Shepherd Express - January 2024

JANUARY 2024

PRESENTED BY SHEPHERD E XPRESS

IN THIS ISSUE:

WINTER ARTS GUIDE

HEALTH & WELLNESS

PAGE 62

PAGE 54

TRUE HEALTH, OUT OF MY MIND, ASK ALLY, AND CANNABIS

OPINION

energy companies can control Following supply of their products, but they can’t control demand for them.

COP28, Does As demand dries up, the market for the World Have oil, gas, and coal disappears.

EXAMPLES an Agreement to Let’s dig a little deeper into this demand-side strategy for phasing out End Fossil Fuel dirty energy. The best place to start is with a couple of good examples. In Use? No Way! 2023, the European Union enacted

I

By E.G. Nadeau, Ph.D.

n early December, most of the countries of the world wrangled with Saudi Arabia and other petrostates at COP28 – the recent climate change conference in Dubai – over whether there should be an explicit reference to a phaseout of fossil fuels in the conference’s final agreement. The debate went far into overtime, and the pro-phaseout advocates appear to have won the battle.

But don’t believe it! This is a Swisscheese, non-binding agreement that “Dirty Energy” will find plenty of ways to subvert.

Despite the many loopholes, there is hope for a genuine phaseout of the vast majority of fossil fuels by 2050. It won't happen by trusting the goodwill of the fossil fuel-producing companies and their allies but, instead, by reducing the demand for these fuels as quickly as possible.

HOW DO WE REDUCE DEMAND? The short answer is by continuing to reduce the relative cost of clean energy versus dirty energy. We need to accelerate the deployment of clean energy in both the Global North and the Global South, rapidly increase energy efficiency, make trillions of dollars available for the expansion of clean energy resources, provide support to energy-poor and vulnerable countries to cope with the harmful effects of climate change, and end subsidies to the producers and distributers of dirty fuels.

Basic economics tells us that no matter how much fossil fuel companies can produce, they won’t be able to sell their products if they are not competitive in the marketplace. In other words, dirty

“Fit for 55” as a package of programs to accelerate the EU’s reduction of carbon emissions – with the goals of achieving a 55% reduction of emissions in 2030 compared to those in 1990, and net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The main components of Fit for 55 are: • An emissions trading system (ETS) that gradually increases the cost of carbon emissions by both domestic “operators” and by companies wanting to export goods to EU member countries.

• The addition of several new target emitters to those already subject to the ETS, including shipping, aviation, road transport, and energy-inefficient buildings.

• Clear, measurable goals and increasingly severe consequences over time for operators failing to meet the goals that are built into the system.

• Periodic updating of the implementation strategy based on changing conditions.

• A carbon border adjustment mechanism that effectively imposes carbon taxes on companies operating outside the EU that market their products to the EU. These carbon taxes protect EU-based companies from unfair competition.

In summary, this strategy is a straightforward, clearly understandable means to reduce fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions in order to achieve the 2030 and 2050 Paris Agreement goals.

Thirteen states in the United States provide a second set of examples of demand-side programs to reduce

fossil fuel use. Like the European Union, these states also use carbon-pricing mechanisms to ratchet down fossil fuel use by utilities and other companies.

What makes this a big deal is that these states have a significant presence in the world economy. If California were a country, it would have the fifth largest economy in the world.

This demand-side approach could be enlarged dramatically in the next few years, especially if funds were available to developing countries to accelerate their clean energy growth. After all, the large, developed countries in the world caused the current climate crisis through their profligate use of fossil fuels, especially during the last century. And yet, developing countries are suffering the main consequences of this profligacy in the form of droughts, starvation, floods, excessive heat, and other climate-related disasters.

Countries in the Global North have a responsibility to provide technical and financial support to these developing countries. Such aid would be part of a broader strategy to reduce worldwide carbon emissions and global warming.

As reported by a UN press release, “The United Nations Climate Change conference, COP28, has concluded with a historic agreement to transition away from fossil fuels, triple renewable energy and increase climate finance for the most vulnerable.”

We have the potential to make this agreement more than just a set of vague promises, especially through concerted efforts to increase the use of clean energy and to rapidly reduce demand for fossil fuels. This demand-side strategy can make a dramatic difference by 2030 despite the disingenuous actions of Dirty Energy to continue the world’s dependency on fossil fuels for as long as possible.

E.G. Nadeau is co-director of the Cooperative Society Project, dedicated to the idea that humanity may be on the verge of a new era of cooperation, democracy, equitable distribution of resources and a sustainable relationship with nature.

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NEWS 06 What are Milwaukee's Sister Cities?

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09 This Modern World 10 Abolishing Women's Rights Will Still Be Toxic in 2024 — Taking Liberties 12 How Gerrymandering Distorts the Public Good — Issue of the Month 14 Bianca Johnson-Ortiz — Hero of the Month 16 The Economic Impact of Arts and Culture — MKE SPEAKS: Conversations with Milwaukeeans

FOOD & DRINK 18 Dream Dance Raises the Stakes at Potawatomi Casino 20 KO'd by Eggplant — Flash in the Pan

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22 The Great Winter Wine — Beverages

SPECIAL SECTION 24 Best of Milwaukee 24 Arts & Entertainment 28 City Confidential 30 Locally Owned Food - Retail 34 Locally Owned Restaurant 40 Milwaukee Music 42 Out & About 46 Body, Mind & Spirit 46 Bought & Sold 48 Home Improvement 49 LGBTQ 49 Medical 50 Real Estate 50 Services Rendered 52 Sports & Recreation

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54 Health & Wellness 54 She's So Hot! — True Health 56 Kicked to the Curb, and in the Gut — Out of My Mind 58 Finding Time for Quiet — Ask Ally 60 Farm Bill Extended, Hemp Reform Measures Gain Support Among Stakeholders, Lawmakers — Cannabis 62 Winter Arts Guide January-February 2024 82 Kibble Seems Safe, But ... — Pets

CULTURE

SPONSORED BY

84 This Month in Milwaukee

HEAR ME OUT

SPONSORED BY

86 A Sticky, Stinky Situation — Dear Ruthie 88 Milwaukee Recognized Among the Nation's LGBTQ+ Friendly City — My LGBTQ POV

