Urban Outfitters is here. Yes, for years we wished it was true and now it is. However, time has moved on and although I'm sure Urb will do well here in Milwaukee, it's mostly passed its sell-by date for us.

Now that we have a house and a little one, our budget -- which used to have money to spend at the then-non-existent Urban Outfitters in Milwaukee -- is being spent on other stuff.

It's sad to admit, but we're no longer the "target market," and that makes me feel old.

However, I popped over for a visit yesterday to check it out. I like a lot of what they have and I expect I'll make some purchases there. The selection of gifty stuff will certainly come in handy when I need a quirky last-minute present for someone.

I'm also keeping my eye on the USB turntables they sell, because I really want one of those to start converting some of my vinyl to CD, since these days I listen to most of my music in the car or at my desk in the office and I've yet to get a turntable spinning in either of those places.

Who knows, maybe someday I'll also finally get into lomography instead of just thinking about it. Maybe not.

There is no denying, however, that with iNova Gallery, Urban Outfitters, Esselle and Anytime Fitness in the Kenilworth Building, which used to look like dead space in the heart of the East Side, the neighborhood around OnMilwaukee.com's North Avenue office is as vibrant as ever and perhaps more so than ever.

Because, don't forget, we've also got Alterra, Beans and Barley, Shag, Phase II, Envy and other great shops here, too, alongside Landmark Lanes, The Oriental Theatre, Von Trier and all the rest.