Politics - Nov. 18, 2009
Clock is ticking for decision on Hoan Bridge
It's been a semi-charmed kind of life for the Hoan Bridge, the yellow-arched icon of Milwaukee's Lakefront. But time could be running out for the Hoan Bridge. Built in the early 1970s but not opened to traffic until 1977, the nearly two-mile span over the Milwaukee Harbor is in need of replacement or repair.
Tags: hoan bridge, interstate 794, lake parkway, bay view, lakefront, milwaukee harbor, jeff stone, WisDOT

Dining - Nov. 16, 2009
Honeypie shows promise
There is much to like about Honeypie, 2643 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., the Bay View restaurant owned and operated by the same folks that have done great things with Comet Cafe, Palomino and Fuel. But while Honeypie's atmosphere and menu are pleasing, there are still some kinks that need to be worked out.
Tags: honeypie, bay view, comet cafe

Bars & Clubs - Nov. 13, 2009
On the town in Milwaukee: Friday night beats
WiscoJazz Fridays celebrate three years of local and regional beats. Spinning everything from retro disco to deep house to hip-hop and funk, DJ's lukewarm, Edd Reynolds, and DJB jump started the collective back in the summer of 2004 and have spent Friday nights for the last three years spinning records at The Highbury Pub.
Tags: dj, highbury, bay view, late night bike, lukewarm, wiscojazz, live on north, y-not II

Living - Oct. 9, 2009
A bevy of Bay View happenings
The unofficial mayor of Bay View (and my good friend) Bill Rouleau is at it again. Bill has obviously been busy, because three of the best events the neighborhood puts on all year go down over the next few weeks, and I plan on being at each.
Tags: dog day afternoon, biketoberfest, pumpkin pavilion, bay view, bill rouleau

Politics - Oct. 2, 2009
Bar opponents play the "not in my backyard" card
Riverwest residents turned out en masse this week to oppose the re-opening of Smokey's, 2425 N. Dousman St. Neighbors pointed out that there are four bars in a two-block stretch of Dousman -- which is similar to what opponents in Bay View said about a proposed sports bar -- but they were told, in essence, "if you don't like it, you shouldn't have moved into the area."
Tags: riverwest, nathan potter, smokey's, the gig, steven vieth, bay view, tony zielinski, nik kovac, russ feingold, one wisconsin now

Marketplace - Sept. 11, 2009
Sweet Water Organics lures local fish and produce
Housed in Bay View's hidden Hide House, owners Josh Fraundorf, Steve Lindner and James Godsil transformed warehouse space into three (eventually to be four) operating fish troughs or raceways.
Tags: sweet water organics, growing power, will allen, bay view, fishing, fishery, local, farming, organic farming

Festival Guide - Sept. 2, 2009
First and last time for this season
I'm ashamed to say that despite living in Bay View for the last two years, last night was the first time I went to Chill on the Hill at Humboldt Park.
Tags: chill on hill, de la buena, bay view

Bars & Clubs - July 25, 2009
A bittersweet Bay View discovery
A Saturday night out in Bay View last weekend proved to be both encouraging and a bit of a disappointment.
Tags: the tonic tavern, dee's wine stop, bay view

Milwaukee Buzz - June 18, 2009
Help us bring back Homer
Earlier this week, we blogged about the existence of a unique and adorable piece of public art, a Homer Simpson portrait on the corner of Homer and Williams Streets. The DPW still has the sign and tells us there are ways to bring it back.
Tags: Homer, public art, Bay View, simpsons

Arts & Entertainment - June 2, 2009
New Bay View studio says Bring Your Own art
Milwaukee's art scene took some hard hits this past year with the loss of Paper Boat Gallery, Spackle Gallery and recently, The Armoury Gallery. A recession can be devastating to artists trying to make a living and new gallery owners Kerry and Ken Yandell understand that. They suggest artists just BYO.
Tags: byo studio, art, art gallery, art studio, bay view, gallery night

Festival Guide - May 28, 2009
Malkmus to headline July 4 street party in Bay View
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks will headline a free street festival July 4 in Bay View, officials announced today. The festival, co-sponsored by the Pabst Theater and Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer, will officially be called "Red, White and Blue Ribbon," but folks already seem to be referring to it as "PBR Fest."
Tags: bay view, stephen malkmus and the jicks, pabst theater, pbr fest

Milwaukee Buzz - May 6, 2009
Telling Groppi's story
Congressman John Lewis once told me that there should be a book on Father James Groppi and I was just the person to write it. But Congressman Lewis really meant that Groppi's work deserves to be explored and celebrated and written down for posterity. That I do it is hardly the important part.
Tags: Father James Groppi, Bay View, civil rights movement, Patrick D. Jones, Boswell Book Company, John Eklund, Daniel Goldin, Campanile, John Lewis, Selma of the North

Music - April 24, 2009
Start planning your time to "Chill on the Hill"
Kicking off May 26, local bands and musicians strum summer sounds at "Chill on the Hill" in Humboldt Park. Last year, the weekly event saw an average of 1,200 neighbors, friends and music lovers. Attendees can expect another year of food and refreshments from local businesses and restaurants.
Tags: chill on the hill, bay view, humboldt park

Marketplace - April 4, 2009
Scarpaci's book is more than a "family album"
There have been a number of coffee table books using historical photos to recount the story of the Italians in America, but I think Vincenza Scarpaci's new "The Journey of the Italians in America" -- published by Pelican -- is different.
Tags: Vincenza Scarpaci, Greenbush, Bay View, John Vagnoni, The Journey of the Italians in America, Schwartz Bookshop

Bars & Clubs - Feb. 24, 2009
Best bar in Bay View, 2009: Palomino
Good is an understatement for 2009's top vote getter: Palomino, 2491 S Superior St. It's not the oldest bar in the neighborhood, but it's one of the first to pull in drinkers from all over the city. Flanked by Cactus Club and Club Garibaldi, it's on the hypotenuse of the neighborhood's little triangle of cool.
Tags: bay view, palomino, burnhearts, best of