Summerfest Guide - June 26, 2009
Milwaukee Talks: Former Summerfest exec Bo Black
Elizabeth "Bo" Black, who served as Summerfest's executive director from 1984 until 2003, is a role model for professional women and a Milwaukee icon. Although she now lives in Scottsdale, Ariz., health issues and a recent achievement award keep Black in the local media and in the minds of Milwaukeeans.
Tags: summerfest, bo black, tom trebelhorn, arizona

Travel & Visitors Guide - March 21, 2009
Golfing Arizona's finest courses, 2009
The 2009 edition of Phoenix area golf getaways is a bit shorter this year than last, as a jam-packed Brewers Spring Training schedule didn't allow for every waking minute to pursue par under pleasant but overcast skies. We did hit Grayhawk, the Phoenician and Kierland, however, and all three are all spectacular courses.
Tags: arizona, golf, scottsdale, spring training, Grayhawk Golf Club, Phoenician, Kierland, Phoenix, Raptor, Talon

Travel & Visitors Guide - March 10, 2009
Milwaukee's Kopp continues westward expansion with Phoenix's Hanny's
Most Milwaukeeans conjure images of butter burgers and frozen custard with they think of local restaurateur Karl Kopp. Now Phoenicians can add Hanny's, 40 N. 1st St., to the list of Kopp's dynasty, along with AZ 88 in Scottsdale and Bar 89 in New York City.
Tags: hanny's, kopp's, karl kopp, az 88, bar 89, phoenix, arizona, elsa's

Travel & Visitors Guide - March 9, 2009
Tan, somewhat rested and very ready to be home
Another Spring Training trip is in the books, and I'm pleased to report it was a good one. In some ways, five days are not nearly enough to see everything you need to see in the Phoenix area. But in other ways, it's long enough to really miss home and everything that comes with it, and I'm eagerly awaiting seeing my family in a few hours.
Tags: spring training, arizona, scottsdale, phoenix, hanny's, intercontinental montelucia

Travel & Visitors Guide - March 8, 2009
If you have the means ...
This trip keeps getting better. Yesterday afternoon, we checked into the Intercontinental Montelucia, which is, quite literally, the nicest hotel I've ever visited.
Tags: scottsdale, arizona, phoenix, intercontinental montelucia, spring training, brewers

Travel & Visitors Guide - March 7, 2009
Slowing down and soaking in the desert sun
Yesterday turned out to be one of those perfect vacation days I dream about in the middle of January. We had few things on our agenda, so that allowed us time to soak in the scene without rushing from destination to destination.
Tags: spring training, arizona, scottsdale, xona, brewers, coach house

Travel & Visitors Guide - March 6, 2009
Hope springs eternal
It was another fun but hectic day in Arizona, and I expect today will be the same. It's a lot of running around, but I'm hardly complaining. This is a life I could get used to.
Tags: Arizona, scottsdale, xona, westin kierland, spring training, brewers

Sports - March 3, 2009
My pre-Spring Training checklist, 2009
It's been a long winter, but in about a day I'll finally hop a plane and head southwest to my 12th annual Brewers Spring Training work / fun trip. I can't believe a whole year has come and gone since my last trip to Arizona. So, as I dug my way out of yesterday's surprise snowstorm, I let my mind drift to greener pastures.
Tags: spring training, phoenix, arizona, brewers

Sports - June 4, 2008
Give me five, the Brewers are en fuego
A couple weeks ago, people were jumping off the Brewers' bandwagon left and right. Don't look now, but it's getting crowded again.
Tags: brewers, parra, kapler, arizona, justin upton, corey hart, russell branyan

Sports - May 11, 2008
Golfing Arizona's finest courses
A golf trip is a worthy-vacation any time of year. But after a brutal winter in Milwaukee, the best time to hit the links in Arizona has to be late March. We reviewed Vistal Golf Club, The Raven at South Mountain, The Westin Kierland Golf Club and the TPC Scottsdale.
Tags: golf, Vistal Golf Club, The Raven at South Mountain, The Westin Kierland Golf Club and the TPC Scottsdale, arizona, phoenix, scottsdale

Bars & Clubs - May 8, 2008
A green and gold oasis in the middle of the desert
In the middle of affluent Scottsdale, amid the luxury condos and high-priced art galleries, Packers fans gather for hero-worship at Mabel Murphy's.
Tags: mabel murphys, scottsdale, arizona, packer bars

Travel & Visitors Guide - March 27, 2008
A first-class finale to a first-class trip
It turns out the USAirways oversold the flight, and when they asked if anyone wanted to be rerouted through Milwaukee, I sprung out of my seat and raised my hand.
Tags: spring training, phoenix, first class, arizona, usairways

Travel & Visitors Guide - March 26, 2008
"Groundhog Day," and the waning hours of Spring Training
I promised to be groggy while writing today's blog, and that's the reality after another long, hot day in the sun yesterday that extended late into the night.
Tags: scottsdale, arizona, phoenix, spring training, westin kielrand

Travel & Visitors Guide - March 18, 2008
Blissful in the sun
The weather in Phoenix is absolutely perfect. But, only the tourists and transplants seem to notice.
Tags: spring training, arizona, brewers

Bars & Clubs - Feb. 4, 2008
Behind the velvet ropes at Super Bowl XLII
For four days each year, the site of the Super Bowl becomes the biggest party destination on the planet. This year, we strolled down the red carpet to see how the A-Listers live.
Tags: super bowl xlii, parties, arizona, scottsdale, kato kaelin, ludacris, adam sandler, gridiron greats