Training for the Arts

As I mentioned in this post, I'm really taking training seriously this year. I want to kick 75 miles in the butt. I appreciate the donations thus far (Tuesdays are going to be my "thank you" days, so stay tuned folks) because they literally got me out of bed this morning.

As I posted on Daily Mile, I did NOT want to get up at 5:30 AM to go to the gym. But spin class is on the calendar as a necessary activity for this endeavor. So I went. It was really difficult, but I went. And it was great. And got me through my day. So thanks everyone for keeping me motivated.

Tomorrow my "training" activity is the e Rock N' Run in Tosa, which actually has proceeds going to UPAF, so two birds, one stone.

Of course, you can always donate online here.

Or attend on  Friday, May 7, 2010 • 5:30 PM to 9 PM - Guest Bartending for the Arts @ AJ Bombers

Bikes & The Arts

Here's a really great example of biking and the arts coming together to create, what I think, is a really lovely and inspirational video. Enjoy!



See, the Miller Lite Ride for the Arts really can affect more than just one day of me being sore!
 
Also, don't forget, you can support my efforts online here.

Or attend on  Friday, May 7, 2010 • 5:30 PM to 9 PM - Guest Bartending for the Arts @ AJ Bombers

It's On: $38/day in 38 Days

The recent failed (for now) battle for transit may have distracted me, but never fail, even though I'm disheartened, I can't eschew my fundraising committment to the Miller Lite Ride for the Arts. While transit is a passion, so is biking and the arts, and funding for them is important to this community as well.

Time has flown though, and today I realized that there's just 38 days left until the big ride and I need to ramp up both my fundraising and my physical training.

In case you forgot, you can donate online here.

I'm still a huge believer in quantity over quality for fundraising because I think that everyone should feel good about donating, even if it's just $5. Of course, I'll be creatively adding incentives to entice those larger donations over the next 38 days.

So here's what's on the horizon:

FUN-draising Events & Challenges

Friday, May 7, 2010 • 5:30 PM to 9 PM
Guest Bartending for the Arts @ AJ Bombers
Belly up to the bar during happy hour and get served by yours truly. Make me earn my tips toward the United Performing Arts Fund. The universe has actually conspired to make this a truly awesome night. Here's three reasons why the night will rock:

1.  AJ Bombers will be visited by the film crew of Food Wars on the Travel Channel next week. They probably won't be there while I am, but the aura of basic cable fame will still be lingering.
2. My dear old dad will be flying in from Portland for the occasion (well actually he was just going to be in the neighborhood for work, so he'll be stopping by).
3. The Milwaukee County Transit System kicks off its 150th Anniversary Celebration that day with free rides on the Route 15...which...you guessed it...goes right by AJ Bombers!

Week of May 16
Kisses for the Arts - More info coming soon, but the plan is for every $1 I get this week I will either eat a Hershey's Kiss (will be working them off in training) or kiss the donor. This could get interesting. Mark your calendars kiddos.

Week of May 23
To Be Announced - I'm "cooking" up a pretty cool idea on Twitter. I'll keep you posted as to what develops.

Week of May 30
Rocking for the Arts - Need to flesh this out, but Verge Music Festival is that weekend, so there will be some sort of challenge!

Training Plans:
I'm going to ramp up some intensive cross-training so my body will be ready to take on these 75 miles. I'm also doing both the Rock N' Run (Proceeds going to UPAF) and the Block Melanoma 5k before the ride as well. I am going to start the Bridge to 10k running program and get a lengthy bike training ride in every weekend between now and the ride.

Care to join me on a training ride? Mark your calendars for May 2 (25 miles), May 9 (35 miles), May 15 (45 miles), May 22 (55 miles) or (possibly) May 29 (65 miles).

Sound like fun? Keep watching the blog for more updates. And don't forget, you can donate online here.