88 AT SHEPHERD EXPRESS, WE ARE COMMITTED TO ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND RESPONSIBLE PRACTICES. OUR PUBLICATION IS PRINTED ON PAPER THAT IS CERTIFIED BY THE FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL (FSC), SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY INITIATIVE (SFI), AND THE AMERICAN TREE FARM SYSTEM (ASTFS), ENSURING IT COMES FROM RESPONSIBLY MANAGED FORESTS. IN ADDITION TO OUR ECO-FRIENDLY PAPER, WE UTILIZE INKS THAT INCORPORATE RENEWABLE RESOURCES SUCH AS SOYBEAN OIL, LINSEED OIL, CASTOR OIL, TALL OIL ROSIN, AND GUM ROSIN. THESE CHOICES REFLECT OUR DEDICATION TO REDUCING OUR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND PROMOTING A GREENER FUTURE. MOREOVER, OUR DEDICATION TO SUSTAINABILITY EXTENDS TO THE END OF THE PUBLICATION'S LIFECYCLE. OUR PRINTED MATERIALS ARE DESIGNED TO BE RECYCLABLE, ALLOWING READERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND PLAY A PART IN PRESERVING THE ENVIRONMENT.

ART FOR ART'S SAKE 90 From the City that Always Sweeps 4 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

COVER: Winter Arts Guide illustration by Tim Czerniakowski. Health & Wellness illustration by Michael Burmesch.

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JANUARY 2024 | 5

NEWS

What What are are Milwaukee’s Milwaukee’s Sister Sister Cities?

Cities?

BY LEONARD NELSON

IRPIN, UKRAINE

“A SISTER CAN BE SEEN AS SOMEONE WHO IS BOTH OURSELVES AND VERY MUCH NOT OURSELVES, A SPECIAL KIND OF DOUBLE.”

T

hose are the words of the late American novelist Toni Morrison and they aren’t just an apt description of actual sisterhood. In a real sense they also describe Milwaukee’s sister city relationships with communities all over the world. As part of the Sister Cities International program, Milwaukee has five sister cities, a diverse group of communities which have formed relationships with the city based mostly on cultural ties but also touching on areas like education, tourism, economic interests and humanitarian assistance. In its mission statement, the Sister Cities International organization calls the programs “people to people diplomacy.”

Milwaukee’s current sister cities are Irpin, Ukraine; Zadar, Croatia; Galway, Ireland; Tarime District, Tanzania; and Bomet County, Kenya. The longest official relationship the city has is with Galway, dating back to 2009. Some sister city designations are the result of people from a foreign city reaching out to Milwaukee officials, but most are formed at the instigation of local residents who share an ethnic or cultural background with residents of other places.

“Milwaukee is such a diverse city and it’s a real benefit to people here to have a relationship with people in the country that they or their families are from,” said Oscar Tovar, a staff assistant to Mayor Cavalier Johnson who also serves on the Sister Cities Committee. “Cities might approach us but there also might be a citizen or group here in Milwaukee which has an interest in collaborating with a country or city where they’re from. Most often it’s something sought by a non-profit organization here which has a relationship with an organization or local officials in another part of the world.”

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SPONSORING A SISTER Once a sister city arrangement is proposed, participants on both sides go through a sort of interview process with a local Sister Cities Committee which is appointed by the mayor.

“In the interview process we learn what their city is all about and if there are ways we can collaborate. But we do require that a local non-profit organization to sponsor that sister city,” Tovar said.

It’s those similar ethnic and cultural backgrounds which are the foundation of most sister city arrangements. Milwaukee’s population is nearly 40 percent African American so establishing ties to African communities seems natural.

That’s why the city is now involved with the sister cities in Kenya and Tanzania. There are also an estimated 3,000 residents of Ukrainian descent living in Milwaukee so having a sister city relationship with a Ukrainian city made sense, too. Irpin, Ukraine became a sister city in 2018.

“Probably 90 percent of the relationships begin here as opposed to other cities looking for us,” said Al Durtka, the retired past president of the International Institute of Wisconsin and whose involvement in the sister city program dates back three decades. He said he hopes someone or some group within Milwaukee’s heavy Serbian population will sponsor a sister city initiative with a community in Serbia.

“We’re looking to someone in the ethnic Serbian community to suggest cities which make sense for us to be involved with,” Durtka said.

CULTURAL EXCHANGE (AND MORE) Perhaps the most public-facing element of the programs are the cultural exchanges which have resulted from them.

Photo by Timeprotv/Getty Images.

Many of Milwaukee’s performance and visual artists have traveled to sister cities to display their work and to perform and performers from those sister cities have often visited Milwaukee. That includes Irish dancers and musicians from Galway who take to stages at Irish Fest each year. Sister cities representatives have taken part in other ethic festivals and events, too, bringing their music, dances and food. “We get to learn about their history and culture and about how they live. They get to learn about us. It’s a really nice mutual exchange,” Durtka said.

But one of Milwaukee’s sister city relationships has taken on a darker tone over the past year. Ukraine has been mired in a war to maintain its independence from Russia and the sister city of Irpin, a suburb about 15 miles north of Kyiv, was among the first Ukrainian cities to come under Russian attack. Tovar said the ties which have been formed through the sister cities program have helped many Milwaukeeans to better understand the situation there. It has also provided a conduit for local authorities to help their counterparts in Ukraine.

“Having a sister city in Ukraine gives us a personal connection,” Tovar said. “That leads to programs involving assistance in a people-to-people way, whether it’s financial or material assistance. Irpin is having a very difficult time and there have been several calls between our mayors to talk about ways we can help. With what they’re going through, it’s nice that we can let their mayor and their citizens know that they have a partner in Milwaukee and that we have their back.”

An example of material assistance came last year when Irpin Mayor Oleksandr Markushyn contacted Milwaukee’s mayor to request guns and ammunition, asking if the city could send them weaponry it had seized or recovered from crime scenes or that it obtained from residents as part of gun “buy-back” programs. Markushyn said his city’s police and territorial defense forces were hampered by a shortage of handguns and other weapons. Officials in Miami, Florida, which is also a sister city to Irpin, sent 167 guns after a similar request from Markushyn but Milwaukee’s Public Safety and Health Committee balked at facilitating such a shipment.

