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.

milwaukee props: streetcar meeting this thursday

As down as I get sometimes about all the NO NO NO NO NO we hear in Wisconsin when it comes to progress, I forget that there's plenty of open-minded, big picture thinkers doing what's best to move our region forward in a global reality.

That's why I'm very excited about the upcoming Milwaukee Streetcar meeting, this Thursday, October 8 from 3-7 p.m. at the Zeidler Municipal Building/ Broadway Entrance Lobby Area, 841 N. Broadway.

You can review all the materials at MilwaukeeConnector.com before you go and give your input.

What route do you favor? Are you planning to go and take part in this exciting step toward Milwaukee's better future?

monday munchies: tomato canning and innercity peaches

Summer has been flying by faster than I can keep up. Please excuse me new readers for the slacking, but trust me, you'll hear much from me in the winter.

Of course, much of my time in the summer is spent in the kitchen, trying to tame the growing amount of bounty I get from my Rare Earth Farm CSA each week, as well as the goodies I pick up at the Easttown Farmers Market.

Fortunately this summer I have been able to attend the "Savor the Taste of Summer" food preservation series at the Urban Ecology Center. I had my third course last Thursday night, focusing on tomato canning. Above is a picture of the crushed tomatoes (left) and salsa (right) that our class made. I was on the salsa team, along with my friend Kim (it's nice to have a canning buddy). Tomatoes are definitely a little more time-intensive than jam, and you have to be more careful about adding the right amount of acid, but I think the skills I learned will come in handy when the tomato harvest gets here. Hopefully it will be soon, as the cold weather and tomato fungus have thrown some wrenches into the process.

The best thing I learned in class had nothing to do with tomatoes at all. It was the fact that there is a peach orchard just three blocks from my work, in the middle of Milwaukee's central city. I had heard of Walnut Way before and the work they are doing in the community, but had no idea the extent of it. My instructor and farmer-classmate were discussing the delicious peaches they'd gotten from there. I had to check it out the next day, so on my lunch break I walked over. Not only did I find a peach orchard, but several lots of beautiful lush gardens and a gorgeous renovated Victorian home in an area many assume is only blight and decay. The folks at Walnut Way were absolutely gracious and kind, as well as enthusiastic to tell me all about their wares. I bought a dozen peaches and a vial of honey, from the bees they raise on one of their lots. (I've been told one should eat local honey to help with allergies; I couldn't think of honey more local than this). The enthusiasm of this organization was contagious and I practically skipped back to the office to spread the good news. My co-workers were astonished and a couple rushed over later to get their own peaches.

While it was hard to resist eating my entire bag of peaches that afternoon, I did make a peach cobbler (above) over the weekend. I have to say, the magic of Walnut Way was in every bite of their fruit, and I will definitely be returning. It truly brings a smile to face when I learn about groups like Walnut Way and Growing Power bringing new life to Milwaukee's economically-depressed areas through sustainable agriculture and getting the neighborhoods in touch with the environment.

Another big event last week was cooking birthday dinner for my friend Maribeth, and hosting a dinner party on a Wednesday night. Mar requested spaghetti, as she likes my sauce. Since tomatoes aren't up yet, I threw several cans of diced, stewed, pasted, etc. tomatoes from Trader Joe's along with garlic and spices into my electric skillet and let it stew for a couple hours. Looking forward to next year when I can use my own canned goods. I also used up several of my carrots, beets and one of the greenhouse tomatoes I had, in a salad.

The highlight of the dinner though, was Becky's Grizzly Man inspired cake, complete with bear cubs. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, check out the clip below.

Finally, in preparation for the Milwaukee Eat Local Challenge (which I'll only be here about a week of, since I'll be making trips to San Francisco and Chicago during the first two weeks of September), Becky and I went to the Eat Local Challenge Fair on Sunday and I continued to experiment with local foods in the kitchen.

Roasted Cauliflower, from the Commander's Palace cookbook

Zucchini and tomato pasta

Zucchini muffin and fresh cantaloupe (nothing like fruit from the farmer's market!)

Finally, broccoli gazpacho, which I winged the recipe for. About 2 cups of broccoli steamed, medium onion chopped, green pepper chopped, cup of cilantro chopped -- throw it in a blender with about a cup of yogurt and a cup of milk and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Voila!

art attack: spring gallery night

What better way to cap off a triumphant arts week than with Spring Gallery Night?

Here's my personal list of galleries for tomorrow night. If you can meet out at any point please do!

Starting on the Eastside/Brewers Hill and ending in Bay View/Walkers Point. I included transit info for those who want to join me on the bus (although if it's really close to 70 degrees, I may be biking it). I opted to surpass the Third Ward this time around (too much to see in the outlying areas and didn't want to get bogged down), but I highly recommend you check that out on Gallery Day.

• 5:30 PM: Inova (2155 N. Prospect Ave.) - Excited to check out the Jefferson Pinder: Anthology
• 6:07 PM: Catch Route 15 to Water & Pleasant
  
• 6:30 PM: Armoury Gallery (1718 N 1st St)
• 7:09 PM: Catch Route 15 to KK & Potter
  
• 7:35 PM: Front Room Photography (2637 South Kinnickinnic Ave)
• 8:00 PM: Fasten Collective (2224 S KK)
  
• 8:30 PM: Paper Boat (2375 S Howell Ave) - This will be the last show ever at Paper Boat.
  
• 9:29 PM: Catch Route 15 to 1st & National
  
• 9:45 PM: The Wherehouse / Present Music Party (818 S Water St - next to La Merenda) - there is a $10 cover

Here's a map of all the galleries:



View Larger Map

thankful tuesdays: score one for art and democracy!

One of the things I've been meaning to write about and never got the chance has been the ongoing public discussion of a proposed public art installation in downtown Milwaukee by renowned artist Janet Zweig.

 

The discussion first came to my attention via the Art City Blog written by Mary Louise Schumacher of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. [When the JS redesigned their site and screwed up all their feeds a couple of months back I stopped reading most of their specialty content, with the exception Schumacher and Tom Held's "Off the Couch" blog -- excellent stuff which makes a strong case for the importance of beat journalism]. At any rate, no sooner did I find out about this project (around March 31), that it was pummeled by politicians who clearly never had an art literacy program in their schools.