Happy Earth Week! Let's Save Transit

Fellow Wisconsinites,

Did you know Thursday is the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day? Did you know Earth Day was invented in Wisconsin? Did you know that Thursday is the last day of current session of the Wisconsin State Legislature?

Did you know that Thursday is the LAST CHANCE for the legislature to approve the RTA bills or there will be additional devastating cuts to transit in the state's largest county? The good news is the Assembly has a vote scheduled for Tuesday, April 20. Make sure they're not smoking something and VOTE YES on AB282 (well you probably shouldn't say that when you call, but I couldn't resist a joke).

If Captain Planet were real, I think he'd be assembling his forces right now. But since that's just a fictional character from the early '90s, we need you to fill the role of the Planeteers (or not, but just follow the directions below okay?).

FROM SERTA (http://southeasternrta.wordpress.com/):

If you have yet to make a call, or it has been a while since you’ve asked your Assembly Representative’s support of transit legislation to provide adequate funding for bus transit in southeastern Wisconsin- this may be your last chance. Call them NOW and tell them to support transit legislation by voting to pass legislation this Tuesday.

The following legislators need to hear from constituents:

- Representative Cullen – 888-534-0013

- Representative Staskunas – 888-534-0015

- Representative Krusick – 608-2661733

To find out who your representative is visit: http://waml.legis.state.wi.us/

Please remember that this legislation is about JOBS and ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. I'm pleading with you, as a transplant, please keep Milwaukee a region where people CHOOSE to live.

Also, in case you haven't heard...as an added incentive for you all to step up and save transit, I have pledged to tattoo the new RTA logo on my body once dedicated funding actually begins. This is a really big deal because I hate needles and have nothing more than my ears pierced...BUT this issue means just that much to me.

Thank you for your support. If you have any further questions, I'm happy to answer them for you. Also, advanced apologies for possibly bombarding you with posts this week, but thank you for understanding and respecting my passion for this issue.

art attack: spring gallery night

This Friday is one of my favorite nights of the year -- SPRING GALLERY NIGHT!

I don't just support the performing arts in Milwaukee, but the visual arts as well.

It's looking like it should be relatively warm too, so what better to do than put on some stunning spring fashion and wander aimlessly looking at amazing local art?

I spent part of my weekend and evening last night perusing art listings and made a killer interactive map for you all to track me on Friday night and meet up. Lots of wonderful events going on throughout the city, so feel free to meet up at any point.

If you click on any marker on the map you'll get the details on that stop and what time my entourage (or just me) should be there.


View Spring Gallery Night in a larger map

Or click the link below:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=100210018014420342101.000484222f4e604b7f638&ll=43.036901,-87.915516&spn=0.024655,0.052013&z=14

In plain, non-interactive, English he stops are as follows:

5:30 P.M. - INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL - WATER & KILBOURN

6:15 P.M. - THE PARACHUTE PROJECT - 10TH & HIGHLAND

7:15 P.M. - HGA ARCHITECTS/WHA FUNDRAISER - 333 E. ERIE ST.

8:00 P.M. - CORCORAN LOFTS - 444 E. CORCORAN ST.

8:40 P.M. - CEDAR GALLERY - 326 N. WATER ST.

9:15 P.M. - CUVEE - 177 N. BROADWAY ST.

10 P.M. - STACK'D BURGER BAR - 170 S. 1ST ST.

10:30 P.M. - LIVE ARTISTS STUDIO - 228 S. 1ST ST. #302 - $5 (TOWARD THE WATER INSTITUTE)

11:30 P.M. - MOCT - 240 E. PITTSBURGH ST.

I plan on biking to the first couple spots and then parking my bike in the Third Ward, so feel free to join me on two wheels initially if you want.

Speaking of transportation, no appeal from me would be complete without reminding you to PLEASE call your legislators in Madison and tell them to GET MOVING and get the RTA legislation passed before the session ends on April 22. To find your reps go to: http://www.legis.wisconsin.gov/w3asp/waml/waml.aspx. Please call and/or email BOTH your rep and your senator to tell them you support the RTA and dedicated funding for transit in Milwaukee.

