Lots, if you look hard enough.

The Milwaukee Art Museum itself features a number of classes and lectures both on technique as well as art appreciation. Prices are not at all out of line for the calibur of class offered, and the offerings are unusual and interesting - definitely worth a periodic visit to the Museum’s website.

Artist and Display, the north side’s finest art supply store, features an ecclectic offering of classes, from staples like watercolor and colored pencil to the more unusual such as art clay silver crafting and versals. The prices vary wildly and may reach beyond the budget of students and retirees, but the unique subjects make them the only game in town for many of the featured classes. Artist and Display also offers a number of children’s art classes.

Greenfield News and Hobby on Layton offers a very practical selection of art classes on a regular basis, including airbrushing, watercolors, and calligraphy. The prices are more than reasonable, and there are even a number of free art classes such as model kit building, designed with kids in mind.

Michael’s Craft stores, which are located all over Milwaukee, typically feature some basic art and cake decorating classes at low costs. The classes vary by location, and schedules are available at the individual stores.

Occasionally, even the Classes section of the local Craigslist features some art-related gems. While that option is hit-or-miss, it is worth the occasional browse.

There are art classes in Milwaukee for every taste and every budget if you look hard enough.

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Mental & Emotional Health

Bodyworlds is an exhibition of the work of Gunther von Hagens, a German anatomist that invented the technique of plastination, which is used to preserve tissue. Rather than displaying the human body as one would see it at a funeral, the plastination process apparently allows the display of different organs, muscles, etc. The effect is a bunch of “skinned humans” sliced open to allow the viewing of their internal workings. The bodies are posed and dissected in different ways to display different tissue types.

To the question I posed at the start of the blog: was the display science, or was it art?

I went to the exhibition thinking that I was seeing science. There was a great wealth of information about the inner workings of the human body displayed along with the plastinated bodies. But alongside the scientific explanations were philosophical quotes about the nature of mankind, of life and of death. As I moved further through the exhibition I began to see less of the science aspect of the contorted bodies and more of the art. The two dancers, one perched elegantly for all eternity…the man locked forever in an unending chess game. That’s art…isn’t it?

Interestingly, the observations I heard the most from people around me were not commentaries on the gruesome nature of the displays, as I had expected. Rather, many people seemed fascinated by the displays exhibiting illness - the turned spine or the smoker’s lungs. That in itself was an interesting commentary on human nature.

In any event, the exhibit was an interesting one and although it was uncomfortably crowded I did enjoy what I saw. Rather than leaving me with questions about the frailty of life and the nature of the soul it left me with questions about the boundary between science and art and whether there necessarily must be such a boundary. I’ve been thinking that over for the past few days, and that alone was worth the price of admission.

Patrick L. Greinke, 60, had been evicted from his apartment on the 400 block of N. Washington Ave. and although the cause of death has not been determined, exposure to the harsh elements this weekend seems a likely culprit.

Although homeless shelters were filled this weekend due to the weather, tragedies like this one do not need to happen. While the Salvation Army had no room over the weekend, there are other shelters which can take in the overflow, including the Hebron House which typically only shelters families and women. The Hebron House says it will accommodate men who are turned away from the Salvation Army shelter due to bed availability. Although the Salvation Army and many other shelters have been at capacity all winter this year, the shelters in Milwaukee work together in finding a shelter for those in need. In the event that all of the shelters are filled, hotel vouchers are available to ensure that no one needs to endure exposure to the elements.

Should you see someone sleeping in a car or out in the elements, call a shelter or the police immediately. A car will not provide sufficient shelter from the extreme temperatures that we have experienced this winter. The harsh weather is nothing to trifle with, and there’s no reason that anyone should have to try to endure the elements.

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Think warm thoughts.

Be sure to start off your meal with one of Yen Ching’s eight different soups. Along with the typical egg drop and sweet and sour selections, Yen Ching features a few more unusual soups, including the incredible sizzling rice soup and a vegetarian spinach bean curd soup.

The menu is organized by main ingredient, so vegetarians will have an easy time finding their selections. Chicken, pork, beef and seafood are also featured, with ample selections available for each.

The tangy Sweet and Sour Chicken ($8.75) includes chicken breast with pineapple, green pepper, onion and mushrooms. As is true with all Yen Ching’s vegetables, the peppers were crisp and flavorful and complimented the dish well.