 

The "I wouldn't pay 50 cents for the Mona Lisa" comment will surely make "Dumbest Things Ever Said In Milwaukee" lists for years.

 

I don't know what it was about this near-defeat compared to so many others Milwaukee's Creative Community has faced in the 10 years I've lived here, but the troops were rallied. Yes, there was Mike Brenner grandstanding again, but this time he seemed to balance it out with enough thoughtful commentary (or maybe it's because I actually know him now, not just as the "crazy Bronze Fonz hater guy") that people took him much more seriously. Most local blogs, publications and even TV news (unable to find link) featured the issue. Spreenkler held an arts panel. The suits sorta, kinda tried to engage the artists (although it sounds like they could improve). Facebook causes formed and Twitter has been on fire for weeks.

 

Suddenly those in favor of the project realized that something bigger than just getting an issue passed was happening. Regardless of whether or not their opinions were in agreement, people were TALKING ABOUT ART. A public discourse was at hand. Most people were making sound and educated arguments, not just spewing forth regurgitated talking points from one political party or another.

 

It also became evident that the "other team's" constant bemoaning argument about "tax and spend," "liberal agenda," blah blah blah, wasn't going to work this time. We had a solid economic counterpoint -- this artist would be reinvesting $60,000 into the local economy by hiring local artists and manufacturers to assist with the project. I also think people are starting to "get" that government funds ARE already allocated to certain areas and when it comes from the feds it can't get reallocated to a different slot. If we did not use this money we would lose it. Perhaps the recent streetcar reallocation woke people up?

 

Personally I was so bombarded with information that I did respond to the calls to action. My alderman, Bauman, was already in favor of the project, but I emailed the full council to express my support and even called Alderman Puente after hearing via Twitter that he was on the fence. [Side note, it would be really handy if the Common Council had a group email like CommonCouncil@___.gov and committee emails (i.e. PublicWorksComm@__.gov)]

 

Perhaps it was just a perfect storm of factors: social media, a strong voice from "mainstream" media, a growing movement to make Milwaukee a progressive city again that brought us all together on this issue. Whatever it was, it worked.

 

Just like last November's election, the project's blowout win at the full Common Council meeting today showed what coordinated mobilization can do.

 

What I find encouraging is that the local politics ball has either a) been dropped for years and/or b) been hogged by the right wing radio guys. I think the initial defeat on the Zweig was the big final wake up call.

 

WE STOLE THE BALL BACK.

And hopefully we'll keep it up.

milwaukee mysteries: some solved

Above is a crappy cell phone photo of the aforealluded to building next door in my Milwaukee Mysteries post.

Thanks to Michael Horne of the excellent MilwaukeeWorld for finding out this tidbit for me:

#1 Permit 816273 has been taken out on 802 N. Van Buren by owner Radovan Stojanovich for repairs. There is no record of a violation or enforcement letter.

Horne also identified #4 as Milwaukee Water Works. (What a gorgeous building though, wouldn't you agree?) He also dug up this about Saylece's: Saylece's is owned by Cary M McCoy of Jaycee Investments, and has a license that will expire in Feb, 2010. Still not quite sure what that is, and it's still a shame that the Commons closed.

Thanks for the feedback everyone, I think I'll keep the mysteries a'comin!

milwaukee mysteries

A couple of Milwaukee mysteries I'm looking to have solved (perhaps I will post these after every episode of LOST):

1. What the hell happened to the building next door to my apartment? I believe the address would be something like 802 N. Van Buren.

View Larger Map

Anyway, it's that Cream City Brick building in the street view. I came home from work today and noticed that there's caution tape around the entrance, the stairs have collapsed and a big KEEP OUT sign was posted on the door. WTF? The lights are off over there tonight and we never could quite figure out what the building was, other than perhaps a rooming house for MSOE. At any rate, if you have any idea what is going on, leave a note in the comments please.

2. What's up with Riverwest Commons? There's a big sign on the outside that read's Saylece's? More of a mystery: How do you pronounce that? Vague message on MySpace page that says it's no longer a music club. What happened?



Riverwest Commons NOT around the corner?
3. Is this really what's left of the sinkhole? Really? I'm a bit disappointed. I was hoping for a weird glow.


4. What is this amazing building along the westside of the river just north of the Locust Street bridge? I've always wondered and got a good shot off on Saturday.

5. Why is there a lone, beat up East Town sign in front of the Newsroom Pub?



Again, if you have answers (or conspiracy theories) to any or all of these Milwaukee Mysteries, please leave your comments below.

WTFisconsin: Save Film Incentives

I blogged last week about my dismay at Governor Doyle cutting Wisconsin's film incentives from this year's budget. 

Luckily thanks to groups like Film Wisconsin and Milwaukee Film, concerned folks are banding together to contact their legislators to tell them this action is not okay. Film Wisconsin posted some excellent talking points to their Facebook group and Milwaukee Film sent a link to the Arts Wisconsin page that explains how to contact your representatives.

With time being "of the essence" I didn't worry about crafting the perfect letter, but just shot this one off to the governor, with some modifications for my representatives, Sen. Jeff Plale and Rep. Jon Richards.

Dear Gov. Doyle,

As a young professional and member of the "Creative Class," I was shocked to hear that you proposed cutting one of the most innovative programs in this state -- the incentives for the film industry in Wisconsin.

Cutting this program would be devastating to hundreds of people that this state needs to retain. The economy has already offed thousands of traditional manufacturing jobs, why use the state budget to unnecessarily kill occupations in a viable industry?

It seems extremely short-sighted to axe a new program after one year. Especially a year when a major motion picture, several television shows, and commercials were filmed in Wisconsin. With your emphasis on education, I'm surprised you'd want to eliminate an industry that many institutes of higher learning have adapted curriculum and created training programs to support. Do you really want to drive educated workers OUT of Wisconsin?

I understand that the budgeting process is a delicate one, but Governor, I believe you overlooked much potential when you switched the tax incentives to a grant program. Unfortunately the grants fall incredibly short and would not have any of the impact of the tax incentives. I urge you to reconsider cutting the incentives and encourage Wisconsinites to get back to work in the business of film. Please recall what you said when you signed the incentives into law: "Filmmaking is part of manufacturing in the 21st century…and Wisconsin will serve a valuable role in manufacturing film.”

