Arts & Entertainment - April 16, 2009
WriteCamp reaches out to local writers
The Milwaukee Writers Workshop launches WriteCamp, the first free writing conference of its kind in the Midwest, on June 6, at Mercy Hill church at The Hide House in Milwaukee.
Tagged with: writecamp, writers, writing

Music - April 15, 2009
"Strawberry Cadillac" is a fruitful musical offering
April is National Poetry Month and in honor of the spoken word OnMilwaukee.com checks in with hip-hop / rap artist and poet Melissa Czarnik. Czarnik released her first CD, "Strawberry Cadillac," last summer, and her love for Milwaukee is crystal clear throughout the 17-song collection. She performs with the Eric Mire Band on May 9 at Stonefly Brewing Co.
Tagged with: melizza czarnik, eric mire band, robin pluer, rap, hip hop, woodland pattern, stonefly

Kids & Family - April 14, 2009
"Mother of the Year" contest accepts nominations
Do you know a woman who's doing a particularly fine job parenting? If so, consider entering her in the "Mother of the Year" contest hosted by a group of Third Ward merchants. First place offers $1,000 in goods and services.
Tagged with: mother of the year, mother, freckle face boutique, public market, home market, juju gifts, hinterland gastropub, shoo, stephanie horne

Marketplace - April 14, 2009
Greenfield News and Hobby focuses on family fun
Greenfield News and Hobby has its fair share of quirky items for sale, like magic tricks and kits to make a model of the human eye, so it's not surprising that the owners have interesting characteristics, too. The hobby shop started in 1965 and remains a thriving family business today.
Tagged with: greenfield news and hobby, model trains, model cars, remote control, painting, art supplies, magazines, toys

Kids & Family - April 13, 2009
College for Kids makes summer learning fun
Since 1980, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's College for Kids and College for Teens programs provided a wide range of classes for young people from kindergarden through high school. Currently, the programs offer 190 summer classes that attract more than 2,000 school-aged Milwaukeeans.
Tagged with: college for kids, college for teens, university of wisconsin-milwaukee, summer camps, Cindy Ruffert, uwm

Living - April 11, 2009
When to wear white
Fashionistas, I ask you: yay or nay on white jeans in April? The "rule" that white clothing shouldn't be worn until after Memorial Day keeps rolling around in my brain.
Tagged with: fashion, memorial day, wearing white

Bars & Clubs - April 9, 2009
Javino perks up Third Ward with wine and coffee
Javino -- a wine and coffee bar that will open in May at 303 E. Menomonee St. -- is the latest venture of husband-and-wife duo Lee Barczak and Jane Schilz. The couple plans to open a second Javino in Bay View -- possibly inside the Avalon Theater building -- before the end of 2009.
Tagged with: javino, wine bar, cafe, lee barczak, sheridan's, charlie's, club charlie's, avalon theater

Kids & Family - April 9, 2009
Seroogy's chocolate: A family tradition
My husband grew up in Green Bay, and many of his family members still live there, so it's not surprising that Seroogy's chocolates are a holiday staple for us.
Tagged with: seroogy's, chocolate easter

Arts & Entertainment - April 8, 2009
Status updates inspire local artist
Stacey Williams-Ng, a graphic designer and painter, found inspiration in her friends' Facebook and Twitter status updates and took them to another level by creating oil paintings with titles like "Eve Y. wants pie." Williams-Ng is the featured artist for the 2009 Westside Artwalk, April 24-25.
Tagged with: stacey williams-ng, facebok, twitter, status updates, underwood gallery, oil painting

Movies - April 7, 2009
"Marley & Me" cuts too close to the bone
I think I made a mistake last night by watching the film "Marley & Me." I'm not saying this because I thought the film was a waste of time, but because I have a 13-year-old, deaf, gray-muzzled Lab who can barely walk up the stairs.
Tagged with: marley & me, jennifer aniston, owen wilson, dogs, death