Instead, it greenlighted a proposal to send body armor, face shields and handcuffs to Irpin, much of which had belonged to local Milwaukee police officers who have resigned or retired. At the time, Mayor Johnson noted that the request was a departure from the exchange of culture and ideas which usually make up the bulk of a sister city relationship.

“We’re in a position where our sister cities relationship is going out of the mold for what I think is usually intended,” Johnson said. “We’re doing our best to be supportive here but I think guns is probably a step too far.”

Another example of material assistance to a sister city is evident in an effort to help Bomet County in Kenya with its shortage of fresh water. “It’s a real problem in Kenya,” Durtka said. “We have an abundance of fresh water and lots of expertise in clean drinking water systems here. But there, even if they have water treatment systems, they

JANUARY 2024 | 7

NEWS

usually don’t work very well. Because of our relationship with them, we’ve had our experts in water technology go to Kenya to explore ways we can help. So, working together, we can solve problems. At the same time, they can help us by bringing creativity and new ideas to the table. It’s a great exchange of ideas.”

ECONOMIC RELATIONS While economic interests are not integral to the sister city programs, international business can happen as an offshoot. Tovar said business relationships sometimes occur when individuals with involvement in sister cities programs have decided to cultivate them. “It’s wonderful when that happens. Even though most of the sister city relationships depend on cultural and interpersonal relationships, it sometimes works in ways which broaden economic opportunities, too,” he said. “We hope we’re getting to the point where we can get businesses in the sister cities to partner with Milwaukee based companies such as Milwaukee Tool and Harley Davidson.”

Local volunteers in the Bomet County sister city partnership have also worked on plans which would facilitate shipments to Milwaukee of fresh fruits grown by farmers in Kenya. “If we can further develop our exchanges with Bomet, it can result in a more direct route for those goods to sellers in Milwaukee.” Durtka said. “It’s like building a business network here but with the rest of the world. It builds Milwaukee’s network.

Sister cities programs span a wide range of possibilities.”

Educational initiatives have also been fostered as a result of sister cities programs. While not officially part of the core program, student exchanges have been spurred with several sister cities. Students from those areas come here to study and educators from those cities have come here to teach at Milwaukee School of Engineering and at Milwaukee Area Technical College.

“Educators on both sides of our sister cities partnerships have given good reviews to it,” Durtka said. “It’s a decided advantage to have people who are native to a particular country and who speak the language coming here to teach. It helps us better understand them from a linguistic standpoint but also helps us see more directly what life is like in those countries and how we and they relate to the rest of the world.”

Volunteers sometimes serve as host families for students and educators from the foreign cities. “Those families often get really involved and they develop really strong bonds with individuals from across the pond,” Durtka said.

While sister city relationships start at the citizen level, local government involvement is a key to sustaining them, Durtka said. “In a successful sister city program, there has to be multiple touch points. If the mayor doesn’t buy in, things can go by the wayside. But when the mayor or a group of city council members decide that sister cities are the greatest thing since apple pie, the process can really go like gang busters,” he said.

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Funding to support the programs is paramount, of course.

Except for dues paid by the city for membership to Sister Cities International, which Durtka said are nominal, no taxpayer dollars are used. “The international relationships have to be funded through their own means and the amount of financial support determines how engaged we can be,” he said. “There is no corporate sponsorship so individuals and organizations in each city have to raise the money in order to make it go.”

CITIZEN VOLUNTEERS In-person meetings between people in the sister cities, both at the government and citizen level, could pose troublesome financial difficulties but Durtka said online meetings using technologies like Zoom have alleviated many of those concerns. At their essence, though, sister city partnerships rely on citizen volunteers. “It’s mainly a relationship that needs to be built around individuals who, as volunteers, are willing to move forward,” he said.

Tovar said the Sister Cities Committee is always looking for more volunteers and for more cities with which to develop sister city relationships. While partnerships with similar sized communities can be highly beneficial to Milwaukee, Durtka said developing sister city ties to smaller towns are also important. He pointed to a past sister city relationship with Lublin, Poland, a town of only 300 people.

“We have several more cities in the hopper and I think there’s a bright future for growing the programs,” Durtka said. “But it’s not without its challenges. It takes a personal time commitment and, of course, the dollars to make them a reality.

We hope governments are involved but citizens are the anchors we need to keep the programs going.”

Both Tovar and Durtka say they have personally benefitted from being involved with Milwaukee’s sister cities. Tovar said he and Mayor Johnson have been able to make stronger connections with local ethnic communities here by participating in the sister cities program. “We get invitations to many events, and they have helped us build core relationships with people here and from places far away from home,” Tovar said.

Durtka said his work with sister cities has allowed him to forge individual friendships with sister city participants around the world, some of which have lasted for decades.

“Those connections have remained strong even after some of the official sister city relationships have dissolved,” he said. “Those affinities make us global citizens and encourage us to become citizen diplomats. It helps us be concerned not just about ourselves but about everything that is happening in the world. We can be supportive of each other.”

Leonard Nelson is a Wisconsin reporter and broadcast journalist. He’s a regular contributor to shepherdexpress.com.

JANUARY 2024 | 9

NEWS TAKING LIBERTIES

Abolishing Women’s Rights Will Still Be Toxic in 2024

BY JOEL MCNALLY

I

t’s a little late now, but Republicans are starting to think it might have been a mistake to destroy the Constitutional rights protecting the freedom of American women to make their own decisions about abortion in their lives.

It took a half century and three Republican presidents, two Bushes and a Trump, to appoint a radical, rightwing Supreme Court extreme enough to destroy women’s Constitutional rights to make their own decisions about their bodies, families, careers and lives just like men do.

Strategists for House and Senate elections have been meeting to create a new political message for anti-abortion Republicans. Their current attack on Democrats isn’t working. That’s because it’s an absurd lie to claim Democrats are extremists who support abortion up until the moment of birth.