Join the next generation of Wisconsinites in keeping Wisconsin in the 21st century.

Kind regards,
Meghan Arnold

 If you care about the future of Wisconsin's economy and its positioning to attract and retain talent, I highly recommend you send a similar message.

TONIGHT: Car-Free LoveFest!

It begins with the final public meeting on the Milwaukee Connector Study from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Harbor Lights Room. "Transit corridors throughout Milwaukee County will be evaluated, focusing on bus rapid transit and streetcar vehicles. You are invited to attend an open-house public information scoping meeting to review and comment on the project scope, schedule, study area, routes and more."

After that's got your juices flowing, head over to the Bike Federation of Wisconsin's Love Your Bike Party at Lakefront Brewery from 7-11 p.m. "A party for anyone who loves bicycles! Join the Bike Fed for a night of socializing and celebration!" There is a bike-themed silent auction, including a bike art auction. Plus food, and FREE BEER. The party costs $15 or $5 if you contribute Bike-Art (must be framed if picture) OR it's FREE if you are a first-time Bike Fed Member ($25).

Yes, it should be a fun night and you should leave being completely enthralled with alternate forms of transportation. Forget that day two days later, February 12 is when you can love yourself and the environment.

Will I see you there?

I Heart Milwaukee!

National Geographic's Traveler Magazine focuses on cities this month. But your typical "it" towns of Shanghai, Montreal, London, Sydney...you get the gist. However, they're asking for input from readers to represent their city. Show it some LOVE if you will. So below is what I'm sending in for Milwaukee. I encourage you to do the same!

Milwaukee is My City.

The first place I take a visitor from out of town is to our beautiful Lakefront (parks, beaches and festivals in the summertime, or maybe just  Lakefront Brewery in the winter (well also in summer, I won't lie).)
When I crave the best wings on the planet earth I always go Points East Pub. Affordable drinks, a friendly staff and usually live music in the backroom.

To escape the city streets I head for a bike ride on the superb Oak Leaf Trail. There's over 100 miles of bicycle trails in Milwaukee County alone and you can link into other trail systems to seemingly ride forever!

If I want to see a great movie I go to the beautiful Oriental Theatre, or its sister, the Downer Theatre. Both work with Milwaukee Film for unique screenings by local and international filmmakers and participate in our film festival.

For complete quiet, I can hide away in the future "Milwaukee's Central Park". Bring your bike, dog, hiking shoes, camera. It's so peaceful here you forget you're just a couple miles from downtown.

If you come to my city, get your picture taken with the Bronze Fonz (just don't call it "art").


If you have to order one thing off the menu from Beans & Barley it has to be the chicken salad plate. I've never once been disappointed, nor seen anywhere in the world incorporate so many vegetables into one meal.

The Milwaukee Public Market is my one-stop shop for great gourmet cheeses, artisan bakery, fresh deli and produce year-round.

Locals know to skip Water Street and check out Brady Street, the Third Ward, Riverwest or Bay View instead. Milwaukee has so many diverse neighborhoods, pretty much one for every personality type.

When I'm feeling cash-strapped I go to any of Milwaukee's free summer music events -- Jazz in the Park, River Rhythms, Chill on the Hill -- just to name a few. I'll also never miss the quarterly Gallery Night - a fantastic night on the town with all the art you can handle for free.

For a huge splurge I go to any of Milwaukee's independently owned boutiques--two faves are Boutique Vieux et Nouveau and Lela.

Photo ops in my city include the Santiago Calatrava-designed Milwaukee Art Museum and the best vantage points are from a boat on Lake Michigan, the Discovery World museum, or neighboring parks.

If my city were a celebrity it'd be Mickey Rourke, poised for a comeback.

The most random thing about my city is it is home to the largest four-faced clock in the world (Big Ben is the largest four-faced chiming clock).

My city has the most charmingly aloof men.

My city has the most fun-loving women.
 
In my city, an active day outdoors involves hiking (or snow-shoeing in the winter) part of our miles of trails; canoeing, kayaking or sailing in one of our many waterways (or ice skating on them in winter); playing a round of beach volleyball at Bradford Beach; then going for a sunset or moonlit stroll along the lake.

My city's best museum is the Milwaukee Art Museum. The architecture is impressive, but the collections and special exhibitions will blow you away.

My favorite jogging/walking route is along the Lakefront (I can't give the preservation of this public space enough props) from downtown all the way up to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

For a night of dancing, go to '80s Night at Mad Planet (not your typical '80s night, this skews toward alternative, industrial and deep cuts). Or, for live music, check out the beautiful and historic Pabst Theater, Riverside Theater and Turner Hall Ballroom.

Pizza Shuttle is the spot for late-night eats.

To find out what's going on at night and on the weekends, read OnMilwaukee.com. (And of course The Accidental Wisconsinite!) Also make sure you're twittering with the right folks. Milwaukee has a solid creative community leveraging social media to get the conversation started.

You can tell a lot about my city from the dedication of its sports fans. 

You can tell if someone is from my city if they are ridiculously nice and can drink you under the table.

In the spring you should walk Milwaukee's unique neighborhoods, catch a early-season Brewers game at Miller Park (don't forget to tailgate), and people watch on the first warm day sitting outside at Alterra at the Lake.

In the summer you should hit up Milwaukee's plethora of festivals and free music events (including Summerfest, the world's largest music festival), create a brilliant meal from locally-grown produce found at our city's numerous farmer's markets, and experience the wonder that is the Wisconsin State Fair.


In the fall you should drive to Elegant Farmer for apple and pumpkin picking, head over to Madison for a Badger Football game, and back to Milwaukee for a Packer party on Sunday (because who can get tickets to Lambeau, really?). The bars really get creative with the latter, my favorite from this season was The Bomb Shelter bar serving bear meat at halftime during the game against Chicago.



In the winter you should explore Milwaukee's magical one-of-a-kind pubs and taverns like Bryant's Cocktail Lounge, Kochanski's Concertina Beer Hall and Paddy's Irish Pub. Not a drinker? Escape to the tropics and the desert at the Mitchell Park Domes.


