Travel & Visitors Guide - Oct. 27, 2009
Wisconsin native grows green in Brooklyn
A Brookfield native, Ben Flanner moved to New York eight years ago. Now, along with a small team of supporters from local organizations and organic farming cooperatives, Flanner opted to forgo the corporate ladder in favor of climbing up to a Brooklyn rooftop and installing New York's first overhead urban agricultural project, Rooftop Farms.
Tags: rooftop farms, new york, ben flanner, brookfield, urban agriculture, will allen, urban farming, brooklyn

Bars & Clubs - July 23, 2009
Now Brooklynites can enjoy Lakefront in their own Habitat
Yesterday I got an instant message from a former co-worker who now lives in Williamsburg in Brooklyn. "I've found a bar in Brooklyn that gets Lakefront on tap," he wrote. "They get miscellaneous beers from their distributor, so they give me a heads up whenever its Lakefront."
Tags: The Habitat, Greenpoint, Brooklyn, Snakechaser Stout, Lakefront Brewery, Lakefront IPA

Kids & Family - Sept. 8, 2008
Your favorite childhood memories
Writing about the demise of Astroland, my childhood amusement park, got me thinking about my youth. Share your favorite memories of growing up in Wisconsin using the talkback feature.
Tags: Brooklyn, Astroland, The Whip, Half Moon, Brighton Beach, Belt Parkway, Coney Island

Travel & Visitors Guide - Sept. 8, 2008
Farewell Astroland
I know that as Milwaukeeans you had your small amusement parks, all of which have pretty much gone. Now, my childhood paradise of rides has officially closed. And I'm sad.
Tags: Astroland, Coney Island, brooklyn, the cyclone, roller coaster, amusement park, nellie bly

Milwaukee Buzz - May 21, 2008
The last snow blog of the season
While searching for a photo on my computer this morning, I came across the one above, taken in my front yard in Brooklyn, most likely during the winter on 1982-'83, based on the size of our beloved pooch Frosty.
Tags: Brooklyn, snow, Frosty

Kids & Family - March 17, 2008
Diamonds in the Rough contest
I never played organized ball, so maybe you think I'm not the guy to judge the Diamonds in the Rough Contest, which rewards young people who built character playing baseball. But, I think you're wrong.
Tags: Diamonds in the Rough, Briggs and Stratton, Little League, Midwood, Brooklyn, Shea Stadium, Yankees

Politics - Jan. 18, 2008
MMSD wants to flush suit
It may be just perception, but it appears the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District is getting tired of defending itself for raw sewage dumping -- a violation of its permit.
Tags: Clean Water Act, MMSD, Friends of Milwaukee's Rivers, virtual education, Her Kohl, Charles Schumer, Brooklyn, Lombardi, Giants, Packers, cheesecake, Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler

Music - Dec. 12, 2007
Ravel raves about The Jones Street Boys
Brooklyn bluegrass purveyors The Jones Street Boys come to Shank Hall on Thursday, Dec. 20 for an 8 p.m. show and Alverno Presents' main man David Ravel wants you to go. So much so, that he's been a one-man street team, sending out e-mails urging folks to go see the rootsy quartet with the sweet harmonies.
Tags: Jones Street Boys, Brooklyn, SHank Hall, Alverno College, bluegrass, Danny Erker, David Ravel

Politics - Aug. 28, 2007
Friendly competition: Faraj and Kovac go up against D'Amato
Friends Sura Faraj and Nik Kovac will run against each other -- but with the common goal -- of nabbing the 3rd District seat from Michael D'Amato.
Tags: Sura Faraj, Nik Kovac, Mike D'Amato, alderperson, alderman, 3rd District, elections, City Hall, Brooklyn

Travel & Visitors Guide - May 14, 2007
Smoking ban quashing N.Y.'s nicotine jones?
Asking around, it seemed to me that smokers are taking New York’s smoking ban in stride ... or taking the opportunity to cut back or quit. Everyone I talked to -- rather humorously admitted that they only smoke while drinking and are planning on quitting, anyway.
Tags: non-smoking, Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Sweet Ups

Milwaukee Buzz - May 13, 2007
Beer and big apples
If you're ever wondering what New York and Milwaukee (and Wisconsin) have in common, remember that Wisconsin's most legendary football figure probably ice skated in Coney Island, played in the surf at Brighton Beach and kicked cans along East 14th Street.
Tags: Lombardi, Brooklyn, Packers, New York

Travel & Visitors Guide - April 9, 2007
Milwaukee ties still strong for Scottsdale deli owners
Steve and Nancy Kashman don't live in Milwaukee anymore, but considering how many old friends drop into to their two Arizona delis, sometimes it feels like it they're back in Wisconsin.
Tags: kashman, deli, phoenix, scottsdale, arizona, shapiro, kashman's place, gimbels, bagel, brooklyn

Arts & Entertainment - April 2, 2007
Lethem works to shake off Brooklyn shackles
Perception is everything and no one knows that better than Brooklyn-born author Jonathan Lethem. The author of six novels, a collection of essays and at least three books of short fiction, Lethem has been so pegged as a Brooklyn author that few -- including us, obviously -- can resist focusing on the fact that his latest novel is set in Los Angeles.
Tags: Lethem, Brooklyn, You Don't Love Me Yet, Fortress of Solitude, Motherless Brooklyn, Schwartz

Dining - Nov. 20, 2006
Domino's steps up to the challenge
Well, I threw down the gauntlet, slapped the proverbial white glove in the face of Domino’s Pizza and the chain, to its credit, responded to take up the challenge.
Tags: Brooklyn, Domino's, pizza, Zaffiro

Dining - Nov. 8, 2006
Brooklyn pizza ... from Domino's? I don't think so.
Now, I'm no expert, but I did have 17 solid years of eating Brooklyn pizza, at times on a nearly daily basis. And I can tell you Pete's on Avenue M was the only real competitor that Kings Highway's Bella Donna had in the neighborhood. But this new Domino's pizza? I'm skeptical.
Tags: Domino's, pizza, Brooklyn