IT TOOK A HALF CENTURY AND THREE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTS, TWO BUSHES AND A TRUMP, TO APPOINT A RADICAL, RIGHTWING SUPREME COURT EXTREME ENOUGH TO DESTROY WOMEN’S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR BODIES, FAMILIES, CAREERS AND LIVES JUST LIKE MEN DO.

The Trump court suddenly abolished religious freedom in America guaranteed by the Constitution. A Republican version of the Taliban was free to impose their extreme religious beliefs on any state and prosecute anyone holding different religious beliefs.

Infanticide is homicide. It’s against the law in every state. Besides, it would be ridiculous for a woman to carry a child for nine months and then decide at the last minute that she’d rather have an abortion. The heart-breaking truth is late abortions are the result of tragic, life-threatening medical emergencies.

Who knew it would be so politically unpopular for rightwing politicians to ban abortion in their states to force women including children who were raped to carry every pregnancy for nine months and give birth without access to safe, legal alternatives? None of the guys they knew cared.

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ELECTION BACKLASH The overwhelming election backlash against Republicans over abortion was instantaneous. Record voter turnout driven by pro-choice voters in both Democratic and Republican states created major setbacks for Republicans throughout 2022 and 2023. The issue will be on the ballot in more states in 2024. So far, nine states including solidly Republican states like Kansas, Kentucky, Montana and Ohio have added protections for abortion to their state constitutions.

Virginia Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Fox News founder Rupert Murdoch’s dream candidate for the Republican nomination, saw his imaginary presidency disappear before his eyes when Democrats defeated his attempt to pass an abortion ban by winning both legislative chambers.

OVERWHELMING REJECTION Republicans don’t need a new political message on abortion to win elections. They need a new political position on abortion because abolishing abortion is overwhelmingly rejected

by American voters.

Political polling has repeatedly shown support for legalized abortion by more than two-thirds of Americans. That was the exact response in Wisconsin in July to the Marquette University Law School Poll. Sixty-six percent said abortion should be legal in all or most cases and only 31% said it should be illegal in all or most cases.

Voter opposition to abortion and corrupt Republican gerrymandering by the legislature are what finally ended 15 years of rightwing political control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court in April.

Photo by wildpixel/Getty Images.

Justice Janet Protasiewicz was the third progressive justice to win election creating a new court majority now reconsidering an archaic 1849 law that has shut down abortions and fairly drawn voting districts for Congress and the legislature to more accurately reflect our closely divided state.

The widespread unpopularity of outlawing abortion rights will be a serious problem for Republicans in 2024. There is not a single Republican candidate for the presidency or for the House and Senate on the right side of what will be one of the most serious election issues for women and for men who care about the women in their lives.

The Republican presidential race really isn’t much of one. The criminally indicted ex-president who appointed half of the Supreme Court justices who abolished abortion rights is far ahead of the anti-abortion woman in second place.

The Washington media have falsely suggested Nikki Haley is more moderate on abortion than other Republicans. She isn’t. But she claims

to “respect” abortion supporters, whatever that means. “I don’t judge anyone for being pro-choice any more than I want you to judge me for being pro-life,” she says.

That’s meaningless political double talk. It makes no difference what anti-abortion Republicans’ feelings are toward women seeking an abortion. All that matters is the drastic laws they support. Haley told evangelical Christians in Iowa she would sign a national abortion ban after six weeks if Republicans could pass it.

That still makes Haley a political moderate compared to Trump. If Republicans succeed in returning Trump to the presidency, he will streamline government the way he tried to at the end of his first term. No more namby-pamby checks and balances from Congress and the courts.

Here's a better option for the rest of us.

Reelect President Biden and continue restoring American democracy and writing all the Constitutional rights we used to have into our laws again.

THERE IS NOT A SINGLE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR THE PRESIDENCY OR FOR THE HOUSE AND SENATE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF WHAT WILL BE ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS ELECTION ISSUES FOR WOMEN AND FOR MEN WHO CARE ABOUT THE WOMEN IN THEIR LIVES.

Joel McNally was a critic and columnist for the Milwaukee Journal for 27 years.

He has written the weekly Taking Liberties column for the Shepherd Express since 1996. For more McNally, visit shepherdexpress.com.

JANUARY 2024 | 11

NEWS ISSUE OF THE MONTH

How Gerrymandering Distorts the Public Good BY

BY WILLIAM WILLIAM HOLOHAN HOLOHAN

Illustration by Michael Burmesch.

R

epublicans routinely affix the “Socialist” label to Democrats and their policies. The assertion is repeated so frequently that many voters have come to regard it as the truth, and so it is an effective vote-getter. Time-tested economic understanding—going back to Adam Smith—provides a rigorous and vigorous response to this scare tactic: the economic distortions commonly attributed to socialist systems are also produced by government made unrepresentative by gerrymandering.

The labeling stratagem works because some socialist countries have failed in spectacular ways to address the economic wants and needs of their populations. The “socialism” label is intended to bring to mind long lines for food, involuntary job assignments, and gulags and disappearance for those who complain too much. The core definition of socialist is advocacy of social organization around public ownership of the means of production and distribution, and centralization of their management.

Socialist systems are in stark contrast to the market system in which decentralized management is guided by a price system. Confusion arises when socialism is conflated with government activity. This is odd since capitalism requires a well-functioning public sector. The modern economy can be thought of as comprised of the public and private sector, sectors that must work together to optimize overall economic performance. The economy must provide those goods and services that the market system needs but due to incompatible incentives does not produce well or does not produce at all.

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BRIEF LOOK AT THE PRIVATE MARKET SECTOR The U.S. economy is at core a highly successful market system. One of the great strengths of a market system is its responsiveness to individual willingness and ability to spend money according to their preferences. People earn money in the “job market” and spend their income according to their preferences in the “goods and services market.” To a first approximation, all these trades are guided by decentralized prices and wage rates. They are made without coercion; Adam Smith referred to the market as a “system of perfect liberty.”

But this market responsiveness to consumer preferences does not always work; there are important pre-conditions.

Chief among these preconditions is competition which compels sellers to serve the informed buyers. This interplay between buyers and sellers independent of government is labeled the “private sector.” In important and familiar sectors of the economy, those pre-conditions for market efficiency do not exist.