Music - April 3, 2009
Rock on
After months of diligence and lots of really bad sounds emerging from Renee's basement, I'm a shade less than sucky on the bass. Hooray.
Tagged with: bass, tina weymouth, playing in a band, scrubs

Bars & Clubs - April 2, 2009
Charlie's bar aims to bring good times to Third Ward
Dawn and Craig Bloomfield describe themselves as "professional bar hoppers" who dreamed of opening their own lounge, so when the opportunity came along, the couple jumped at it. They hope to open their bar and restaurant, called Club Charlie's, on April 15.
Tagged with: club charlie's, charlie's, third ward bar, Dawn Bloomfield, Craig Bloomfield

Kids & Family - March 31, 2009
How quickly they learn
When my sons were no longer toddlers, I was excited about their abilities to draw cute stick figures of the family and other Crayola masterpieces that I would cherish for life. I didn't realize I needed cold, hard cash to buy these memories.
Tagged with: kids, kids' art, napoleon dynamite, unicorns, dragons, ligers, wizards, fantasy art

Arts & Entertainment - March 30, 2009
The Original Peep Show returns to Sugar Maple
The Original Peep Show returns after a two-year break, and organizer Nicole Reid is enthusiastic to resurrect the artistic celebration of her favorite Easter treat. The event -- scheduled for April 5 (Palm Sunday) at Sugar Maple, 441 E. Lincoln Ave. -- invites Peeps enthusiasts to create art pieces from the spongy chicks and bunnies.
Tagged with: peep show, marshmallow peeps, palm sunday, easter, easter candy, wearable art, peeps

Sports - March 28, 2009
Guide to bicycle shops
A few hardy Milwaukeeans ride their bikes all year 'round -- and helmets off to those hardcore cyclists -- but most of us wait until spring to bust out the bike. If you're looking for a shop to tune your bike, or want to invest in a new ride, here's a list of Milwaukee bike stores that can set you up.
Tagged with: bikes, bicycles, bike repair, rainbow jersey, bikesmith, cory the bike fixer, wares, wheel & sprocket, ben's cycles

Kids & Family - March 26, 2009
Wanna be on "Supernanny?"
The casting team of ABC's popular parenting series "Supernanny" is searching for Milwaukee families for the fifth season of the show.
Tagged with: supernanny, jo frost, stone fire pizza, reality tv

Kids & Family - March 25, 2009
Milwaukee Diaper soaks up untapped market
Marlise Kuehn admits that laundering cloth diapers is not her dream job, but she recognizes a need for this service in Milwaukee. Consequently, Kuehn and business partner Lori Pitts launch Milwaukee Diaper on April 1. "This isn't your mother's diaper service," says Kuehn. "This is a service for the new millennium."
Tagged with: milwaukee diaper, cloth diaper, eco-baby, diaper, diaper service, Marlise Kuehn, Lori Pitts

Arts & Entertainment - March 24, 2009
Tattoo king turns to fine art
After more than a decade of owning the tattoo shop Adambomb, Adam Werther is accustomed to drawing for clients. Now that the economy slowed down business a little bit, Werther is able to focus on fine art and drawing for himself.
Tagged with: adam werther, adambomb, tattoo, fine art

Kids & Family - March 23, 2009
Is new Dora too sexy?
Last week, Mattel and Nickelodeon finally released a picture of the new, older Dora the Explorer. Prior to the unveiling of the pic, the companies released a black silhouette of the tweenaged Dora. Some parents are completely offended by Dora's new look, saying she is way too sexy.
Tagged with: dora, new dora, dora the explorer, tween

Marketplace - March 22, 2009
Tips to save on grocery bills
The cost of food continues to rise and many families realize that last year's grocery budget just isn't cutting it anymore. To keep costs affordable, many shoppers approach meal planning and food buying in a new way. Here are some tips to help you save at the register.
Tagged with: grocery store, grocery bill, food, outpost natural food, food budget, coupons