Earlier this week, I drove over the Hoan Bridge and my eye caught the Summerfest grounds with the marquee blinking "See ya next year!" Instantly, I felt a little sad because it's such an amazing space, and it's too bad it can't be utilized year-round.

That got me wondering: Could the city support a winter activity on the Summerfest grounds even though it seems that most Milwaukeeans hate winter? My first response was "no." Didn't we try this with Winterfest -- an outdoor music festival which took place in a variety of locations including Cathedral Square that lost too much revenue to continue after a seven-year stint?

But maybe something else could be a success, because not everyone in Milwaukee despises winter. In fact, I like it a lot, as long as I'm wearing a hat and gloves. (It took the first 25 years of my life to realize winter wasn't half as miserable when I dressed for it. Gee, what a concept.)

As I continued to drive, I babbled about the possiblity of a newfangled winter festival to my husband, and he jokingly suggested "Finnish Fest" -- the city's first winter ethnic festival -- which would include ice fishing, dog sled pulls, sauna/sweat lodges, lutefisk, snowshoeing and lots and lots of vodka. Let's get ridiculously clever and say only bands with low-temperature-sounding names can perform, like Coldplay, The Decemberists and Ice T.

Hey, it's just a thought.