, and I thought that was cool.”

Before he learned any instruments, he would hear his dad’s band practice and “they felt alien to me but also fun and intense,” he continues. “They were able

The Richardsons

He also connected to his dad’s band

to tune into their own songs and dis-

Drummer Jim Richardson got bit by the

the way other kids latch onto a favor-

cuss them on a much deeper level than

music bug before the time of the British

ite sports team. “It was never boring!

anything I could perceive at the time.

Invasion. He eventually played with

It felt like they were figuring out all the

Milwaukee’s proto-punk band Death,

mysteries of the world.”

formed the local power-pop stars The Shivvers and later played with The Aim-

The DeMays

less Blades. His multi-instrumentalist

As songwriter/guitarist for West of

son, Jim Jr., performs with The Mid-

Rome, multi-instrumentalist for Juniper

night Purchase and Time Spiral.

Tar or WMSE volunteer coordinator,

As a pre-teen Jim was inspired

by Elvis Presley and Ricky Nelson. “I took guitar lessons, but it didn’t work out,” he says. “My hands

Chris DeMay’s life seems to revolve around music. It should come as no surprise, then, that his son Enzo is following in his footsteps.

were too small to do bar chords with

“I just saw someone doing what they

the cheap Stella acoustic my parents

liked to do,” Enzo DeMay says recall-

rented for me. The strings were about

ing his upbringing. Today his drums

a quarter inch above the neck. After

are part of the band Retoro’s angular

I saw the Beatles on ‘Ed Sullivan,’ I

rock sound. He also performs as a DJ.

thought I’d give the drums a try.”

“It’s interesting because when I was

“I felt admiration for him from a young

younger, almost all of the music and art that I indulge in now was constantly August 2020 | 45

CULTURE | SPONSORED BY THE MIWAUKEE ART MUSEUM

“I didn’t know if it would be music or

and had to hold me back. I was 2 or 3

he has been surrounded by creative

years old.”

people since birth—both myself and his mother—my hope was that he’d find his own voice and method of expression when and if the time came,” Chris concludes. “And if he made that choice, I knew he would have access to resources and a community of support totally foreign to my experience as a teen.”

The Carrs

For John, it was all pre-ordained. “It didn’t occur to me that it was unusual for your dad to be a jazz musician until I was in grade school.” He recalls seeing his dad, freshly showered and wearing a tux with a huge frilly dickie, leaving early in the evening on a Saturday. Most likely it was a wedding gig Dad was usually out on Friday and Sat-

According to the old adage that the

urday nights, and he recalls the phone

hi-hat doesn’t fall far from the snare

ringing after 10 p.m.—jazz cats keep

drum, the Carr family boasts three

late hours—hearing dad chat with jazz

generations of drummers. Jack Carr

radio DJ Ron Cuzner on the phone at 2

may be best known for co-leading the

a.m. after he got home from a gig.

around me, but I didn’t pay any mind. I

Ron Devillers/Jack Carr Big Band. After

think sometimes in order to appreciate

years of keeping time with alternative

the music you have to have it become a

and roots-rock bands, his son John

part of your personal identity,” he says

formed the New Orleans-centric band

of growing up in an environment that

The Hungry Williams. Rounding out the

surrounded him with “great films, books

family tree, for now at least, son/grand-

and art of all kinds, including music.”

son Preston played with the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music’s Batterman

Having performed as a duo last No-

up to the stage at the Miller Jazz Oasis

something else but given the fact that

Ensemble.

And those early impressions stuck with John. “Dad played with Sig Millonzi for many years,” he recalls. “As I’ve grown, I’ve realized that there isn’t anyone else who sounded like Sig. It made a huge impression on me. The sound of that trio, and the big band, are what I’m always shooting for.”

vember at the annual “Nod to Bob” benefit concert, Chris admits, “I’m not

“I cannot recall ever not wanting to

sure which one of us was more nervous,

play music,” John says. “A babysitter

probably me, but it was pretty wonder-

told me she came along to Summerfest

ful.

to help my mom and said she took me

46 | Shepherd Express

Blaine Schultz writes about music and people for the Shepherd Express. He plays with The Aimless Blades and The Riverwest Aces.

On View August 8–November 22

On view at both MOWA | West Bend and MOWA | DTN (located at Saint Kate–The Arts Hotel in downtown Milwaukee) wisconsinart.org/comics

August 2020 | 47

CULTURE | SPONSORED BY THE MIWAUKEE ART MUSEUM

THIS MONTH IN MILWAUKEE

17 THINGS TO DO IN AUGUST

By A llen Halas, David Luhrssen, Tyler Nelson and Blaine Schultz

tAs uncertainty continues, local arts groups stage events virtually and musicians venture cautiously onto Milwaukee stages. Be sure to check ahead in case of cancellations.

Ongoing

Through September 6

Milwaukee County Zoo u

“A Community of Voices” Museum of Wisconsin Art

“The decision to transition to reopen parts of the Milwaukee County Zoo’s indoor spaces has involved much careful thought, planning, and review, with staff, visitors and animals’ safety as the first priority,” said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley last month. And he wasn’t being overly cautious about the zoo’s permanent residents. Animals at the Bronx Zoo have contracted COVID. In Milwaukee, the zoo’s outdoor habitats were already reopened in June to limited numbers of daily visitors. Physical distancing, masks and reservations continue to be required.

Now Streaming

Now Streaming

360 Degree Tour q Milwaukee Public Museum

Being Earnest Skylight Music Theatre

“The Dog Show” Tory Folliard Gallery

Through August 29

The Streets of Old Milwaukee has long been one of the museum’s most visited permanent exhibits.

