Milwaukee, WI

This site is currently in need of a writer. If you have any interest in writing on the topic this site covers, feel free to submit an application at 451 Press. Thank you.

451 Press, Writers Needed

It has been nearly a month since moving and I finally feel settled in to my new apartment. Of course, this is also the point when the glossy sheen of excitement starts fading away, and flashbacks to the Tom Hanks film, Money Pit, begin sinking in.

I exaggerate, but I certainly can’t lay claim the perfect apartment. The kitchen sink drips with an agonizingly rhythmic “ding,” the windows have no screens, the cabinets were made by Dr. Caligari, and the basement… Anyone need a set for their next horror film?

Stacked up against the dog-sized rats and cat leavings some of my friends have had to deal with, I suppose I made out pretty well. Still, it’s always disappointing to step in to a new place and realize that it is not the fairy-tale abode you thought it was. That’s why I put together this handy list of considerations for your next apartment hunt.

1. Never trust a landlord who says, “It’ll only take five minutes.”
If a landlord tries to rush you through a showing, it’s a good bet that he or she is trying to hide something. Activate spidey-sense.

2. Don’t sign before it’s finished.
Never sign a lease for an apartment under renovation. A landlord might dazzle you with promises of new this and new that, but there are no guarantees until the job is done. And what if the job isn’t done by moving day? You’re still legally obligated to pay the rent.

3. Open everything.
This includes doors, cabinets, windows, refrigerators, etc. Nobody likes being surprised by a bathroom door that doesn’t close or a dishwasher brimming with mildew.

4. Test the pipes.
Go ahead and turn on the water. Make sure the pipes don’t leak, the heater works, and that the water looks, well, like water. It wouldn’t hurt to give the toilet a flush to make sure gravity is working in the right direction.

5. Check the electricity.
These are modern times and surely you’ll want the modern devices to go with them. Flip the lights on and check for the ever-popular “what does this do” switch. It could be a short in the wiring. Make a mental note of your electronics and make sure there are enough outlets to supply them. If you plan on getting internet service, find out where the phone/cable jacks are.

6. Meet the neighbors.
Meeting them might not happen, but if you’re sharing a building you can at least try to find out a little about them. Are they fond of late-night parties? Do they have barking dogs? If you’re feeling especially brazen, you might even ask the other tenants what they think of the place.

7. Make damage and repair lists.
This should be the first thing you do after moving in, unless you want to get blamed for the unnoticed damage of previous tenants. Then, make another list of things that need to be fixed. Sign it, have your landlord sign it, date it, and make copies. If worst comes to worse and you have to go to court, you have written proof. Judges love that.

I hope these tips can be of some help. Feel free to share your own tips or horror stories in the Comments section.

I came to the realization the other day that I am still wearing the same t-shirts that I was wearing two years ago. Not a big deal you say, except that I mean the SAME shirts, holes and all, with no new additions. I think it’s time to expand.

That’s when I decided to stop by Shag. It’s local and they make all the shirts themselves, so it seemed like the perfect place to start my new wardrobe. They have wall to wall examples of available designs, but you’re not limited to what’s on display. Simply pick a design, shirt color, and hang out a few minutes while they make it.

I wasn’t sure how they could make the shirts so efficiently, until I found out that the designs are iron-on transfers - you know, the non-breathable graphics that stick to your skin in the summer. No screen printed designs here. Then again, the idea of customizing my own shirt was pretty appealing. I asked about prices.

$25-30. Excuse me?

The clerk assured me that it was a very affordable price, with about $15 to cover the cost of the shirt, and $5 to cover the transfer. I have screenprinted my own shirts in the past, and I can tell you that a blank shirt does not cost $15. If you go wholesale, you can get them for $2 and under. As for iron-on transfers, you can purchase specialty paper online for less than $1 per sheet. Factor in shipping costs and you can still go well under $20.