Above: Sweet and Sour Chicken

The Sizzling Rice Chicken entree ($9.25) is my personal favorite. The sizzling rice crust is combined with the chicken and vegetables at the table, making the sizzle sound that gives this dish its name. The chicken is flavorful but it is the rice crust that makes this dish a standout. Served with crispy vegetables, this dish is consistently an excellent choice.

Above: Sizzling Rice Chicken

The menu is huge, as are the portions, so don’t be afraid to go with friends and mix and match your entrees.

Yen Ching also features a smaller lunch menu, including smaller portions and smaller prices. Most lunch selections are available for less than $6.00.

If Chinese food is on your mind, don’t miss Yen Ching - you won’t be disappointed.

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Big on Broccoli

The problem? The Journal Sentinel got nearly everything wrong.

A bank foreclosure can occur when mortgage payments are unpaid for six months in an owner-occupied home, or unpaid for three months for a rental property.

Not true. The bank can foreclose for a number of reasons, including missed payments or a failure to pay real estate taxes. There is no requirement that a lender wait for six missed payments before commencing a foreclosure action. However, after the entry of judgment in a foreclosure action, the owner has six months to refinance, sell the property, or work out a deal with their lender before the property can be sold at sheriff’s sale. That period is shortened to three months on non-owner occupied properties, such as rental properties.

At the sale, buyers must have 10% of the sale price - cashier’s check or cash - and proof that they can get a mortgage before their bids are accepted.

That’s just not true. There simply is no requirement that a buyer show proof they can get a mortgage.

Within a week or two of the sale, a judge must approve the sale before it becomes final. At any point before the judge approves the sale, the owner can stop the sale by paying the missed mortgage payments and costs.

Again, not true. The owner can redeem the property before the court approves the sale by paying the total amount of the mortgage - including costs of the foreclosure action. There is no requirement that a lender simply accept the missed mortgaged payments and costs, and many lenders won’t accept missed payments after a default.

Making money by purchasing foreclosed properties is a tempting prospect. In light of that, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s article full of misinformation is downright irresponsible. The errors are so glaring, so fundamental, that I expect corrections to be published shortly.

Foreclosure, mortgage

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Readers: I’ve started writing for a new blog: Inked Talk. Come visit me there!

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Foreclosure, mortgage

I’ve never really perused the videos in an adult stores before. Until tonight.

Oh my God, what a wealth of comedy gold I had missed out on! I mean, I’ve heard some of the classic funny video names before (Saving Ryan’s Privates, for example) and I was vaguely aware that there were some oddball fetishes out there, but I always thought those were the exception and not the rule.

If I hadn’t seen this stuff with my own eyes, I woudln’t believe it.

My favorite title by far was called Shanghai Poon. Go ahead and say it. Shanghai Poon. Hilarious. I may change my name from to Shanghai Poon. I laughed all the way through the store over that one. Shanghai Poon.

Catering to a series of fetishes that apparently needs attention, we spotted a series of sex videos involving overweight pizza delivery women. I know that the delivery guy (or girl) fantasy is pretty common, and I have read that some people find morbid obesity erotic. To each his own. I guess maybe some people might have sex fantasies that involve pizza. But much to my surprise, apparently a combination of all of these is enough of a popular fetish to warrant not one, not two, but three DVDs in a series. Just think about that the next time you are at Pizza Hut…some of the restaurant-goers are there for the pizza, but others are reading the menu like a centerfold. “Mushrooms, green olives, and extra….pepperoni….OH GOD YES PEPPERONI!!!”

Ahem. Where was I?

One of our more surreal observations was a video called “Myspace.cum.” Judging from the description on the back, it was all about high school girls having sex with their friends’ fathers. That was just too weird. Thinking back to high school, my friends’ fathers were just…old. And embarrassing. Yuck. I guess this is why I’m not in the porn business.

Some of the funniest reads were actually on the backs of the videos. I have to wonder who has the job of writing the copy on the back of adult DVDs. Whoever it is, either they are truly skilled artisans or complete idiots. Whatever the case, occasionally it works out and makes for good reading. My favorite simply said “These Texas bitches are a bunch of fucking whores!” Well said, dear wordsmith. Well said.

I’ve decided that I’m going to start visiting more porn stores, for all the wrong reasons. This is far better than any comedy club.

Shanghai Poon signing off.

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Since we are talking about movies, I have to take a moment to promote another blogger’s work. Cinema Hype is always an enjoyable read. Check it out!

adult, porno, xxx

adult, porno, xxx

You and your fiance at are at family restaurant for a nice dinner after work. You are both well dressed, not because the restaurant commands such attire, but because that is how you like to appear. You place your coat, hat and scarf on the booth seat and take your place at the table next to your fiance. You are enjoying good conversation, and you joke with the waitress as she takes your order.