History books show pictures and tell stories of the city’s past, but the Streets of Old Milwaukee allows us to step inside and connect the senses to imagination. The narrow brick-paved lanes and small storefronts selling goods made on-site paint a living portrait of an all but forgotten, hand-crafted time. One thing an observant eye will appreciate: there’s not a screen in sight.

One likes to think that Oscar Wilde would have had a grand time in the 1960s. Not so much for the politics—he might have satirized pretensions on all sides—but the Carnaby Street colors and euphoria over new possibilities that emerged from the counterculture. Skylight brings this sensibility to the fore with its online musical version of Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest. His witty-catty dialogue rings true amidst the production’s mod setting and soundtrack by The Rolling Stones, The Hollies and other favorites from the era.

Forget about all those pet dog pictures on Facebook. When Wisconsin surrealist Fred Stonehouse paints a dog, the canvas is filled with a tearful beast under a full moon, grasping an egg in clawed palms. A sad were-dog?

Stonehouse is curator of “The Dog Show,” an exhibition of paintings, photographs, prints, drawings and sculpture by more than 30 artists.

Stonehouse is celebrating the canine’s role as “mythic surrogate” and “formal muse.”

Through August 16

Free admission Milwaukee Art Museum For the first half of the month, the Milwaukee Art Museum will continue to offer free admission to all visitors. New protocols are in place, including robust cleaning procedures, signage to promote social distancing and hand sanitizing stations throughout.

Staff and visitors must wear face coverings. Only the first floor will be open but paintings from the American collection and masterworks from the Bradley Collection have been moved to areas open to the public. The Museum Store and Windhover Café are open. Advance tickets can be reserved at mam.org/visit.

Photo Courtesy of Jewish Museum Milwaukee

Through August 30

“The Girl in the Diary: Searching for Rywka in the Łód Ghetto” p Jewish Museum Milwaukee When the Soviet army liberated Auschwitz, a Russian officer found a diary in the rubble of the crematorium. The author, a teenage girl named Rywka Lipszyc, had been locked inside the Łódz Ghetto along with the Polish city’s other Jews. Seventy years later, her journal was translated and published as The Diary of Rywka Lipszyc. The journal is at the heart of the most recent exhibition at the Jewish Museum Milwaukee, which continues as a virtual tour.

The West Bend museum presents work by six Milwaukee artists associated with the Sisters of Creativity, an art collective that seeks to recognize African American women who have long been marginalized from the mainstream art world. The diversity of the exhibition includes assemblages, collages, sculptural work and works on paper by Blanche Brown, Rhonda GatlinHayes, Chrystal Denise Gillon, Ruthie Joy, Tia Richardson and 2019 City of Milwaukee Artist of the Year Rosemary Ollison. While their media vary, they are united in purpose: championing social justice and civil rights, giving voice to the voiceless, expressing spirituality and coping with trauma.

Through October 23

“I Am a Story: Self-Portraits at The Warehouse” q The Warehouse Fifty self-portraits from the collection of John Shannon and Jan Serr were chosen for this exhibition at their Menomonee River Valley art space. “At the heart of this exhibition is that through these self-portraits each artist is telling us a story,” curator Nick Pipho says.

“This concept has become even more appropriate given the current state of the country and the world.

At a time when meeting new people, interacting with them face to face and learning their stories has become increasingly fraught, this exhibition offers a new way to have that experience. The concept of a self-portrait is also one that permeates our society perhaps more than any time in the past”—in an age of selfies and social media.

"Colescott Makes an Etching" (1978)

by Warrington Colescott Photo by Robb Quinn

Photo Courtesy of Jewish Museum Milwaukee

48 | Shepherd Express

Through November

“Better, Bigger, Brighter: 150 Years of Milwaukee Politics” Milwaukee County Historical Society “In most ways, Milwaukee’s story fits in with the national narrative, but it contains significant twists that stand out,” says Milwaukee County Historical Society curator Ben Barbera, including a half century under what was “a particularly Midwestern Socialist Party focused on fiscal responsibility, municipal services and the health and well-being of its citizens.” The exhibit will feature photographs, banners, buttons and other artifacts from the Historical Society’s archives that relate to Cream City politics from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Photo by Arnie Goodman

Friday, August 14

GGOOLLDD p

with special guests Lex Allen and Seasaw

Turner Hall Ballroom GGOOLLDD singer Margaret Butler has always dreamed big.

The band’s pop-synth sound and accompanying stage spectacle makes no bones they are out to deliver a show to remember. As Butler once told the Shepherd Express, “There’s a reason that I made the band name obnoxious and huge and in all caps. That’s the vibe we’re trying to give off.”

Friday, August 14

The Exotics Captain Pabst Pilot House

Photo by Nancy Rankin Escovedo

Thursday, August 13

Alejandro Escovedo p The Back Room at Colectivo Alejandro Escovedo has become a familiar face to Milwaukee music fans in his visits over the last few decades. His career has moved from punk rocker opening for The Sex Pistols to performing with the likes of Ian Hunter and Bruce Springsteen. Able to move from acoustic ballads to melodic, highenergy guitar music, Escovedo’s songs draw from his rich heritage and rock ’n’ roll adventures. This show was rescheduled from March.