Shag may be convenient, but I only saw a handful of designs that weren’t available online or at other trendy retailers like Hot Topic, and for much less. The owners of Shag had a good idea, but they need to make their clothing more affordable. They need to realize that what they sell are kitchy novelty items, not one-off designer shirts.

That still leaves me with the same old, ragged wardrobe, so I went online. I bought a creepy zombie shirt from Jinx.com, a couple of blank shirts, and some new screens and ink. Problem solved.

When my friends suggested meeting for brunch at Trocadero, I was absolutely thrilled by the idea. Besides partaking in that most mysterious of meals, which is more like breakfast considering the time I wake, Trocadero has the prestige of winning numerous awards from the Shepherd Express’s “Best of Milwaukee 2006″ list, and I had never been.

Despite getting seated quickly on one of many outdoor patios, things were not sailing quite as smoothly as I had hoped. Although the menu offered plenty of options, almost every dish was based around the same core ingredient - egg. Omelettes, frittatas, sandwiches. They all had some variation on one of my most hated breakfast foods. I narrowed the choices down to stuffed french toast or the sausage and cheese frittata. The french toast stuffing turned out to be cream cheese, something I hate far more than eggs, so the choice was made for me.

I sat with my morning drink, catching up with old friends, when my attention turned dreadfully to one of the servers. This man’s job was not to take orders, but to bring the food out. His head was covered in so much dripping sweat it might as well have been raining. I watched with anticipation for those salty droplets to fall into the fresh plates of food he was carrying, silently praying that he wouldn’t be the one to deliver my order.

My prayers were answered and the food came without any unnecessary moisture. It might have been good for flavor though. The frittata wasn’t bad by any means, just not what I would have expected from such a well-reknowned restaurant. It was a small sprinkle of tomatoes, maybe a quarter of a sausage, encased in rather soggy mess of egg, and topped with what looked like a slice of Velveeta cheese. I’ve had far better at mom and pop diners for far less cash. Regrettably, the best parts of the meal were the few bites of fruit and the thick slice of buttered toast.

I left Trocadero with utter disappointment. Considering my dislike of eggs, I may be biased to begin with, but it would make sense to offer some sort of variety for differing tastes. Even my friends’ dishes had a particularly bland look to them. I will consider giving their dinner menu a try in the future, but for now, Trocadero seems like another average restaurant with a high price tag.

Driving along Wisconsin Ave. this morning, traffic slowed as the eyes of passerbys were struck by a wall of white shirts and posterboards circling the federal courthouse. As I approached, I made out written slogans like, “Honk if you support Gen. Vang Pao,” and “General Vang Pao is a hero, not a criminal.”

Car horns remained noticeably silent, although I suspect this is because most people outside of the US’s 500,000 Hmong inhabitants simply do not know who General Vang Pao is.

Vang Pao, born 1931, is a former Major General of the Royal Lao Army, and a respected leader in Hmong communities across the US. During the 1960s and 1970s, he led the Secret Army, an American-trained unit, against the North Vietnamese Army and Panther Lao until communists seized control of Laos in 1975. Since coming to the United States, Vang has been an influential force, fighting against human rights violations enacted by the current government of Laos.

As of June 4, 2007, Vang was arressted in California, along with nine others in various locations, on charges of “criminal conspiracy to acquire weapons for hostile activities in Laos.” According to prosecutors, Vang and his associates were attempting to obtain guns, explosives, and other weapons for an operation to send mercenaries to Vientiane, the Laotian capital.

It was only two months ago that controversy erupted in Madison over the naming of the new Vang Pao Elementary School. Although Vang has been awarded much praise for his military and communal leadership, he has frequently faced allegations of participating in the opium trade and other war crimes, including the unlawful execution of enemies and his own troops. Although these allegations have yet to be conclusively proven, they rightfully warranted re-examinations of the school’s name.

Whether you consider General Vang Pao a hero or a criminal, this could prove to be an important trial with regards to United States’ foreign policies, as well as our military’s history of providing training to non-US organizations.