A hidden gem in my city is the Urban Ecology Center. Not only does this incredible organization do wonderful educational work (connecting inner-city kids with nature), but it's a fantastic asset to the community and visitors alike. There's usually an interesting hands-on program regarding the environment or sustainability going on, and if you're a member you can borrow equipment (from drills to skis to kayaks for free). The "super-green" building at the Riverside location alone is worth the visit -- plus where else can you slide into a community center?

For a great breakfast joint try the Café at the Plaza in the Plaza Hotel. Charming old school dining counter and open kitchen and in the summer they have the most adorable courtyard area. Huge portions at affordable prices, it tastes like your grandma is making you breakfast.

Don't miss the Locust Street Days festival in June, the quintessential neighborhood festival. One of Milwaukee's nicknames is "The City of Festivals" so there's usually a church festival, a neighborhood festival and a large ethnic or music festival happening every weekend in the summer.

Just outside my city, you can visit historic Cedarburg. With several boutiques, a winery, and even a crepe shop, this town is the definition of "quaint," and a great place to take parents. 

The best way to see my city is walking the length of the ever-expanding Riverwalk. You can walk from the harbor, through downtown and into developing residential areas.

If my city were a pet it would be a loyal hunting dog. It may seem to loll about sometimes, but it'll surprise you at times  and run after some birds with the gusto of a young pup.

If I didn't live in a city, I'd live (where?) - in the Welsh countryside, as I can't imagine living in an American suburb.

The best book about my city is The Making of Milwaukee by local historian John Gurda. I'm not sure of any fiction books that are set here. But we win the classic television category hands down with Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley.

When I think about my city, the song that comes to mind is "Roll Out the Barrel." Seriously, what other MLB team includes a polka after "Take Me Out to the Ballgame?".

If you have kids, you won't want to miss the Discovery World Museum. Hands-on exhibits, a to-scale replica of the Great Lakes, an authentic tall ship and a splendid aquarium provide fun for adults too.

The Santa Cycle Rampage could only happen in my city. Sure other cities have Santa events, but do they include biking in the snow, brewery tours, shotskis and polka seranades?

My city should be featured on your cover or website because Milwaukee is a vastly underappreciated gem. I am a transplant from "urban darling" Portland, Oregon and I think Milwaukee has got it goin' on.

social media madness: 25 random things about me

Certainly if you're on Facebook you've seen the phenomena that is the "25 Random Things About Me." Well now that I've been "tagged" multiple times I figured I'd go ahead and do it, when I came home from happy hour this evening. So here's your factoids and I'm only tagging folks who tagged me, because I don't believe in chain mail karma (I guess that's a bonus fact for you!).

1. I moved 2,000 miles away from home, in part to escape my family. The distance has tremendously improved our relationship over the past 10 years. Now my mom joined Facebook and I feel like I'm 17 again, needing to hide everything I'm doing -- even though none of it is bad.

2. One time I came home from college and I forgot I had a mostly-empty pack of Camel Lights in my bag. I tossed them in the garbage in the bathroom I shared with my then adolescent brother. My mom blamed him, he blamed me, I blamed my friend Lisa (one of the friends that was "mom-approved"). I don't smoke anymore. The idea generally disgusts me, unless I'm ridiculously stressed. But I found out my mom sneaks one every now and then.

3. My best friend, Kat, and I have been through things together that would fill a whole week on Lifetime Movie Network. Luckily, we don't think like women who actually buy into LMN, so we've gotten through it all just fine. Also, Kat and I can go for months without communicating (when she was in Germany, pre-prolific internet we'd actually write infrequent letters), but we always slide back into conversation with the greatest of ease.

4. The great love of my life and I never did anything more than accidentally hold hands in the theatre during "Bowling for Columbine." I don't know if it was on purpose or just going for popcorn simultaneously. I thought I'd find out, but then he got a Marcia-Brady looking girlfriend who inexplicably hated me. When I found out they were getting married I reacted like Carrie to the Big & Natasha storyline in "Sex In the City." When I found out via Facebook-stalking that she is pregnant and they've moved back to Milwaukee, I didn't know how to respond because I no longer had an equivalent pop culture reference.

5. I used to be a hopeless romantic (see #4), but I found that makes your heart much easier to smash when things don't work out. After a few rounds of that, I have a heart of steel. My last break up should have devastated me, but I picked up the pieces fairly quickly. I attribute that to the steelheart, the support of my amazing friends and all those who crushed me before. I may have cried over those guys in the past, but I'm kind of grateful to them for making my life a lot easier now.

6. I have traveled many places by myself, but I've gone with a buddy to my two "I" countries: Italy and India. My friend Kristen and I have always talked about going to Iceland for the Airwaves Music Festival (she's been once before). Despite their collapsing economy and government, I think we may just have to go for the trend's sake.

7. Emerging unscathed from corners of the world where the guide books warn me about scammers and pickpockets, I have been robbed twice. My bike was stolen at a jazz festival in Milwaukee's posh Third Ward neighborhood and my purse was stolen at a bar in Wrigleyville, Chicago. The lesson? Beware of yuppies (and Cubs fans).

8. I love my job working for, living and breathing the transit system. I was actually so excited about it when I applied that I barely told a soul because I was terrified of jinxing it. People had been telling me for years to "do what I love," but unfortunately having W as president for most of my adult life put a huge damper on my choices. Once I started promoting public transportation though, I knew what they were talking about. I wanted this job so badly because I felt I could help create change (and this was BEFORE Obama started encouraging everyone to do that). I know it's an uphill battle, but it's easier to fight when you have faith in your cause. I hope I can connect better with the amazingly dedicated community members who fight for this cause, because at the end of the day I'm one of them. I also hope they understand that I don't have a magic wand and that patience is a virtue until the ink is dry on a dedicated funding source. My two main selling points to get the job were: I don't have a car and I'm from Portland, Oregon. Those still hold up both internally and externally.

9. Throughout my tenure as a Wisconsin transplant, I've my Portland roots have earned me cred amongst the following groups over the years: college stoners, music fans, hipsters and transit advocates. Hypothesize what you will about overlap. It also blows people's minds that I was born in Portland, Maine but raised in Portland, Oregon.