The Beach Boys sang about surf, but the real surf bands never sang a word. Surf instrumental acts such as Dick Dale and The Ventures expressed the exhilaration of surfing through trebly guitarpowered music. Milwaukee’s long-running surf/instrumental quartet will deliver a master class lesson in the genre. Like their ’60s forbearers, The Exotics evoke a wider range of emotions than is usual in pop music. Urgent melancholy chases the elation of danger; Latin and Oriental cadences with resonant guitars and moist timbres ride on a big rolling beat.

Friday, August 21Saturday, August 22

The Verve Pipe p The Back Room at Colectivo Multi-platinum selling alt-rock band The Verve Pipe are one of the few acts continuing their 2020 touring schedule, and that includes a pair of Milwaukee dates. Best known for hits like “The Freshmen” and “Photograph,” the band is set to play the pair of rescheduled dates from this past April. All previously issued tickets for the shows will be honored. In the interest of public safety, the Pabst Theater Group has provided a list of safety guidelines and policies on their website for concerned concertgoers to reference.

Friday, August 21

Strummerfest MKE 2020 Walker’s Point Music Hall EEven before his untimely death in 2002 at age 50, The Clash, Mescaleros and 101er’s outspoken front man, Joe Strummer, was known as a born leader. In death, he is nearing rock ’n’ roll sainthood.

Expect a full night of music paying homage to Strummer’s wideranging influence.

Thursday, August 27

Joe Louis Walker p Shank Hall With more than two dozen albums to his credit, Joe Louis Walker, a Blues Hall of Fame inductee and four-time Blues Music Award winner celebrates a career that exceeds a half a century. He began by playing psychedelic rock, detoured into gospel music and came around to the blues by the time of his 1986 debut album, Cold is the Night.

Friday, August 28

Kathy Mattea q Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts (3270 Mitchell Park Drive, Brookfield)

Grammy-winning country singer Kathy Mattea’s has enjoyed many hit songs across the years, including “Goin’ Gone” and “Where’ve You Been.” Her 2018 album, the independently released Pretty Bird, was her 17th longplayer. The recording showed changes in her voice, the effects of aging that could have put a permanent end to her performing.

Heeding the advice of Tony Bennett, who suggested Mattea “find a teacher and re-learn to sing,” she returned to performing after extensive vocal training.

Saturday, August 22

The Bel Airs t

w/The Blues Disciples

the baaree

(105 S. Main St., Thiensville)

For three decades, the Pruitt brothers’ trio, The Bel Airs, have played the circuit with a danceable mix of authentic and eclectic blues/ country/soul/rock ’n’ roll, a sound influenced by the likes of Wilson Pickett, Slim Harpo, Howlin’ Wolf and Johnny Cash.

August 2020 | 49

LIFESTYLE

HEALTH AND FITNESS

TELEMEDICINE MOVES FORWARD IN THE COVID ERA By: Louis Fortis

P

board-certified in family and

What are the advantages for a patient of telemedicine?

integrative medicine. She is the

As I mentioned above, telemedicine

hysician Tiffany Mullen is

former medical director of integrative

simplifies the care experience. In a time

medicine at Aurora Health Care and is

when women are stretched with not

currently CEO and cofounder of Vytal

only their work but also the manage-

Health, a Milwaukee-based telemedicine

ment of their home, their own and their

startup company. We spoke recently

family’s health, being able to access

about the challenges and opportunities

care anytime, anywhere takes a lot

posed to medicine during the pandemic.

of the stress of out the process. Who wants to get a babysitter, take a long

The Shepherd Express interviewed you in April. You had left Aurora Health care in 2018 to found Vytal Health.

Please remind our readers of what Vytal Health does in the area of telemedicine.

drive across town, sit in a waiting room with sick people and wait for a doctor running behind? It didn’t work before and it doesn’t work now. It’s just not necessary to settle for that anymore. problems can be managed via telemed-

Most telemedicine companies focus

icine. Moreover, there are more and

on treating urgent care problems (sore

more medical devices that can be inte-

throats, sinus infections, etc.), but

grated into the telemedicine platform

Vytal Health provides a unique form of

that patients can have at home, for

telemedicine. We deliver ongoing care

example, heart rate monitors, scales,

to women who are very busy and have

tools to listen to the heart and lungs,

medical problems that are often over-

etc. These telemedicine-ready tools are

looked and undertreated in the typical

available right now, and care is moving

rushed 10-15-minute office visit. We

in the direction of being at the hands of

focus on developing a long-standing relationship with the patient, solving their health problems (instead of just covering symptoms with multiple prescriptions), and create a personalized approach to achieve health now and into the future. We just happen to do this via telemedicine, so it is convenient, simple and accessible.

50 | Shepherd Express

the patient, with help from the doctor

Seems like a great option for most care. What are some of the challenges of telemedicine?

via video, of course, making it so much

The obvious disadvantage of deliver-

How has the pandemic changed your business? I assume that telemedicine is playing a much larger role at this time when many people are afraid to go into a hospital or clinic.

ing care via telemedicine is that if the patient needs to be examined, this can sometimes be challenging. That said, it is estimated that 70% of all medical

more convenient and just as effective.

That is absolutely true! Telemedicine use has exponentially increased, with many telemedicine companies seeing a record number of patients since the pandemic began. And people who were hesitant to try it have found it to be such a valuable way to receive care. As one medical leader put it, the telemedicine “genie is out of the bottle,” and we’re not going back.