AAAAAAAAAND, to bring it all back to art...if this bill actually passes and transit in Milwaukee is saved I have vowed to get the new RTA logo tattooed on my body.

So please come join me for art, fashion, cocktails, biking, transit talk and awesomeness this FRIDAY NIGHT!

music madness: girls! girls! (dum dum) girls!

Of course it's always wonderful when you expect a great show and you get a great show. Or when you don't expect anything and get a great show.

Tonight, at the Girls concert, I experienced something a little different. I was at a show that went from about a 5 to a 7 then to a 10 1/2.

I got to the Pabst Theater early so I could catch the Dum Dum Girls opening set. It was fairly good, but didn't exactly blow me away. The matching outfits were cute, but the act probably would've been more impressive in a place like Mad Planet. This is by no means the fault of the band, I just don't think their psycho-surf rock meets '60s girl band thing quite works in the Pabst. Not to say I won't get their album though, it's definitely fun music.

I wasn't sure what to expect from Girls. And initially I was not too impressed. They seemed like they might not really want to be there and while the songs from their album sounded good, they sounded no different than the album. A nice, sleepy Sunday night show. I was okay with that, figuring I'd be home earlier than expected. Then halfway through the show, the energy switched. During "Darling" people started standing and dancing. The theater was awake and the band woke up too. They brought it during the next few songs, which included the hits (indiewise) "Lust for Life" and "Hellhole Ratrace." Then they actually spoke to the audience more than just "thank you." They noted that they couldn't really see anybody and wondered why there was a big platform separating the audience from the stage. Having been sitting in the third row for the show (hooray going solo and general admission), I'd wondered that as well.

Then the magic happened, they invited everybody up on the platform during the next song, a cover of The Everly Brothers' "All I Have to Do Is Dream." I'm not really a "jump on stage" person, but the crowd was small enough where everyone easily got swept up there, so I went. Everyone was respectful and just swayed and sang along. You couldn't not smile! And I think the band was surprised at how awesome things had just become. Instead of going to a break and coming back for their encore, they just played through the rest of the set list. The bassist especially kept encouraging the rest of the band to stay up there. I think there were about 4-5 songs until they'd burnt through their original material, including "Summertime" and "Lauren Marie." They finally ended with a cover of Daniel Johnston's "True Love Will Find You in the End."

And then the band stepped on to the edge of the stage for high fives and group hugs.

It was a magical music moment.

weekend plans? stop by the bike expo

Yes, I'm running with the bike theme this month here at the Accidental Wisconsinite.

Today I'm pretty excited to go volunteer at the Wheel & Sprocket Bike Expo from 1-4 p.m. for the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin. I also plan to peruse the accessories and at the very least get some new bike shorts since my XLs aren't going to fit any more!

Stop by the BFW booth (back by the service center) to learn about joining an organization that does incredible work for bike advocacy in the state. And for just $25 it's a steal to join! You can also visit booths for dozens of non-profits and charity rides. Including the Miller Lite Ride for the Arts.

Of course, if you can't make it today and want to get a headstart on supporting me in that ride, you can do so by donating online here.

milwaukee props: milwaukee a top biking city!

OnMilwaukee.com reported today that our very own Milwaukee was ranked in the top 25 bike-friendly cities by Bicycling magazine.

This warms my heart on this dreary day (of course my perma-gray hometown of Portland is #2 on the list), as it shows that there really is a growing biking community out there on the roads of Milwaukee.

It also has inspired me to BYOB (bring your own bike) to the FUEL Milwaukee Healthy & Green Team's meet up tomorrow at the Urban Ecology Center. We're going to learn about this great sustainability-focused non-profit, which is one of the many puzzle pieces to getting people active and biking in the community.

And as always, don't forget I've begun my fundraising quest for the Miller Lite Ride for the Arts. Want to get a headstart on supporting me? You can do so by donating online here.