10. It's always been a slight fear that I hit my prime at 17, when I appeared on the 1997 Jeopardy! Teen Tournament (and no, I didn't win, but I was an alternate for the second-round, which meant I got a free trip to DC (the first time they took the show on the road) and didn't have to stress about being on national TV again). Yes, I did meet Alex Trebek, but I also met several awesome fellow nerds who I don't really keep in touch with, but a few are Facebook friends. I gave a much better performance on Portland's locally-produced "High Five Academic Challenge." This resulted in my first real date (awful) and meeting one of my good friends freshman year who recognized me in the Cobeen (dorm) cafeteria as "that girl from the High Five commercial." Yes, when you tuned into your syndicated "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" reruns after school, I'd inevitably pop up on the screen buzzing in and saying "Wagner?" This commercial could very well still be running in the greater Portland area. While I never gained fame and glory from my teenage trivia antics, I did land on Varsity College Bowl as a college freshman and would get sporadic freaked out calls from acquaintances when a rerun of Teen Tournament would pop up on the Game Show Network (see #9, Group A).

11. There's apparently a such thing as a "Classic Meghan Story." I believe my retelling of them, after you buy me a pint or two, is only enhanced by my ethnically inherited Irish Gift of Gab. Unfortunately pretty much none of these stories are "family-friendly" (see #1), so as entertaining as they are I think I'd have to publish them under a nom de plume. Still, I don't know if writing them out would translate the nuances of the oral presentation.

12. I have zero interest in going to Germany, but have two friends marrying Germans in Germany in the near future, so I guess I'll go. All of my good friends from high school were fascinated with the place and the language. Kat and Mary Ann both studied there in college, but I never visited. I have a "Classic Meghan Story" about a German exchange student, but you should know you're not going to hear it right now if you've read #11. I do like German film however, with Metropolis, Run Lola Run, and The Lives of Others ranking quite favorably on my list. Of course, most of all I like making fun of Germans -- so Beerfest ranks even higher on my movie list.

13. I'm a little out of control in my film snobbery. Luckily I have an outlet in volunteering for Milwaukee's film festival. I usually am disappointed in buzz movies (i.e. Slumdog Millionaire). I am a firm believer that foreign films more accurately and unapologetically capture the human experience, so I'm always pleasantly surprised when an American film (i.e. The Wrestler) does so as well. My most-hated film of all time is The Notebook, despite having several really good friends who have tried to convince me otherwise. I actually think people claiming it is a good movie only adds fuel to my fire of loathing. I love the classics and am grateful for taking a Hitchcock class in college, even though I ended up only auditing it (thanks to the computers in the brothel that was Cudahy Hall giving my disk a virus and eating my entire final paper). I don't believe in favorites, so I don't have a favorite movie, but All About Eve is pretty well up there.

14. Music snobbery is another one of my traits. I fully credit my college boyfriend, Stew, for defining my indie musical path and my dad for making me appreciate the full unabashed glory of rock n' roll (I went through a phase in high school where I'd come home and rock out by myself to the Led Zeppelin II record every afternoon). I'm fortunate enough to have seen most major musical acts that I've wanted to, traveled to multiple music festivals, and caught amazing indie bands. My last boyfriend, Phil, introduced me to a lot of Milwaukee's local music scene and I'm grateful for that. He also sold me on the importance of donating to community-supported independent radio and really appreciate the magical goodness that is WMSE. My defining music moment though was seeing Arcade Fire OPEN for the now-defunct Unicorns at Mad Planet. There were maybe only 10 people there (this show often is confused with a later packed AF show at Mad Planet after the buzz had started) and we were all drawn from the bar to the stage, gaping in awe at the incredible sound filling the venue. I knew this was special. But not enough to not have the band sign the handmade EP I bought directly from them at the show. I felt then, and still do, that this band is this generation's U2/Radiohead-caliber band.

15. For someone as "artsy" as I may appear (see 13 & 14), I love sports. I lost my first tooth at a Tacoma Tigers (AAA?) baseball game. I was there with my dad. Despite taking quite the hiatus from baseball, I am now a huge Milwaukee Brewers fan. I believe this was destined to be, because when I was a kid I always chose the Brewers baseball helmet sundae at Baskin Robbins. I'm really glad they half-rock the old logo. Before I moved to Milwaukee there was a huge political debate about the new stadium and I know a lot of very liberal folks who refuse to step foot in Miller Park. I think this is dumb. I also think these people wouldn't be baseball fans anyway, and using politics as an excuse is easier than explaining that you just don't like sports. I challenge these people to start fessing up to the latter, because honestly at this point you just sound like a tool. I do wish I'd gone to a school with a football team, but Marquette Basketball helped me discover my love for the NCAA Tournament. What would my March be without brackets? I have adopted UW-Madison as my football team and love getting the chance to go to Badger games with my friend Cramer. Ten years in Wisconsin has turned me into a Packers fan, but I don't think that transformation will be complete until I make the journey to the Holy Land, aka Lambeau Field.

16. I have not eaten red meat since December 31, 1994. That was a pot roast. It was my New Year's resolution to give up red meat and it stuck. It was supposed to be a stepping stone to going full veg, but the thought of Thanksgiving without turkey really depresses me (even though I've skipped it some years -- see #17). I also love seafood, despite all the mercury. Despite a campaign waged by many to get me to embrace the apparent deliciousness of bacon, I haven't caved. I actually don't think I'll ever eat pork again, because a meat banned by two major religions can't be good for you. I figure I may end up eating beef again, should I ever become pregnant. I think one day I'm just going to yell "THE BABY WANTS STEAK!" and go dive into a hamburger. Right now I can always tell if I get a trace of forbidden meat in my food because my stomach quickly rejects it. It's not pretty.

17. Since 1998, I've only had one Thanksgiving with my family. I've spent one in Southern Illinois with a college friend, two in Northern Michigan with my college boyfriend, three in Wisconsin with friends and/or their families, two in Ozaukee County with my ex-boyfriend, one in Wales & England and one on a train from France to Barcelona with an Australian girl I met that day. The Welsh one is my most memorable. I'd been off exploring in Cardiff all day and returned home to find the 400-year-old farmhouse I'd been staying in filled with a delicious aroma. My friend's mother and aunt had a full spread on the table and invited me to sit down after we all enjoyed a cup of tea. They announced that we'd been having Shepherd's Pie and my stomach churned (see #16), but I was so grateful for their hospitality I decided to suck it up and hope they had good plumbing. They scooped a huge plateful for me, a dark meat swirling around with veggies and flaky crust. It smelled amazing, but I was terrified. I waited for my three dinner companions to take the first bite, took a deep breath and took a nibble. It tasted -- familiar. After my feigned approval, one of the hostesses proudly said, in her lilting accent, "We know it's Thanksgiving in America, so we wanted to make sure you felt at home. We went to the market and found a turkey for the pie!" I immediately dug into my plate and enthusiastically "mmmed", "aaahed, " and exclaimed "this is delicious!" Later on the way to pub I explained to my friend about my eating restrictions. He was incredulous, "So you were just going to get sick?!" I responded with, "Well I didn't want to be rude!" I believe he then commented about Americans being polite at the oddest times.