Once we have a successful vaccine and the pandemic is pretty much held in check, how much do you think things

doctors in these systems were forced

tional, volume-based world of tradi-

will go back to a pre-pandemic way

to care for patients via telemedicine for

tional medicine, just delivered in via

of doing medicine? Or, are there some

the first time, and they realized it could

video. We will still need companies like

things we learned as both patients and

be done very effectively. Many patients

ours whose focus is on spending time

doctors that worked so well that there

with chronic medical conditions who

with patients and solving their health

is no going back to our pre-pandemic

we would be “dragging” to the clinic

problems at the root cause, and that

way of delivering medical care?

for routine follow-up were astonished

is not what insurance companies think

to see how well they could have their

is valuable. The first paradigm shift

problems addressed in this new tele-

towards covering telemedicine is good,

medicine paradigm. So no, I don’t think

but the shift to covering better med-

we are going back to the way we did

icine—one focused on really helping

things before. We will still have clinics

patients, listening to them, support-

and hospitals, but we now know we can

ing them, personalizing their care and

do better if we strive to meet patients’

getting them healthy—is what we need.

needs in a more flexible, accessible,

I’m not counting on insurance compa-

and efficient way.

nies getting behind that any time soon,

In this current era of COVID, most people have become more familiar with telemedicine, or the use of video to allow patients to interact with doctors remotely, without having to go to a physical clinic.

unfortunately.

Early in the telemedicine movement, insurance companies and Medicare/ Medicaid were not covering telemedicine visits. Has anything changed on that front?

If I want to use telemedicine, do I get a telemedicine primary care physician?

Yes, you can have a primary care physician relationship via telemedicine! One

Even before the pandemic, Medicare

of our membership tiers allows you to

was moving in the direction of covering

have a personal physician for all of your

telemedicine, and commercial insur-

care—couldn’t be more convenient and

The pandemic has exposed so many

ance payers are slowly following suit.

accessible.

not-so-positive things about the health-

While we don’t know how all of this

care system: the waste, the inefficiency,

will play out just yet, it is important to

the lack of preparedness. Nearly the

understand that insurance coverage

entire profitability of health care sys-

does not always equal a good, quality

tems is driven by elective procedures,

experience. I would argue that when,

and when those were curtailed by the

and if, insurance companies get behind

on Facebook or Instagram @yourvy-

pandemic, many health care systems

telemedicine completely, we will still

talhealth.

fell to their knees financially. Many

be grappling with the rushed, transac-

How do our readers find out more about Vytal Health?

You can find out more by visiting us at www.vytalhealth.com, or check us out

August 2020 | 51

LIFESTYLE

HEALTH

OUT OF MY MIND:

THE BODY SPEAKS By: Philip Chard

Do you listen to your body?

Beyond Conscious Awareness

incorporating so-called energy work

Edward did not. He came to counsel-

There is growing evidence that organs

(reiki), expressive movement (tai chi

ing at the suggestion of his physician

like the heart, GI tract and even skin

and dance/movement therapy), and

after being assessed for the feeling of a

possess their own type of awareness

moving meditation (yoga and forest

“lump” in his throat that had no biolog-

and ways of knowing that, while very

bathing). These methods help us tune

ical basis. While both of them assigned

different from that operating in the

into the body’s way of “speaking”

his symptoms to stress, I wasn’t so sure.

brain, are also sophisticated. The tra-

about psychological and emotional

ditional image of the brain as the sole

issues.

“It feels a bit like choking,” he told me.

Upon questioning, it was clear Edward made a habit of not speaking his mind, particularly with family. “Maybe your body is telling you something,” I suggested. “Perhaps you are, quite literally, choking off your true voice.”

Edward was a recipient of what psychoanalyst Fritz Perls described as “organismic wisdom.” According to Perls, the brain is not the only source of consciousness, judgment and decision-making in the body. To him, the so-called “deep mind” extends far beyond that 3 lbs. of densely packed neurons in one’s skull.

52 | Shepherd Express

central processing unit (CPU) for the body is oversold.

Through a combination of insight-oriented talk therapy and tai chi, Edward

For the most part, body wisdom oper-

discovered that the “lump” in his throat

ates outside conscious awareness. It is

was his body’s way of saying he was

embedded in the so-called unconscious

gagging himself. Predictably, the sen-

mind, where, neuroscientists estimate,

sation worsened whenever he was with

over 95% of cognitive processing,

family, with whom he had considerable

decision-making, sensing and intuition

unspoken issues. In its organismic wis-

occur.

dom, his body tightened the muscles and ligaments in his throat, creating the

Learning to listen to the body’s wisdom

physical equivalent of a psychological

when it percolates into one’s awareness

condition. Once he began expressing

is a valuable skill, but one many of us

his truth in a respectful and direct man-

were never taught and, consequently,

ner, his self-strangulation dissipated,

fail to practice. To address this widely

eventually disappearing altogether.

shared blind spot, we now treat some mental maladies with any number of body-centric therapies, including those

Learning the Body’s Language With folks like Edward, medical eval-

uation is always a first step, but when

sations, cravings, intuitions, involun-

Reading the body’s tea leaves is not an

disease or injury are ruled out, we are

tary movements and even dreams. In

aptitude easily acquired. Some can do

challenged to learn the body’s meta-

other words, it sometimes knows what

it solo when the physical metaphors are

phorical language. This requires recog-

we don’t consciously know we know.

fairly obvious, but many require a psy-

nizing how physical sensations and psy-

There’s a brain twister.

chotherapist to make the connection.

chosomatic symptoms can symbolically depict mental health issues. What is my body telling me? How do I decipher its somatic code?