The waitress comes back with a glass of red wine which she spills all over your wool coat, your Stetson fedora, and your scarf. Fortunately, your clothes are dark so there are no stains apparent, but your clothes need a good cleaning because the smell of wine is unmistakable and pungent. You can’t even wear them out of the restaurant because it is cold and they are quite wet. Unfortunately, we’re not talking about a NASCAR T-shirt that can just be tossed in the washing machine along. The coat definitely needs to go to the dry-cleaner, and the hat…well, who cleans hats these days?

What should the waitress do? An apology is expected, of course. But should she go beyond that?

I think the appropriate reaction would have been to not charge for the dinners that evening, or offer a certificate for a meal free of charge at a later date. Alternately, offering to pay the dry cleaning bill would have been acceptable. A simple apology presented along with a full bill for the meal seemed lacking.

This isn’t a hypothetical, as this happened at a nice little family restaurant last night. I was very, very surprised that the waitress didn’t offer to do more than the, well, nothing that she did. The spill was entirely her fault, there was no question about that.

Am I wrong for thinking that? What was the appropriate response here?

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Although it was our first trip to the Rusty Skillet, we were greeted at the door as though we were regulars. The wait staff was extremely cordial and friendly, and the waiter was full of excellent suggestions. The menu was varied, ranging from delicious sounding full-course dinners to sandwiches to desserts. And then there was the all-you-can-eat steak dinner.

Map to the Rusty Skillet:

I have never in my life heard of all-you-can-eat steak. I was immediately suspicious. The steak was probably cheap and flavorless, or the “all-you-can-eat” really meant you could have two servings before being shown the door. But not so. The steak was incredible, and not only was the steak all-you-can-eat, but so was the potato and vegetables. The potato pancakes were top-notch. Did I mention that the all-you-can-eat steak was just $12.99? Apparently that is their special on Sundays through Tuesdays. Homer Simpson would have been impressed.

For my own meal I selected the roasted chicken, and it was easily the most tender and flavorful chicken I’ve ever had.

I wished I had saved room for dessert, but I had already pushed the envelope with my meal. I plan to go back (soon!) to try one of the “Rusty Dough” desserts.

Throughout my meal I couldn’t help but think we had found one of Milwaukee’s best-kept dining secrets. For a place serving all-you-can-eat delicious steak and excellent food, the restaurant was not at all crowded.

If you go:

4763 S 27th St
Milwaukee, WI 53221
(414) 281-5090
Prices: $5-$15

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Time for my daily shout-out! Take a look at one of my “sister” blogs: Memphis, TN. Be sure to tell them that Milwaukee sent ya!

Places to Go and Things to Do
We have the Wisconsin Dells - a wonderful blend of beauty and campy. Go kart tracks, weird attractions, cheesy shopping, antique stores, the Wisconsin Ducks (and not the quacking kind!), amazing campgrounds, mini golf, and now the largest concentration of indoor waterparks in the world.

Madison - yes, there are plenty of reasons to hate the State Capitol, but if you can put politics aside Madison is simply an amazing city. From State Street’s offbeat shopping and great parties to the college bars to the bike trails and neat little shops everywhere, Madison is truly unique. And you never get too old for Ella’s Deli.
Our Lakes - we have over 15,000 of them. Big Cedar Lake is incredibly scenic. Pike Lake is another beauty, with a wonderful trail that goes around the entire lake. Lake Geneva is another gem - there’s a reason that rich people from Illinois own vacation homes in Lake Geneva…they only wish their state was this beautiful! And we have a state park system that other states envy.
Everybody likes to go Up North. The beautiful summers, the fall colors, the renewal of spring, and okay I guess winter too - the northern parts of Wisconsin have some of the most beautiful sights. On your way, if you are lucky enough to cross the Butte des Morts (which, oddly, is NOT French for “Butt of Death” but that shouldn’t stop you from telling people it is) bridge at just the right time of sunset, you will see the most beautifiul sight on earth with the sunset reflecting on the water creating this orange glow - it is too unreal to describe!
The House on the Rock inspired Neil Gaiman in American Gods, and anything that inspires the greatest writer in modern times is certainly worth a look, don’t you think? The House is more than just odd architecture - it is a crazy collection of all sorts of…things. You have to see it to believe it. And while you are there, check out Taliesin, Frank Lloyd Wright’s estate in Spring Green, Wisconsin.
Summerfest is an obvious choice…one of the biggest music festivals in the world, you know that summer is in full swing in Milwaukee when Summerfest starts. You don’t even have to like the bands that are playing to have a good time. While Summerfest is the biggest, Milwaukee has a TON of festivals every year, from the Lakefront’s ethnic festivals to neighborhood festivals. Good fun and a great way to meet new people.
Milwaukee Art Museum - This is a world-class museum, right here, right on the lake. The building alone is worth coming to Milwaukee just to see.
My personal favorite day of the year is July 3 - the day the huge Lakefront Fireworks display is on the lakefront in Milwaukee. For the best time, get to the lakefrotn early, bring a cooler full of drinks, lots of lawn chairs, kites, rollerblades and a frisbee and enjoy a full day of summer fun.