17. I constantly disagree with Catholicism, but I can't ever see myself switching teams. I do consider myself a very spiritual person, although I don't discuss it often. I am vehemently against evangelizing with hatred (i.e. "you're going to Hell if you don't do this). I don't understand Christians who nitpick passages out of the Bible to throw stones at people who are different from them (gays, those of different faiths). It seems to me they're ignoring the basic teachings of Christ, which in my understanding are love and tolerance. I silently cheer for interfaith dialogue and was impressed that Obama's inauguration speech also gave a shout out to non-believers. Although I've been to some of the most amazing cathedrals and churches in the world (including St. Peter's) as well as on several retreats during my eight years of Catholic school, the most incredible spiritual experience I've ever had was in none of them. It was in Rome, but completely unexpected. My friend and I were on the tour of the catacombs and met a family from Wyoming, a couple from Nebraska, and the couple's friend, a monsignor at Creighton University. After the tour the couple and the monsignor noted that they were going to celebrate the Eucharist in the catacombs. The family from Wyoming kinda freaked out and exited. Andrea and I were like "what the hey?" and stayed on. It was the most intimate experience I have ever had with God and it really sunk in saying the same mass (albeit in a different language) as people 2,000 years prior.

18. I advocate for gay rights, not because I'm gay, but because I feel that no one should be denied the right to the pursuit of happiness, especially when it's written into the Declaration of Independence. I don't understand people that think being gay is a choice either. It's hard for me to comprehend that this country is still restricting people's rights. And it really sickens me when people compare homosexuality (between two consenting adults!!) to pedophilia or bestiality. Again, going back to #17, I can't understand Christians picking random passages out of the scripture instead of going with the overall theme of love and acceptance (and you don't have to love in that way). Gay rights are a human rights issue to me and I'm happy to do what I can for the cause.

19. When I was a child my biggest fear was spontaneous human combustion. Now I think it's either being buried alive (a la Kill Bill Vol. 2) or drowning while trapped in an enclosed space. I don't think either would be very pleasant.

20. I got more out of a few days volunteering for the Obama campaign in the central city (I was eventually moved to my own neighborhood), than out of the months I spent schlepping for the Kerry campaign in the suburbs. To echo my friend Beth's sentiment, "I still stop what I’m doing and smile whenever I hear 'President Obama.'" Reading this article about how he's changing the work environment at the White House, made me smile even more. I love having a cool president!

21. FUEL Milwaukee (formerly Young Professionals of Milwaukee, or YPM), despite all its faults, is a huge factor as to why I've stayed in this town. I have made so many wonderful friends and connections through this organization and don't feel I would be who or where I am today without it. I certainly would not be on the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network-Milwaukee Chapter Board, without having gotten my start with YPM.

22. One not so exactly "family-friendly" tidbit (see #11). I have kissed someone from every civilized continent except South America (although I appreciate Beth's comment that she needs to get there "before cartographers pull a Pluto on Antarctica and it won’t count anymore," I do recognize that it has no native human life). My ongoing joke is always "I need to find a Brazilian and a penguin and be done with it."

23. I have several tracks for my future that I realize are completely unparallel: A) go to graduate school for a joint Urban Planning/Public Administration Master's; B) pay off my debt and save enough to buy a house; C) pay off my debt and save enough to quit work for a year and travel around the world before I'm 35; D) find someone, get married, reproduce. Actually I think D=disgusting at this point in my life. I'd actually rather find someone to travel around the world with me and then go from there. Although a recent joke on that note was "I need to find a guy who would build me the Taj Mahal." Uh, yeah, at this point someone who would pay half my rent after a couple years of dating would be just fine with me.

24. To echo Bill who tagged me, I also rejected the "digital converter box" for my television. I am perfectly fine with utilizing Netflix and watching my shows online. I never personally owned a TV until after college and thus missed some great shows that premiered between 1998 and 2002. Luckily TV on DVD has caught me up on Freaks and Geeks and The West Wing.

25. I am deathly afraid of needles thanks to a rogue phlebotomist during my pre-kindergarten physical. Because of this I've never gotten a tattoo or tried heroin. As traumatic as that phlebotomist was to my childhood development, I am grateful to her now to preventing any missteps in my lifestyle.

globetrotting: tourist in my hometown - pt I

Friday began with a quest for a famous doughnut.

Being from Portland I am constantly barraged with questions in the Midwest of "weird" Oregon stuff that's been glorified in the national media and/or cable television. It seems the Food Network and the Travel Channel have both highlighted Voodoo Doughnut in recent years. I think that's the #1 question I receive when I tell people I'm a Portland native these days: "Have you been to that Voodoo Doughnut place?" (So different from the questions I used to be asked in college...I guess I'm getting old).

No, I hadn't been. Neither had my mother. So we decided to trek downtown and see what all the fuss was about.

You see, even though I am "from" Portland (from age 11-18), I grew up in the west suburban part of the city and wasn't "allowed" downtown until maybe my senior year of high school. I moved away as soon as possible and only really explore the city in my short visits here. Thus, there are a lot of landmark Portland experiences that I've not been privy to, although I've definitely covered more insider ground than most Midwesterners.

At any rate, Dad dropped Mom and I off at the Sunset Transit Center to catch the MAX to downtown Portland. After some fun mother-daughter drama, I successfully purchased two TriMet all-day passes for us for $4.75 each (although the machine didn't allow me to select quantity on those, I had to buy one and then the other, kind of a pain in the butt). Bypassing the coffee kiosk open for thirsty commuters, we headed down the platform to wait for a train.