BRIEF LOOK AT THE PUBLIC SECTOR The absence of these preconditions leads to two roles for government. First, the public sector has the responsibility to regulate markets that are non-competitive but still produce very important products. Examples include the public utilities that produce and distribute electricity, natural gas, and sewer and water services. Also regulated are firms that produce valuable products but which, if unregulated, would impose spillover cost of pollution, noise, or danger, e.g., carbon dioxide emissions. Still others would simply take advantage of non-competitive positions to raise prices, as in the cases of insulin anti-seizure epi-pens.

Second, if through representative government the people express a preference for certain goods and services that the market will not provide, some level of government—state, local or federal—may step in and provide it. Examples include national defense, police and fire protection, health insurance, the legal system that enforces contracts, addresses crime and adjudicates accident costs, as well as provides massive insurance programs such as Social Security and disaster relief.

THE RIGHT MIX The ideal combination of public and private rests on the simultaneous achievement of efficient prices guiding exchanges in the private sector and representative government guiding decisions in the public sector. In the private sector the price system is the mechanism for responsiveness to constituents by coordinating the incentives of buyers and sellers in the market. In the public sector representative government is the mechanism for responsiveness to the constituents. Just as the private sector is weakened when decentralized prices are distorted, a public sector is weakened when government is distorted by a gerrymandered non-representative legislature.

Such distortions influence key decisions, such as the allocation of resources to build new roads versus repair existing roads; rural roads versus suburban roads versus urban roads; cut taxes versus increase spending on math education; assuring reproductive rights versus the 1849 law that ban those rights; transfers of wealth from taxpayers to wealthy owners of sports franchises versus focus on the more immediate needs of those taxpayers.

The strength of our private sector relies on representative government; if the current project to create fair maps succeeds, the state economy will better serve the citizens of Wisconsin.

William Holahan is emeritus professor and former chair of economics at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

We see one of the worst examples of this distortion right here in Wisconsin where voters gave Democrats 52% of their vote count but received only 39% of the legislative seats. In other words, the people with a slim majority are relegated to a powerless minority position in the legislature. That means that their preferences for public goods and services are bypassed in favor of the preferences of a donor-driven minority.

JANUARY 2024 | 13

NEWS HERO OF THE MONTH

Bianca Johnson-Ortiz

BY ERIN BLOODGOOD

F

rom a young age, Bianca Johnson-Ortiz learned the value of education from her mother who studied to receive her GED and eventually her bachelor’s degree while raising her family. Johnson-Ortiz was graduating high school when her mother finally got her bachelor’s degree after studying for eight years.

As she was coming of age, she watched her mother’s dedication to learning. “I always admired that process and knew that was something that was deeply connected to my childhood, my education and my life moving forward,” she said.

Her mother never finished high school because she dropped out to take care of her own mother who suffered from health problems after years as a migrant worker. Johnson-Ortiz’s grandmother worked in many hard labor jobs throughout her life and eventually came to Milwaukee from Texas because of the manufacturing boom.

This is a similar story that many Milwaukee families share. Now the Manager of Adult Education Programs at Literary Services of Wisconsin, Johnson-Ortiz has dedicated her career to providing education services to

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adults. She says their services exist because there are fundamental flaws in our systems that are not addressing low literacy in communities like hers.

CYCLE OF LOW LITERACY “There’s an ongoing cycle of low literacy that impacts individuals, families and communities. If we’re not tackling the core reason why we have problems with low literacy, then that cycle just continues,” she said.

While Literary Services does not do the work to address those core issues, they do provide support and education to adults to help them with their personal goals. Their programs range from foundational reading programs to helping students receive their GED or high school diploma.

“We can continue to support the adults that leave K-12 instruction and help them enter the workforce, but there’s always a core missing—that individual support those adults didn’t receive when they were children,” said Johnson-Ortiz.

Literary Services shines in the way they cater instruction and programming to the individual. Their instructors assesses where a student is and helps them build skills starting from that point. Students receive a combination of one-on-one tutoring alongside class-based instruction.

Photo by Erin Bloodgood.

In her role, Johnson-Ortiz manages volunteers and instructors and creates learning plans for students at all skill levels. She trains instructors to understand the value of adult education and cater to the individual goals of each person.

Over her 10-plus years of educating adults, Johnson-Ortiz has seen what can happen when an individual learns to read or receives a diploma—similar to the positive effects it has had on her own family.

“I’ve witnessed how much of a change that’ll make to a family unit and how it ripples into the entire community, into their workplace and into their child’s education. They can become so much more engaged in [their child’s] education when they understand the impact [education] makes, and it just continues to grow from there,” she said.

Johnson-Ortiz says it’s never too late for someone to learn new skills and seek educational solutions that will help them find new opportunities. When an individual improves their education, it grows the community.

Erin Bloodgood is a Milwaukee photographer and storyteller. See more of her work on her website at www.bloodgoodfoto.com.

JANUARY 2024 | 15

NEWS MKE SPEAKS: CONVERSATIONS WITH MILWAUKEEANS

What was Imagine MKE’s role in facilitating the Arts & Economic Prosperity study?

ADAM BRAATZ

Imagine MKE was proud to work with Americans for the Arts and represent the Greater Milwaukee area in their Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 study, which meant intercepting audiences (with the help of many) at arts performances in Milwaukee over the last year, as well as communicating with arts organizations about how to participate in the organizational surveys. We couldn’t have done it without participation from the outstanding and diverse organizations that comprise our region’s arts and culture ecosystem— both large and small organizations—as well as the generous support from the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, the United Performing Arts Fund and First Stage. It was truly a team effort.

Photo by by Erol Reyal.

The Economic Impact of Arts and Culture

IMAGINE MKE’S ADAM BRAATZ UNPACKS A RECENT STUDY ON THE REVENUE GENERATED BY THE CREATIVE SECTOR

BY DAVID LUHRSSEN

I

n 2022, Milwaukee’s nonprofit arts and culture industry generated $334,577,488 n economic activity according to the newly released economic and social impact study, Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6). That economic activity—$191,808,940 in arts and culture nonprofit spending and $142,768,548 in event-related audience spending—supported 4,550 jobs and generated almost $58 million in local, state, and federal government tax revenue. Nationally, the AEP6 study reveals that America’s nonprofit arts and culture sector is a $151.7 billion industry— one that supports 2.6 million jobs and generates $29.1 billion in government tax revenue. More than 86% of people surveyed in the study reported that the activity or venue they were attending was “a source of neighborhood pride for the community” and would “feel a sense of loss if that activity or venue was no longer available.”