Examples: A client with coughing jags that erupted when with her father who emotionally abused her through adolescence (expelling toxic feelings he visited on her). Another with chronic neck and

The body speaks. Learn to listen. It has much to say.

shoulder pain who discovered he was “keeping a grip” on himself to hide his

conscious mind through physical sen-

of us are too far out of touch with our bodies, rather than too attuned. That deprives us of an ancient wisdom that can inform our daily lives in the service of greater well-being.

For more, visit philipchard.com.

true feelings. Yet another whose chest pains turned out to be mourning for a love lost. Then, there was the man who walked with a pronounced and recently

The body can communicate with the

Regardless, in my experience, most

acquired gimp, a message indicating

Philip Chard is a psychotherapist and author with a focus on lasting behavior change, emotional healing and adaptation to health challenges.

how deeply conflicted he felt about his pending matrimony.

August 2020 | 53

CANNABIS IS A BIG EMPLOYER, BUT NOT IN WISCONSIN

BY JEAN-GABRIEL FERNANDEZ

W

isconsin is one of a minori-

that we should explore every avenue to

many cannabis workers as bartenders.

ty of states with no legal

bring employment back.

This is in line with the Bureau of Labor

marijuana jobs, as marijua-

Statistics’ data. Despite only having

na is still strictly illegal here. The only

been fully legalized in 2017, marijuana

cannabis-related jobs in Wisconsin are

provides employment for 14,300 Ne-

the rapidly growing cannabidiol (CBD)

vadans, which means that Nevada now

market, as well as hemp farmers, as

has more cannabis workers than truck

hemp was recently legalized federally;

drivers, fast-food cooks and school

no medical or recreational marijuana

teachers.

can legally be sold in the Badger state.

Besides making jobs available, the can-

Wisconsin media recently repeated this

nabis industry also generates economic

fact in reference to a job report released

activity and pays taxes that go towards

earlier this year. Since the report came

helping the community. Colorado’s

out, the unemployment rate rose to record-breaking 11.1% nationwide, and job creation has become a hot topic.

The report in question states that the legal cannabis industry supports 243,700 American jobs, achieving a 15% annual uptick in jobs—“an indication of the industry’s continuing expan-

Cannabis Is the ‘FastestGrowing Industry in America’ “Over the past four years, the legal cannabis industry has doubled in size, creating nearly 121,000 full-time jobs,”

bis industry in 2019 alone; since 2014, the total revenue from cannabis adds up to more than $1.3 billion.

Colorado gives a detailed account of

den job boom.”

the way marijuana dollars are spent: In

The largest cannabis industry hotspots

“The $10.73 billion legal cannabis in-

are California, with 39,800 workers em-

dustry continues to be America’s single

ployed in the industry, Colorado with

greatest job creation engine.” At a time

34,700, and Washington with 23,000.

roof in Wisconsin, it stands to reason

lion in tax revenue through the canna-

the report states. “Call it America’s hid-

sion even during a rough year,” it says.

when unemployment is through the

state government collected $302 mil-

The report notes that Nevada has as

2018-2019, nearly $70 million were invested in social services such as abuse prevention and public health programs; $20 million went to local affairs like construction of affordable housing; another $20 million, plus 90% of the

August 2020 | 55

LIFESTYLE

excise tax income, were spent to

leading information hub of the in-

support education, in particular

dustry. This is the fourth annual job

public K-12 schools; and numerous

report that the company created.

other programs including public

Leafly’s findings are in line with

safety, agriculture and the justice

what other studies have uncovered;

system benefited from millions in

Marijuana Business Daily studied

additional funding through the Mar-

the same topic and reach similar

ijuana Tax Cash Fund.

conclusions, estimating that there are more cannabis industry workers than web developers nationwide.

“The $10.73 billion legal cannabis industry continues to be America’s single greatest job creation engine.”

“Cannabis businesses across the country have been deemed essential during this pandemic, and these businesses and their estimated 243,000 employees deserve equity with other legal businesses,” Rep. Ed Perlmutter said, repeating Leafly’s findings, as he was arguing in favor of a cannabis act that

Wisconsin has a population similar to that of Colorado and twice that of Nevada, for comparison.

For now, Wisconsin is one of only 16 states which don’t have a legal marijuana industry, be it medical

prominent figures in the industry, such as the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), also consider Leafly’s estimate accurate.

or recreational. Besides Wisconsin,

The reason why politicians and

the states in that list include Ala-

experts rely on information from

bama, Mississippi and Wyoming.

private actors is because the

At least 300,000 Wisconsinites have applied to unemployment due to COVID-19. The state’s Department of Workforce Development reports 221,803 weekly claims (52,000 in Milwaukee County alone) from July 5 through July 11, up from 30,000 at the same time last year. The state could benefit from new big employers.

Is the Information Reliable?

56 | Shepherd Express

was approved by the House. Other

government refuses to provide key data about economic activity surrounding marijuana—which is still federally illegal. Each job in America is identified with a NAICS code, which are what enables the collection of data and statistics.

Although there is a distinct NAICS code for sugar beet farmers and another for manufacturers of creamery butter, cannabis does not have dedicated NAICS identifiers. A cannabis worker can be identified

As the job report in question was

by NAICS code 325411 (botanical

not published by the government,

manufacturing), 111419 (food crops

readers might rightfully want to

grown under cover), 111998 (miscel-

know more about its authors. The

laneous crop farming) or 453998

report was released by Leafly, a

(miscellaneous store retailers)

among others. NAICS lumps

patient counts, or cannabis

marijuana retailers, both

worker permits,” the report

medical and recreational,

reads.

together with candle shops, cake decorating stores and religious supply stores.