Admittedly, I don't take public transportation often enough when I come to Portland. The transit center is about a mile from the homestead and my friends are spread far and wide across the greater metro area. Even though the suburbs are accessible by the wonders of TriMet, my time is often stretched to get from one side of town to the other. It was wonderful to have urban center focused plans on Friday to take full advantage of Portland's top-notch system. If I lived here I would definitely not have a vehicle. My brother is 26 and like many other Portlanders has never even gotten his driver's license. I'm a tad envious of him, as when I was growing up here the westside lines to my parents' neck of the woods were still being built. I wonder what my high school life would have been like with light rail as an option.

Another thing about Portland transit is seeing people from all walks of life taking it. Case in point: walking into the transit center we were passed by a pickup with a McCain/Palin sticker and then a station wagon with an Obama '08 sticker. God bless Oregon Republicans (it may be a surprise to outsiders, but there are several). They truly have embraced public transportation. My father is a corporate conservative, and he doesn't even blink an eye when it comes to light rail, streetcars, commuter rail, etc. In fact, he gets excited about it. The economic development that has occurred here because of the transportation infrastructure is indisputable. What is going to take for Southeastern Wisconsinites to "get it"?

Sigh.

The ride down to the Skidmore Fountain stop was quite pleasant, especially as we were entertained by the cutest Asian kids ever across the aisle from us. How could you not smile at two brothers making themselves giggle in two different languages? Awww.

Unfortunately the trek from Skidmore to Voodoo Doughnut was not an easy one. Portland's idiotic snow management philosophy (let it warm up and melt) made the sidewalks an obstacle course, even on a 45 degree day. I'd made the mistake of not wearing my boots and quickly found my socks and shoes soaked to the core. I'm not kidding, some enterprising Wisconsinite could've made enough to retire on by slapping together a private snow removal company for the Oregonians over their freak snowy December. Honestly, I have no idea how anyone in a wheelchair could possibly get around even a week after the snow ended. Considering grocery stores and restaurants weren't even getting their deliveries until yesterday.

We located our doughnuts, but first swung into the US Bank building to hit an ATM and try and do a money exchange for my trip. I used the ATM, but we could not find the actual bank in the building. Very strange. Opting to try post-sugar, we headed to the sweet spot -- Voodoo Doughnut.

One of the "things" about Voodoo Doughnut (which I just realized is abbreviated "VD," kind of gross considering they do weddings), is their funkily named (Triple Chocolate Penetration) and quirkily combined (bacon maple bar) concoctions. I decided to go with the classic "Blood-filled Voodoo Doughnut." My mom really wanted to order the "Cock-n-Balls," but was too embarrassed to say it, so she tried for the peppermint sprinkle (a Christmas special). They were out of that so she ended up with a chocolate glazed. My little guy, impaled by a pretzel stick, adorned with a pentagram and filled with "bloody" raspberry deliciousness, was definitely worth the journey. I don't know if Mom felt the same way, but I would definitely return on a future visit downtown. The place is open 24-hours, so I could go whenever the mood strikes.

Quest completed, we tried fruitlessly to go find some rupees for my impending trip. I resolved that I will just pay the outrageous change fee at the Newark airport, and then hit up an ATM quickly in Delhi. Yes, I realized I should've addressed the money issue much sooner, but I've been spoiled by the accessibility of the euro. Although we didn't find rupees, we did find a beautiful US Bank location on 6th and Oak. I always loved being surprised by historic architecture. They just don't build 'em like they used to.

Although we really wanted to take a ride on the Portland streetcar, we couldn't figure out a place to go, so Mom and I just decided to trudge up Burnside to Powell's City of Books. I could really spend all day in Powell's, but we only stayed for about 1/2 hour as it was pretty crowded the day after Christmas. I picked up a gift for a friend who ended up being iced-in, a new neck wallet and a flexi-map of Delhi. I also bought a Powell's reusable bag. Powell's truly does have a book and section for everyone and while I perusing the women's travel section, I spotted the most amazingly titled book in the abutting gay travel section: How to Say "Fabulous!" in 8 Different Languages: A Travel Phrase Book for Gay Men. Seriously, fabulous.

Following my travels through "travel," I located Mother in the poetry area and we headed across the street to Rocco's Pizza. I remember coming here a few times a child, but Mom apparently blocked those memories. Regardless, they have huge tasty slices and I wanted one. Packed with hungry locals and tourists trying to get out the rain, Rocco's seemed a hot spot to be that day. Mother ordered a slice of cheese and I got the special, The Slick Dawg, with tomato, spinach and feta. Mine wasn't going to be up for a few minutes, but the incredibly stoned cashier promised me that when it did arrive it would be "hot AND awesome."

Hot and awesome it was, and well-fed, Mom and I walked back to Morrison to catch the MAX home. All that eating and touristing made a gal sleepy and I decided to take a nap before continuing my Portland adventures.

...To be continued, following my flight home to Milwaukee...

milwaukee props: rolling down the river in time lapse

Thanks to the folks over at Urban Milwaukee for posting this cool time lapse video of the Lake Express Ferry docking for the season.


Lake Express High Speed Ferry - Winter Berth Trip - HD timelapse from LEXHSF on Vimeo.

I always enjoy seeing cool new views of the city. In the 10 years I've been here, Milwaukee's started to rediscover those. One of my favorite new views of 2008 is from the Harley-Davidson Museum's restaurant patio. This is an area I didn't even know existed, nevermind offered killer vantage points.

The city has also done a good job of tapping into its waterways as a unique aesthetic asset, especially in regards to utilizing the remnants of its industrial past. I think this video nicely highlights the beauty of both the lake/rivers and the steel bridges.

While I've never had a need to take the ferry itself (not even to track down my grandfather's birthplace in Muskegon, MI), it's another alternative transportation mode that I'm happy to have in Milwaukee.

milwaukee props: coalition for advancing transit

I do want to give another shout out to the Coalition for Advancing Transit (CAT) a new group that spun off the Urban Economic Development Association (UEDA).

CAT doesn't appear to have it's own site yet, but they did hold a press conference last Thursday promoting the RTA vote that will happen tomorrow. (That's a vote for a Regional Transit Authority--currently each county in Southeastern Wisconsin does it's own thing--not exactly the best solution for a regional economic growth strategy).