16 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

Imagine MKE played an important role in facilitating the Arts & Economic Prosperity study. The nonprofit organization’s executive director, Adam Braatz, answered some questions.

Tell me about Imagine MKE. What is your mission?

Imagine MKE is a nonprofit organization committed to advocating for, advancing, and amplifying the arts, culture and creative economy throughout the Greater Milwaukee area. Our mission is to drive vibrancy, prosperity and systemic change in the Greater Milwaukee area by advancing and advocating for our region’s creative economy. We envision Milwaukee as a nationally recognized creative community, a magnet for talent and investment, where social and economic opportunity is powered by an equitable, diverse and thriving creative economy.

Were you surprised at the high numbers, indicating the significant impact of the arts in Milwaukee?

The numbers were not a surprise, no.

These figures confirm what we already know: Milwaukee’s vibrant arts and culture sector is a powerful economic driver. This sector employs people locally, drives purchases of goods and services from the community, drives commerce to local businesses, and attracts tourism.

Have Americans for the Arts conducted this sort of study in Milwaukee in past years? If so, when—and how have the numbers changed?

This is the sixth iteration of the Arts & Economic Prosperity study. Previous studies were published in 1994, 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017. The current numbers tell a compelling story on their own. The study’s reach and structure was greatly refined since the last iteration in order to newly center BIPOC and ALAANA [African, Latinx, Asian, Arab, Native American] audiences and arts organizations in a way that previous studies did not.

Tell me about the methodology.

How were the statistics for the Arts & Economic Prosperity gathered?

From Americans for the Arts: To accomplish AEP6, a customized

economic impact study is completed for each of the participating communities. In each community, a research partner organization is identified to assist Americans for the Arts with two primary data collection efforts: an audience-intercept survey of attendees to arts and culture events that take place in the community, and a budget and attendance survey of the comprehensive universe of nonprofit arts and culture organizations that exist in the community.

ic framework called an input-output model that’s been recognized through a number of Nobel prizes awarded for its comprehensiveness. Through this, researchers are able to frame the data gathered within communities in context with economic data gathered from other governmental agencies.

Each participating community receives a final report customized for their survey data and based on an economic input-output model tailored for their specific local economy. Researchers then use the localized findings to extrapolate national impact estimates for the entire nonprofit arts and culture industry.

Is it still true that Wisconsin is near the bottom of the 50 states for public funding for the arts?

More on that “extrapolation.” I’m not an economist, but the research methodology relies on an econom-

You can learn more on the specifics by visiting Americans for the Arts website, and reading the FAQ from the AEP6 study.

Unfortunately, yes. The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies has forecasted Wisconsin at 49th place in 2024. We currently sit in 50th at $0.14 per capita of public arts subsidy. Our nearby neighbors far outstrip us: Iowa at $0.32, Indiana at $0.53, Illinois at $0.85, Michigan at $1.18 and Minnesota at $7.62.

Part of Imagine MKE’s focus over the next several years is going to be to try to move the needle on this ranking.

But we can’t do this alone through our advocacy. Elected officials need to see that their constituents demand more support for the arts and creative industries. You can help by using your voice to applaud and show support for civic investment in the arts—like the forthcoming Vel Phillips Plaza initiative in Milwaukee, for example—and raising your voice to call for more arts projects and funding. An excellent way to do this is to sign up for our newsletter; you will then hear from us with arts news, stories, and events and will be included in future calls to action to promote increased investment in the arts.

David Luhrssen is Managing Editor of the Shepherd Express and was cofounder, with Louis Fortis, of the Milwaukee International Film Festival.

JANUARY 2024 | 17

FOOD & DRINK

Dream Dance Raises the Stakes at Potawatomi Casino

BY SUSAN HARPT GRIMES

O

n the first floor of Potawatomi Casino, nestled amid a colorful, flashy array of slot machines and enticing opportunities to “win big” is the Dream Dance Steakhouse.

Upon entering the restaurant, all of the distractions of the casino floor drift away. The elegantly modern restaurant features a sleek bar room with a stunning passageway of glass and wine bottles that leads to the dining area, softly lit and made up of a mix of stylish curved booths and tables. On a recent visit, the staff was friendly and

18 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

knowledgeable. The steakhouse, which had closed during the Covid shutdown, only just reopened earlier this year with a new head chef and new menu, so if you remember the previous version of Dream Dance, you’ll enjoy the refreshed energy of the space.

The straightforward menu at Dream Dance is focused on high end steak and seafood, as you’d expect from any quality steakhouse.

Begin your meal with a rich starter like the crab cake ($20) that’s loaded with

king and lump crab meat or try the melt-in-your-mouth tender prime steak tartare ($18). If you’d prefer to start a little lighter and save more room for the main event, you may want to go with the Caesar salad ($12) generously topped with delightfully sharp, shaved Pecorino Romano cheese and freshly ground pepper, or order the restorative French onion soup ($12) that hits the jackpot on a chilly winter evening.

TEMPTING ARRAY Dream Dance offers a tempting array of high-quality steaks ($35-$165)

Dream Dance Steakhouse photos by Susan Harpt Grimes. Background photo by RomoloTavani/Getty Images.

sourced from Allen Brothers in Chicago. The bone-in rib-eye ($85-$165) is an impressive piece of meat, perfectly prepared and with just the right amount of crispy char on the edges.

You can also create a decadent surfand-turf by adding a lobster tail ($25), king crab ($110), or other add-ons ($4$16). There are several options for sides as well, like a generous portion of the delicious Brussels sprouts ($14) cooked with roasted garlic and smoky bacon or try the buttery mashed potatoes ($10) made with creamy Yukon golds.

Plus, other sides are available ($10$18). A magnificent seafood tower ($85) loaded with gorgeous lobster, king crab, prawns and oysters, wasn’t tried, but looked amazing as it was delivered to other tables.