Leafly’s report is one of several initiatives to better understand the budding

“Every year, Leafly’s data

marijuana industry. The

team compiles a state-by-

industry went from employ-

state tally of full-time-equiv-

ing 122,000 people in 2017

alent jobs supported by legal

to 243,000 in 2020, and its

cannabis. We do it because

growth doesn’t seem likely

economists at state agen-

to stop soon. If Marijuana

cies and the U.S. Bureau of

Business Daily estimates are

Labor Statistics refuse to

correct, then the number of

count them,” Leafly’s report

cannabis-related jobs will

explains. In the absence of

double again by 2023, total-

reports from governmental

ing up to 475,000 jobs.

agencies, Leafly’s findings are our best guess about the real size of the cannabis industry.

“Cannabis offers a unique

Jean-Gabriel Fernandez is a French journalist and graduate from La Sorbonne University. He writes about politics, cannabis and Milwaukee’s rich culture.

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LIFESTYLE

DOMICILE

AMP UP YOUR ABODE WITH EASY CURBSIDE APPEAL By: M ark Hagen

T

hey say first impressions are

flection of the people who live there,”

bank. There are lots of easy ideas that

everything. From nailing a job

says Michael G. Davis. As owner, de-

spruce things up a bit.

interview to rubbing elbows at

signer and project manager of Milwau-

a cocktail party, first impressions make

kee landscape group Emerald Gardens,

The Basics

an impact—and your home is no ex-

Davis is well aware of the value of curb-

Look at the front of your house and de-

ception. Don’t believe it? Consider the

side charm. “The front of a home shows

termine what can quickly be removed,

significance of curb appeal. Regardless

a bit of what it’s like inside. It offers a

fixed or hidden. Pull weeds from the

of whether or not you’re selling your

hint about the personality of the family

walkway, adjust the crooked shutter,

house, everyone wants a home that

that lives there.”

stash the garden hose in a decorative

turns heads and fetches compliments.

Looking to up your curb-appeal game?

“Not only does curb appeal increase

Doing so doesn’t necessarily mean

the value of your house, but it’s a re-

monopolizing your time or breaking the

58 | Shepherd Express

pot and tell the kids to put away their bikes (again).

Davis also suggests creating a bud-

get as this helps prioritize tasks. For instance, if you can’t afford to paint the house right now, power wash it instead.

“Budget your time, too,” he adds. “You can do more in the front yard if you have time to tend to it.”

Enticing Entryways When it comes to curb appeal, the entryway is key. “Always accentuate the front door,” Davis suggests, “not the driveway or garage.” Painting the front door in a unique color anchors the entryway while adding a touch of whimsy.

Citrus colors are hot right now, while blues and greens complement colors found in shade gardens. Light pinks and corals work well with Lannon stone

landscape comes in the form of symmetry. Balancing key elements gives the eye a place to rest. If you have a large picture window, frame it with arborvitaes or flowering clematis peren-

more fun with a ranch or a saltbox.”

Keep It Simple A little goes a long way when it comes to curb appeal. Mulch the front gardens, trim the bushes and edge the sidewalk. Add a few extras such as a decorative lantern on a shepherd’s hook, a front-door wreath or an interesting piece of yard art. “Simply try not

Dress up your front porch with a bench

too much, the front yard loses appeal

or rocking chairs, adding matching

because nothing is special.” Think cute

pillows and an outdoor rug for texture.

and clean, not crazy and cluttered, and

A new welcome mat, updated light

your curb appeal will go through the

fixtures and a bold address plate also

roof.

Lighten Up An easy way to achieve an eye-fetching

the architecture. You can have a bit

and Cream City brick.

make for easy improvements.

Symmetry & Balance

use the light to enhance the details of

Milwaukee is loaded with homes that feature inspiring details. Illuminate columns, arches and gables so your home

to overdo it,” Davis says. “If you add

To learn more about Michael G. Davis’ design and landscape company, visit the Emerald Gardens page on Facebook or email Michael at emeraldgardensmgd@gmail.com.

shines well into the wee hours. It’s easy with today’s solar-powered LED options. “Pay attention to the style of the house,” Davis notes. “With a Victorian,

Mark Hagen is an award-winning gardener, former caterer and Milwaukee lover. His work has appeared in Birds & Blooms and Home and Your Family magazines.

nials. Try setting identical planters on opposite sides of your entryway.

Plants & Flowers “Planters are the perfect way to spruce up the front of a home,” Davis explains.

“Best of all, they can be changed with the seasons. Switch out the flowers for plants that tolerate frost such as mums or kale grasses in late summer or early fall. That’s also a great time to plant trees and woody bushes,” the designer says. During winter, plan which flowers and delicate plants you’ll buy in spring to keep your curbside appeal intact all year long.

August 2020 | 59

LIFESTYLE

Sponsored by

Dear Ruthie, Whenever I meet someone special, I get attached way too quickly. Just when I think I’ve made a connection with someone I completely smother the person and scare them off. How can I get it through my big, fat brain to step back and let things unfold naturally?

Help!

- Pushy P.

Dear Pushy, You’re not alone, sugar! Lots of people seem to have this issue. The problem is knowing when to pull back but also recognizing when this is becoming a pattern (which you seem to acknowledge). We want lovers to be part of our lives; not become our lives.