I may not have a lot of money to give to charities, or time to plant trees in the park, but I like to think that I’m doing my part. I’m getting lazy people off the couch, helping stimulate the economy, and with Pridefest this week, promoting acceptance. Yeah, I make the world a better place.

Friday 6/8 - Sunday 6/14
Pridefest
Without a doubt, Pridefest is one of the wildest festivals to hit Milwauke every summer. Whether you’re there to show your support or marvel at the amazing things drag queens can do with wigs, it’s always a good time. Just be sure to gag your bigot friend first. Go to Pridefest.com for more info on schedules and admission.

Friday 6/8
Avoided @ Miramar Theater
Crusty, hardcore punk is most definitely not for everyone, but it doesn’t get much better than Avoided. Through tireless devotion and merciless skill, Avoided have risen to become local heroes in the scene. To top it off, this will be a CD release show. Doors open at 5:30pm. Admission is $8. Check out MySpace.com/avoided to hear sample of their work.

Saturday 6/9
Fasten Clothing Swap
By now, you probably know that Fasten is one of the most unique clothing shops around, and now they’re taking it one step further. Bring your unwanted clothes, $5, and leave with as much as you want. They’ll even have staff on hand to help with alterations. The swap runs from 10am-4pm.
2224 S Kinnickinnic Ave.

Thursday 6/14
Big Art Show @ Art Bar
Seriously, that’s the name of the show. Art Bar is already one of the coolest bars around and they always have something good on display. So how could you not be tempted? This touring show begins at 7pm with a $5 admission.
722 E Burleigh St.

According to a report on JSOnline.com, Villard Food and Liquor, at 5123 W. Villard Ave., was burglarized twice on Wednesday. During the first incident, a man pried open a plexiglass window to steal food an liquor, and for the second incident, lottery tickets.

The humorous flip-side to this story is that Milwaukee Police believe the two burglaries were performed by the same man, while wearing two different outfits. The man wore a red hoodie and jean shorts for the first trip, and green coat with dark pants for the next.

I can only wonder, was this his idea of an elaborate heist, or did he simply forget the lottery tickets on the first trip?

Remember the Park East project? Remember the mountains of crushed steel and bent rebar stretching from 43 to the East Side? I certainly do. Not only was the demolished highway the easiest way to drive home, but I had the unfortunate displeasure of working at a store smack dab in the epicenter of construction. Suffice to say, raises were not in the budget that year.

Over the past few years, both the East Side and downtown have grown by leaps and bounds. Go to where Humboldt meets the river, and the area is almost unrecognizable. Meanwhile, the Park East area sits quietly, patiently waiting for its numerous vacant lots to be filled. A few businesses and condos have slowly moved in, but it’s still far from being the busy downtown hub we were promised so many years ago.

Apparently I am not the only one to wonder what became of the Park East project. Last month, the Common Council made a 5-0 vote that forced Mayor Tom Barrett’s Department of City Development to examine proposals for financial assistance. I wish that I could say I am surprised, but it looks as though the examinations have done little but bring the Park East project to yet another frustrating standstill.

Barrett and city officials have agreed to give $8.8 million to begin housing and retail development for the North End. This is in addition to the $17 million already spent preparing the area for development. The cost for developer Richard Curto’s planned project is estimated to be $175 million. Even the downscaled version of the project would cost $41 million. Instead of diving in, the city has chosen to test the waters with minor developments first. Part of the problem to consider here is whether or not minor developments will be able to turn the profit needed to represent the area’s potential.

The main issue concerning city officials is whether or not the Park East area can be financially self-sustaining. Developers maintain that the opening of new hotels, residences, and businesses will provide more than enough sales and property taxes to offset the original costs. Still, the question remains as to whether other businesses, including those of the Grand Avenue Mall, can withstand the competition.

The sad truth is, many downtown businesses are already struggling to stay alive. I have seen this same scenario a decade earlier in Green Bay, at the site of Port Plaza Mall. The city largely ignored proposals to renovate the area, only to be left with a veritable ghost town shortly thereafter. Accept for a few popular nightclubs the downtown district is nearly vacant, and all the businesses have moved across the river to Ashwaubenon.