Few things pair better with steak and seafood than wine. And the Dream Dance menu features an extensive list of over 200 excellent wines in a wide range of vintages and prices with many available by the glass so you can sample several different types. Beer, liquor, and cocktails are also on offer if wine isn’t to your taste.

For folks on a budget, Dream Dance promotes several specials throughout the week, which will save your wallet and can make for a more manageable date night or special occasion dinner. A Late Night Happy Hour menu in the bar includes slightly less fancy dishes like burgers and duck fat fries, Wine Down Wednesdays offers 50% off selected wines, and a $75 Sunday Dinner for Two is simply an incredible deal. Whenever it is that you choose to visit Dream Dance, you’ll likely leave fully satisfied, with a doggie bag, and a lovely memory of a delightful experience.

DREAM DANCE STEAKHOUSE 1721 W. Canal Street (414) 847-7883 paysbig.com/restaurants/ dream-dance-steakhouse Handicapped Accessible: Yes Reservations: Yes • $$-$$$$

Susan Harpt Grimes is a regular contributor to shepherdexpress.com.

JANUARY 2024 | 19

FOOD & DRINK FLASH IN THE PAN

KO’D BY EGGPLANT

Photo by Ari LeVaux.

BY ARI LEVAUX

I

mam Bayildi is an eggplant dish named for its ability to separate a man from his consciousness. The Turkish phrase means, “the imam fainted,” and the implication is that the decadent and aromatic experience of eating this glorious dish knocked the imam out cold.

There are other theories for the origin of the name, such as the iman fainted when he realized how much olive oil his wife used making it. Or maybe it’s a reference to the some somewhat potentially psychoactive business going on. Eggplant is one of the more enigmatic members of the enigmatic nightshade family, which includes tobacco. Most nightshades are either poisonous, hallucinogenic, medicinal, inflammatory or any combination of the above, depending on the dosage. Eggplant, tomato, potato and pepper are pretty much the only edible species in this family, and they have small amounts of nicotine and other alkaloids, a type of molecule that’s diversely represented in the nightshade family. While tomatoes, potatoes and peppers all come from the Americas, the enigmatic eggplant was domesticated in Asia. So maybe the imam got a weird eggplant?

My friend Ray Risho is a Syrian American chef, restaurateur and lifelong scholar of Old World cuisines. He grew up in an eggplant-friendly household in 1950s Providence, R.I. When in season, he brings home armloads of the classic fat, purple eggplant from the farmers market, and prepares them in various ancient, succulent, fragrant ways. Risho’s rendition of Imam Bayildi will make you bliss out, if not pass out.

The trick, aside from unholy amounts of XVOO, is Baharat spice blend. Being a black belt in spice blending, Risho mixes his own, but it’s available online and in most Middle Eastern stores. When purchasing Baharat or any spice mix, Risho advises, read the ingredient label carefully. You only want the spices, no flour, salt, sugar, oil or any other filler that would dilute the impact. You can add salt later.

“The idea is to get the onions, tomatoes and eggplant to melt,” Risho said. Like the imam, we presume. He lays eggplant halves in a cast iron skillet, blankets them with an onion and tomato mix that’s heavily seasoned with Baharat, then bakes the skillet, covered, until its contents are a savory pudding.

When it’s done the kitchen will fill with Baharat aerosol, and you will have to restrain yourself to let it cool to a reasonable temperature, so you don’t burn your mouth.

Room temperature or slightly warm is perfect.

20 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

IMAM BAYILDI The Baharat spices are magical in Imam Bayildi, pulling it together into a tightly woven yet luxuriously soft magic carpet ride of a meal.

Serves 6 • 2 lbs. eggplant, trimmed and sliced in half lengthwise • 1 lb. tomatoes cut into ribs (see below) • 1 lb. onion cut into half ribs • 2 tablespoons Baharat (recipe next page) • 1 cup extra virgin olive oil • 3 teaspoons salt • 1 tablespoon tamarind paste • 1 tablespoon dried mint • 1 head garlic, chopped coarsely • ¼ cup lemon juice Slice off a thin piece of skin on the underside of each eggplant half so it sits flat. Fill a cast iron pan or other baking dish with eggplant halves, trimming as necessary so they fit in the pan as snuggly as possible with no empty spaces. If there are lots of gaps, cut up an eggplant to pieces that fit. With a sharply pointed knife, score a crosshatch pattern into the up-facing sides of the eggplants, about a quarter inch deep, so the cut halves look like they have been overlaid with graph paper.

To make onion ribs, cut an unpeeled onion in half from end to end, and lay one of the halves flatside down. Slice off both ends, slip off the skin, and slice thinly along the axis between the two trimmed ends. Finally, make one slice across the middle, 90 degrees from the others, so all the ribs get cut in half. Cut the tomatoes to ribs, but don’t cut them in half.

Combine the tomatoes and onions. Add the salt, olive oil, Baharat powder, lemon juice, garlic, mint and tamarind syrup, then stir it into a caramel-hued mix. Spread this mix evenly atop the eggplant. Bake covered at 350 for two hours. It should be succulent and soft but not collapsed and mushy.

Tiled pattern by Tabitazn/Getty Images.

BAHARAT Imam Bayildi is hardly the only dish this mix will spice up. It’s used in dishes throughout the Mediterranean and the Arabian Peninsula.

Makes ½ cup • 1 tablespoon whole cumin seed • 1 tablespoon peppercorns • 1 tablespoon coriander • 1 tablespoon cloves • 2 tablespoons nutmeg • 2 tablespoons paprika • ½ teaspoon cinnamon • ½ teaspoon cardamom Toast the cumin, peppercorns, coriander, cloves and cardamom in a dry pan. Grind and mix with the other ingredients.

Ari LeVaux has written about food for The Atlantic Online, Outside Online and Alternet.

JANUARY 2024 | 21

FOOD & DRINK BEVERAGES

The Great Winter Wine IF I SAY TO YOU PROVENCE, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF?

BY GAETANO MARANGELLI

Photo by Kotkoa/Getty Images.

A

painting of Mont Sainte Victoire by Paul Cézanne or of Arles by Vincent Van Gogh? A travel diary by an expatriate American who discovers themself in a rural village near Roussion or Avignon or Aix-en-Provence?