Have a serious talk with yourself the next time this happens. Limit calls and texts to the person in question; hold yourself back slightly. If it’s the right love for you, things will work out. If you feel this pattern is limiting your happiness, hurting other parts of your life or dampening your self-esteem, please contact a professional therapist.

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

Ruthie gives advice to the lovelorn and compiles Milwaukee’s LGBTQ-friendly social calendar.

60 | Shepherd Express

Brought to you by

TAKE A HINT FROM THE BIG WIG I’m back and better than ever! I’m excited to be part of Shepherd Express’ snazzy new format. Look for me here each month as I help those looking for some neighborly advice. Then, check out my social calendar for some alternative events you might not be aware of. That said, let’s get back to business with an email from a reader.

RUTHIE’S SOCIAL CALENDAR Join me for some change-of-pace fun as I head out and about our city!

August 5—Virtual DIY Crafternoon (Bottle Cap Flowers) hosted via Franklin Public Library (9151 W. Loomis Road): Swing by the library and pick up your Bottle Cap Flower craft kit.

Then join craft-lady Keri at noon for the online lesson, making recycled accents for your yard. Join the class at www. facebook.com/franklinpubliclibraryWI. August 11—MKE-PAH: Milwaukee Pups, Pets, Allies, & Handlers Social at Woody’s (1579 S. 2nd St.): If you’re looking to explore the pup/handler fetish, this 7 p.m. gathering is for you!

Bring an open mind, wear your gear and get ready to mingle with like-minded folks until 9 p.m.

August 13 to August 16—Irish Fest at Home via www.irishfest.com/athome: Even though the luck of the Irish hasn’t exactly been with Milwaukee festivalgoers this year, you just can’t keep an Irish man down! Slip into your kilt, crack open a beer and take in the fun from your comfy abode. See www. irishfest.com/athome for more on the

live-streaming content, including music, cooking demos, family entertainment and so much more.

August 16—Magic Pride Festival: A Virtual Experience via www.outreachmagicfestival.org: The show must go on… or so say the staff members of Madison’s OutReach LGBT Community Center. This annual pride party is going online with the state’s favorite entertainers, speakers and even a vendor area. Let your spirit shine with one of the last pride celebrations of the summer! See www.outreachmadisonlgbt. org for additional information on the 1-6 p.m. streaming soirée.

August 18—Drag Queen Bingo at Hamburger Mary’s (730 S. 5th St.): I’m baaack! I’m yanking balls and serving up sass once again at the city’s pink and purple burger palace. Join me as we raise donations for our hosting local charity. The games start at 7:30 p.m., but arrive early and grab a burger, a brew and get ready to bust a gut laughing. Swing by www.hamburgermarys.

com/mke and make your reservations as seating is limited.

August 19—Freedom on Wheels Presentation at Milwaukee LGBT Community Center (1110 N. Market St.): The Milwaukee County Transit System teams up with the city’s LGBTQ+ community center for this free 5-6 p.m. presentation. Learn what the transit system has in store for you and how you can best take advantage of this valuable service.

August 29—Just Beat It! Brunch at The Iron Horse Hotel (500 W. Florida St.): Enjoy a rockin’ Saturday Brunch at The Yard, a spacious outdoor restaurant. Dig into a special 10 a.m.-2 p.m. menu while sipping bottomless mimosas and listening to the music “battle.”

This week pits Michael Jackson against Prince. Who will come out on top? Stop by and see!

SAVE THE DATE

Friday, October 9th, 2020

BIG NIGHT OUT

virtual GALA & AUCTION Powered by

CELEBRATE HISTORY

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MY LGBTQ POV

THE DNC:

LESS PARTY, MORE MISSION By: Paul M asterson

E

arlier this year I wrote of the LGBTQ community’s almost giddy anticipation of the Democratic National Convention (DNC). Planning for events and parties was in full swing. Welcoming Pete Buttigieg as the first LGBTQ contender for the office of U.S. president, and his husband, Chasten (with his Milwaukee history), would have been an affirmation of our progress.

Of course, many expected a windfall of income by renting accommodations to DNC guests. But little could anyone have imagined how the state of the nation would evolve. Then came the pandemic. With the DNC first postponed, then revamped into a smaller and perhaps mostly virtual event, the anticipated 50,000 attendees now number less than 1,500. Needless to say, there’s a palpable disappointment.

Still, whatever the nature of the DNC, the world’s attention is on Milwaukee, and, by extension, Wisconsin as a key swing state. One of 2016’s catastrophic losses for the Democrats, Wisconsin is now a must win for 2020. And, while the spectacle of a full-blown DNC would have been a boon for the city’s economy and reputation, the circumstances should not dampen the enthusiasm or the potential for an uplifting and inspiring event. The DNC vibe, however muted, should offer opportunity for Milwaukee to make its mark on the campaign and propel the Democratic candidate to a victory on the first Tuesday of November.

We’re All at Risk Actually, had it not been for the pandemic and the national reckoning witnessed through the prism of the Black Lives Matter movement, there might have been more of a need for a traditional convention to motivate the Democratic masses. Now all can see how the regime’s failures have put us all at risk. Its lack of conscience, compassion and conciliatory strategy for the nation’s divisions or a reasonable and realistic strategy of leadership in these pandemic times should make our common purpose clear. The daily indignities the regime has bestowed upon

the nation and especially on LGBTQs, on people of color, immigrants and indigenous people underscore the transformational opportunity we have to reverse our current slide towards authoritarianism.