Anyway, that event combined with the YES vote for transit funding warmed this gal's heart last week. Unfortunately I can't say much more. Yes, I do currently have my regular citizen's hat on and it is after 4:30 p.m. and before 8 a.m. and I'm using my own home computer, but one needs to be careful.

Those who don't have political constraints though--KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!

milwaukee props: FUEL's adopt-a-nonprofit

While national issues have been of great importance and excitement lately, the title of this blog is after all, The Accidental WISCONSINITE and I realize I need to give you more insight into my opinion of what's going on in this great state.

Though there's always plenty of grumbling about making a change at the local level and regional cooperation, one program that launched this week out of the political sphere will hopefully make a difference.

On Thursday night I was torn between attending the Milwaukee Film event and the launch of FUEL Milwaukee's Adopt-a-Nonprofit. As a Creative Council member I was obligated to attend the latter, and the torrential downpour that evening confirmed that I would not be schelpping around town to anything else beyond quick walking distance of my home.

The sacrifices one must make in rockin' the car free lifestyle.

At any rate, I was glad I got to attend the event in its entirety. The purpose of the program is to connect FUEL's 6,000+ member base of young (and young-minded) professionals with volunteer opportunities (at all levels--from manual labor to strategic planing) with eight adopted non-profit organizations.

What is FUEL? If you're not a Milwaukeean, you may be asking:

FUEL Milwaukee is an economic development initiative of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC). The MMAC is working to strengthen the region’s economy with strategies to attract and retain quality jobs and top talent. FUEL is the leading organization addressing talent attraction, retention and engagement for the MMAC and Milwaukee 7.

FUEL was formerly known as Young Professionals of Milwaukee (or YPM) and served as a shining example for other YP groups that have started around the country. Yours truly has been involved in the organization since November 2003 when I was just a wee recent grad.

ANYHOO, in my many years with the organization I'm truly excited to see such a cool program as the Adopt-A-Nonprofit come to fruition. This spun out of the Service Circuit program which trained then-YPM's most active members for community engagement. I went through that program a few years back. However, it did not include the entire membership and the Creative Council (leadership council) didn't have input over the opportunities offered by the non-profits. This program has a strong social media aspect (everything will be managed through FUEL Online) and each non-profit chosen fits with the Creative Council's eight different teams:

• Business Climate & Affordability adopted Literacy Services of Wisconsin, Inc.
• Diversity & Equality adopted IndependenceFirst
• New Member Orientation adopted Margaret Ann's Place
• Life-long Learning & Creativity adopted Junior Achievement
• Healthy & Green adopted The Park People
• Leisure & Culture adopted Present Music
• Talent Attraction & Retention adopted PEARLS for Teen Girls
  
• Service Circuit adopted Centro Legal

I am a member of the Healthy & Green team and am very excited to get to work on helping the Park People. Milwaukee County Parks have been in the same boat as transit for the past several years and were on the same approved funding measure on Tuesday night. With or without funding though, there's much to be done in the parks system from cutting out invasive species to organizing communities to take back their neighborhood parks. As an avid bicyclist I have gotten to experience the beauty of many of our area's parks and am personally engaged in this organization's mission.

Additionally, I'm enthusiastic about getting to know all of these organizations. I had the pleasure of working on a project for PEARLS a couple of years ago with Ad2 and am really thrilled for the Talent & Attraction team, as they're in for a real treat.

One of the benefits of staying at the entire event on Thursday night was hearing Jane Kaczmarek speak. I admittedly had my doubts as sometimes those celebrity keynotes can be a bit over-hyped, but luckily Ms. Kaczmarek truly has not forgotten her Wisconsin roots and was engaged with the audience and really passionate about giving back to the community. She not only plugged her own organization, The Clothes Off Our Back (which she actually did much of the legwork for initially, instead of just hiring people), but also touched about several other non-profits of note. Raised Catholic, she mentioned the concept of tithing in regards to setting aside 10% of your income to go to charitable causes. I wish I could do that instead of having more than that go to evil credit card companies. At any rate, she gave shout outs to Heifer International (one of my faves), Smile Train, Second Harvest/Feeding America, and The Art of Elysium.

So while I was really bummed I couldn't make the film event, I am glad I got to be there for the entire launch of this new project. I hope that you locals will take some time to look at the non-profits mentioned and consider getting involved.

local election endorsement

If you live in Milwaukee County, please vote YES for moving transit, parks and emergency medical services off the property tax levy. They would be paid for by a 1% sales tax increase, which translates into a nice property tax decrease for you homeowners out there. It also greatly ensures our continued Quality of Life in Milwaukee.

Please vote YES on the referendum tomorrow.

2008 Seems Pretty Much the Same as Yesterday

Even though I woke up in time this morning, I didn't have it in my to go Polar Bearing at noon. Maybe next year.

I watched part of the Badger loss to Tennessee, fulfilling my College Bowl viewing requirement for this year (somehow I just can't be into bowls anymore with all the corporate naming rights, I think hearing about the "Chick-Fil-A" Bowl was the clincher in that sentiment.)

Forcing myself to continue the social mood of the year, I took the Route 30 to North Ave. and then the Route 21 out to my friend Jackie's party near 81st and North. I have to say, North Ave. is one of the places that's really changed in the 10 years I've been here. It's nice to see the improvements made around the MLK intersection, as well as around the 3500 block. I sincerely hope within less than the next 10 years, the area in between benefits from similar revitalization.

Clearly there are areas on that strip still a little sketch. Including the intersection of around 30th and North where a crazy climbed on the front of the bus and stared at the driver in a mime-ish fashion. Man, those drivers really have the patience of saints. I think most people would have switched on the wipers. It was one of those uniting moments amongst passengers though as everyone sort of looked at each other, sharing a mutual uncomfortable laugh at the "nutter." The driver ignored him until he got bored, dismounted and saluted the bus. Happy New Year dude.

Jackie's party (once I figured out what house it was -- not wanting to make the mistake of knocking on the wrong door, I called Kim who came outside to wave me in the right direction), was fabulous as usual and I made quite the fabulous Bloody Mary from the "build-your-own" bar.

Great to see everyone today though and learn that a low-key New Year seemed to be the prevailing theme. Glad I'm not the only dork out there.