Cities are dynamic places that change over time. Just because an area is currently active, does not mean that it will be a few years from now. We have to admit that the downtown area is in drastic need of assistance, especially with the more accessible Bayshore Towne Center only ten minutes away. Continuing the Park East project could be just the solution to draw people in and remake the area into a bustling center of consumer activity.

Who needs Gucci, Versace, and toothpick-sized models? Milwaukee has a formidable fashion scene all its own, and its happening in living rooms, basements, and small workshops all over town.

One of the most exciting centers for Milwaukee’s D.I.Y. fashion movement is the Fasten Co-op Clothing Gallery. Established in 2003, Fasten has emerged from it’s humble beginnings at the Eastside Open Market, and into a storefront showcasing the works of nearly 50 local clothing designers, as well as artists, bands, and zines.

These are not beginner-level courses, and you won't be stuck making anything as mundane as a summer skirt or patchwork quilt. These classes are far more punk inspired, offering T-shirt reclamation, jean refitting, duct tape bags, and sweater dolls among other things.

Fasten Co-op Clothing Gallery
2224 S Kinnickinnic Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53207

A Cessna 550 Citation carrying six members of an organ procurement team from the University of Michigan crashed into Lake Michigan minutes after 4pm, Monday afternoon. The plane went down just east of McKinley Beach.

The team was bound for Ypsilanti, Michigan after procurring a donor organ in Milwaukee. Roughly 40 divers from the Coast Guard, Milwaukee Police, Fire, and Sheriff departments searched the waters tirelessly through the night for the plane’s wreckage and occupants.

Human remains have been located at the site, but sadly, there is little hope for finding survivors. U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Bruce Jones stated at a press conference, “We believe this to have been a non-survivable crash.”

The human remains have not yet been identified, but the University of Michigan has released the names of those aboard the plane.
- David Ashburn, M.D.
- Dennis Hoyes
- Richard Chenault II
- Richard Lepensee
- Martinus Spoor, M.D.
- Bill Serra

The identity of the organ recipient, as well as the donated organ, is being kept confidential by the University of Michigan Health System hospital. Although the consequences of this terrible tragedy certainly affect the patient, he/she is reportedly in stable condition in the hospital’s ICU.

Citizens finding debris are asked not to touch them, and to contact either the Coast Guard or Milwaukee Police Department.

For the past two weeks, there’s been a growing fiasco involving the CVS on Farwell, the Shepherd Express, and a man named Jeff White. After CVS refused to carry the weekly Shepherd Express newspaper, White took it upon himself to protest the decision by standing out front with a sign that read, “CVS: Where is the Shepherd Express?”

As a result of his actions, White had been arrested for “loitering and prowling” and issued a $160 citation. Although all charges against White have been dropped, the conflict is not over yet. Whether you consider them martyrs or fanatics, numerous people have taken White’s place on the sidewalk with signs in hand.

Shepherd Express readers certainly can be a dedicated group, but that dedication may be part of the problem at hand. I applaud the convictions of the protesters, but at the same time, I find their actions foolishly narrow-minded. The choice of whether or not to carry Shepherd Express belongs solely to CVS, and not to its patrons.

There is no denying the liberal leanings of the staff at Shepherd Express. It is a quality publication with great reviews and editorials, but that doesn’t mean that everyone on the East Side agrees with the views presented. If the management at CVS holds such disagreements with the political and personal opinions of the paper, they are completely within their rights to not carry it.

How many people would cry foul if the disputed publication had been a journal of neo-nazi propaganda, or an ultra-conservative paper touting the evils of women’s rights? How many people would still stand behind White’s protest? I assure you, not many.

CVS is not infringing upon your rights. CVS is not trying to change your political views. They have simply made a choice as to what publications they will represent themselves with. If you want to be an open-minded person, first you need to accept the freedoms and choices of those around you.