One exciting moment the DNC will provide is the announcement of the vice-presidential pick. It will certainly be the highlight of the event. Wisconsin’s own Tammy Baldwin, the first lesbian to be elected to the U.S. Congress and later to the U.S. Senate, is a long shot. Should she be selected, it would be another historic achievement for her, the LGBTQ community and the nation. But, realistically, the choice of a woman of color for VP would be more reflective of the nation’s cultural heritage and identity. We’ll see.

Health, Climate, Economy, Diversity The Democratic Party’s 2020 platform will be based on 2016’s, with a focus on health, climate change and the economy. Of greatest importance to LGBTQs of all hues is its commitment to diversity and equality. Under the current GOP regime, we’ve seen erosion of LGBTQ rights, the rule of law and, in fact, of democracy itself, all in deference to religious and right-wing extremism. There should be no doubt what four more years of Republican rule might bring. As in 2016, the Republican Party platform demands an end to marriage equality and transgender rights. It also supports conversion therapy and the right to discriminate against LGBTQ people.

So, while the DNC might not have the high-energy celebratory trappings of a convention in a perfect world, its energizing message should be clear. We, the LGBTQ community, share a common cause with all marginalized people and can only achieve justice and equality for all through a common effort and voting. Our future depends on it.

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.

August 2020 | 63

LIFESTYLE

ART FOR ART'S SAKE

ALL THE NEWS THAT FITS By: A rt Kumbalek

I

’m Art Kumbalek and man oh manischewitz what a world, ain’a? So listen, on top of everything else, now I’m hearing that our plastic president (not to be recycled, please), Trumpel-thinskin plans to dick around with the U.S. Postal Service so as to make its goods-of-service undeliverable, just like his administration, what the fock.

And of course, I’m reminded of a little story: A married couple went to the hospital to have their baby delivered. Upon arrival, the doctor said he had invented a new machine that would transfer a portion of the mother’s labor pain to the baby’s father. He asked if they were willing to try it out. Both were very much in favor of it. The doctor set the pain transfer to 10%, explaining that number was probably more pain than the father had ever experienced before.

However, as the labor progressed, the husband felt fine and asked the doctor to go ahead and kick it up a notch. The doctor adjusted the machine to 20%.

The husband was still feeling fine. The doctor checked the husband’s blood pressure and was amazed at how well he was doing. So, they decided to try 50%. The husband continued to feel quite well. Since the pain transfer was obviously an aid to the wife, the husband encouraged the doctor to transfer all the pain to him. The wife delivered a healthy baby with virtually no pain. She and her husband were ecstatic. And when they got home, they found the mailman dead on the porch. Ba-ding!

And sports, lo, these days. How ’bout that D.C. football team that shall not be named unless you would say “Redskins”? Finally, the nickname shall be adjusted after years and years of a big heap of hoopla in regard to the offensiveness of R******* and how it ought to be removed. About time? No shit, Sherlock. And changed to what?

How ’bout the Swamp Focks. Got a nice ring to it, ain’a?

Lost and forgotten in all the hubbub is mine own groundbreaking work in the nickname field from way-back in 1988 when I questioned the city of

64 | Shepherd Express

Cleveland’s baseball team’s use of the image of so-called Chief Wahoo (now benched as of the other year, courtesy of my sideline efforts I’d like to think)— the wild-eyed, toothy, single-feather head-banded caricature of some kind of Native American. Offensive? No siree, some would say. It’s just our way of saying, “Thank you for the gift of your homeland, oh Great Red Man. In return, we shall show honor by making you a focking sports team mascot.”

Jeez louise, aren’t team mascots supposed to be testicle-chewing wild animals and stuff, and not Sapien beings?

Hey, if you got a Cleveland Indians, how come no Chicago Polacks with a logo of a hammer smashing a thumb, or a couple, three guys with a light bulb and ladder? What the fock.

Anyways, I got to get going to take some time to ponder whether or not I’d accept the No. 2 spot on Uncle Joe’s presidential ticket in the event mine own presidential run should happen to go down the crapper—a possibility, I admit.

But before I go, I got to tell you’s that I remember a TV show a while back on the Discovery Channel where the eminent rocket-scientist Stephen Hawking—a brainiac bon vivant whose résumé includes every goddamn thing with the exception of a guest spot on “Dancing With the Stars”—declared that intelligent life from other cosmos could be, well, dangerous, I kid you not.

He said visitors to our fair planet from outer space could be “nomads, looking to conquer and colonize.” Conquer and colonize? Yikes! And I agree—not just “conquer and colonize,” but how ’bout these technologically advanced aliens might hail from a resource-depleted corner of a solar system and so they’re out looking for new nutrient food sources.

Could we, the sapien de la Homo race of human beings, become the chickens who be sliced, diced, chopped, seasoned and fried to be

served on a fast-food sandwich to 12foot aliens who sport bald, large-cranium brains the size of elite university-library globes of the planet Earth?

You betcha, we can. And all I can say is it’s time to be no longer simply Native Americans, Native Mexicans, Africans, Euro-focking-peans, Muslimites, native blah-blah and blah-blah. Time to be Native Earthlings ’cause those alien extraterrestrials from the planet You Are Focked Up the Ass, Earthling Losers may be due any day now the way this year 2020 has been proceeding, and the first thing they want to do is reach up and tear our livers right clean out of our assholes, besides screw our Earthling women three-ways sideways ’til Sunday. Our history as a planet ought to Amen that notion, ain’a?

What a world, what a universe, ’cause I’m Art Kumbalek and I told you so.

Art Kumbalek is a perennial candidate for any political office you got, and essayist for the Shepherd Express.