Eating and Drinking
Leinenkugels is the best beer ever, and its brewed in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. The Honey Weiss is excellent and always popular, but their seasonal beers like the Apple Spice are just awesome.
Bars. We got ‘em. As the saying goes, all you need to incorporate a town in Wisconsin is two bars and a church. Some of them are dives, but a lot of them have character. Take At Random in Bay View - step into the ’50s decor and settle in for an ice cream drink or something else suitably offbeat. And the name? It describes their business hours. And every visitor who comes to Milwaukee should be required to go to the Safe House, a wonderful spy-themed bar/restaurant. Always great food, and always a great time. If ethnic food is your thing, we’ve got that too. From authentic Mexican to amazing Italian, extreme Thai and the best Serbian food you’ll ever have, Milwaukee has it all. If fast food is your thing, Kopps’ Frozen Custard can’t be beat, and Culvers serves the best fast food burgers in existence.

Our Seasons
Yes, we have more than just “winter and construction.” We have four seasons here, each unique in its own way. Fall is filled with beautiful colors - the red and orange maples are my favorites. Winter is cold and crisp but if you aren’t from a state that has snow I bet you don’t realize how many different kinds of snowfalls there are, and many are downright lovely. Spring is filled with awesome thunderstorms and the beauty of flowers starting to bloom and the trees and lawns returning to green. It is hard to describe the feeling of spring after a long winter…it feels a lot like being a kid again. Summer, my favorite, can be hot and humid and unpredictable.

Some of the other reasons to be here are harder to describe, but you can feel them when you are here. People are, on the whole, friendly and genuine. Many will go above and beyond to help their neighbors. The cost of living is more than reasonable. You can live here and have hope of a future instead of just scraping by because rent takes 65% of your take-home pay.

I feel like I’ve hardly touched on the reasons it is good to be here, but this blog is getting long! Sure, we talk kinda funny (eh?) and people here really do love their football team - sometimes to the point of insanity, but on the whole it is a good place to be.

And if you need further proof of why it is nice to be in Wisconsin, go spend a week in Illinois…

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Okay, after the Illinois dig, I have to give some love to the Chicago Blog. Read it here!

In an effort to relive a small piece of my youth, I visited Seven Mile Fair over the weekend.

Oh, how things have changed. I’ve never been to Tijuana, but Seven Mile Fair is exactly what I imagine a Tijuana marketplace would look like.

Spanish is by far the dominant spoken language at Seven Mile Fair now. Dozens of booths featured Spanish music and movies, Quinceañera dresses, Mexican food, Western Wear, and similarly themed goods. Booths sported blinged-out jeans and hoodies, and women’s clothing that I can only describe as “hoochie-riffic” and gold-painted jewelry at ridiculously high prices.

The only thing there that was reminiscent of my childhood days at Seven Mile Fair were those awful booths selling cramped cages of stressed out puppies and birds - those were the memories of that place I wish I could have forgotten.

The best that Seven Mile Fair had to offer was long gone. I counted one booth that could appropriately be considered flea market fare - an older woman was selling some old glassware and hand-knitted barbie dresses.

Granted, the Seven Mile Fair experience during the summertime is certainly different. During the warm weather months some vendors set up outside and sell their goods under the hot sun. However, if the outside of Seven Mile Fair has changed as much as the inside did, I suspect that if I go there this summer I won’t find lemonade stands and antiques outside either. I wouldn’t be surprised if I could buy myself a burro though…

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Author’s Note, appropos of nothing at all: I saw National Treasure, Book of Secrets last week and enjoyed it immensely.