A morning idyll with vistas of lavender fields? A déjeuner with glasses of local rosé in the hilltop village of Les Bauxde-Provence? A languorous afternoon on a beach of the Côte d'Azur? Yes, all of those summery images may say Provence to us, but Provence is also the region of the greatest of all winter wines. The Provence of our images is also the Provence of Bandol Rouge, a brooding, occasionally ferocious and seriously ageworthy wine which is the antithesis of playful and flirtatious Provençal rosé.

22 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

Bandol Rouge is grown in small quantities in the limestone hills near the village of Bandol, east of Marseille and west of Toulon in the south of France. The wine is primarily made with a grape called mourvèdre, which yields small quantities of dark, tannic juice from small, sweet, black berries.

The best Bandol estates use far more mourvèdre in their wines than the region’s regulated minimum of fifty percent tells them to. Mourvèdre is what makes Bandol Rouge ferocious when young. Mourvèdre is also what allows Bandol Rouge to evolve into its cultivated beauty.

The majority of the world’s vines of the variety are still in Spain, where it is one of the country’s most planted red wine grapes. Whether you call the variety monastrell or mourvèdre, the grape needs a hot, dry climate because its vines ripen late in the growing season. In the hotter climates of southern Spain, monastrell develops early, with a soft, quaffable quality. In the Bandol district of the region of Provence, the variety finds its ideal terroir. Monastrell from Spain can be lovely and delicious, but it doesn’t have the complex nature of mourvèdre from Bandol.

Mourvèdre came to France from Spain, where it is called monastrell. The grape origins may be in the Levante, which is the far east region of Ibera along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

The wine made by Bandol’s mourvèdre vines begins life as a tough creature, with gamey aromas you may love or loathe. The winegrowers of the appellation add grenache and cinsault

SPICE TO THE BOUQUET

to soften their mourvèdre, which asks for years of aging to resolve its tannins and reveal its layered aromas and flavors of leather and tar. An estate called Chateau Pradeaux is the standard-bearer for the appellation. Its flagship Bandol Rouge is composed of no less than 95% old vines mourvèdre, with grenache adding spice to the bouquet and leavening its structure.

The Chateau ages its Bandol Rouge for over four years in large wood barrels.

Chateau Pradeaux also bottles a Bandol Rouge called Le Lys, which is made from 85% young vines mourvèdre, along with grenache and cinsault, and aged for two years in large oak casks.

Le Lys has the characteristic Bandol Rouge qualities of leather and tar, and the wine is serious and layered, but it’s friendlier and juicier than the Chateau’s flagship bottling. It’s a perfect way to begin discovering Bandol Rouge.

COTES DE PROVENCE, FRANCE

Photo by Max Labeille/Getty Images.

BAUX DE PROVENCE, FRANCE

But if you’d rather dream about summer than dwell in winter, Château Pradeaux makes a gorgeous Bandol Rosé composed of cinsault and mourvèdre. It may be the richest of all of the seemingly infinite rosés of Provence, with a round, full body and a floral bouquet. It evokes the perfume of lavender fields, the surf of the Côte d'Azur, and the taste of all of those paintings by Cezanne and Van Gogh.

Gaetano Marangelli is a sommelier and playwright. He was the managing director of a wine import and distribution company in New York and beverage director for restaurants and retailers in New York and Chicago before moving to Wauwatosa.

Photo by barmalini/Getty Images.

JANUARY 2024 | 23

SPECIAL BEST OF MILWAUKEE

PRESENTED BY SHEPHERD E XPRESS

ARTS & ENTE RTAI N M ENT ART & CRAFT FAIR/ MAKERS MARKET

MILWAUKEE MAKERS MARKET

milwaukeemakersmarket.com Milwaukee Makers Market champions local Milwaukee artists, creators, designers and seasoned crafters to celebrate the city’s small businesses. This one-stopshop experience creates an inclusive environment for local Makers to showcase their talent and connect with the Milwaukee community. For more information, visit milwaukeemakersmarket.com, or follow Milwaukee Makers Market on Facebook or Instagram. (Sophia Hamdan)

FINALISTS:

• Hovercraft • Milwaukee Night Market • re:Craft & Relic

24 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

ART GALLERY (NON-MUSEUM)

ART MUSEUM

SAINT KATE THE ARTS HOTEL

MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM

139 E. Kilbourn saintkatearts.com Where else could you find a life-size horse made out of sticks and branches? And that’s just in the hotel lobby. There are various galleries to choose from at the St. Kate and some exhibits include interactive displays. Perfect for a staycation!

(Harry Cherkinian)

FINALISTS:

• Marn Art + Culture Hub • Sadler Gallery • Var Gallery

700 N. Art Museum Drive mam.org In addition to a permanent collection spanning the ancient world through the post-moderns, MAM hosts major visiting exhibitions as well as eclectic and often multi-media programming. The soaring spikes of the museum’s Santiago Calatrava addition have become Milwaukee’s symbol—and you can’t beat that heated underground parking garage on cold and rainy days. (David Luhrssen)

FINALISTS:

• Grohmann Museum • Haggerty Museum of Art • Warehouse Art Museum

ARTS & ENTE RTAI N M ENT CHORAL GROUP

MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY CHORUS

mso.org The Milwaukee Symphony Chorus is known across the country for its technical ability and cohesion as an ensemble. The choir is composed of not only musicians, but teachers, lawyers, students and more.

The 2023-24 season has included works from composers like Debussy, Handel, and Beethoven. (Elizabeth Lintonen)

FINALISTS:

• Bach Chamber Choir • Master Singers of Milwaukee • Sacra Nova Chorale

CLASSICAL MUSIC ENSEMBLE

MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA The MSO’s home in the Bradley Symphony Center, a grand artifact of the Art Deco era hidden away for decades like an urban mystery, transports the concert experience into an era of cultural splendor. This befits an organization that, by its nature, mines a cultural treasure trove of the past while attracting an audience distracted by myriad 21st century entertainment possibilities. (Kevin Lynch)

FINALISTS:

• Bach Chamber Choir • Milwaukee Musaik • Wisconsin Philharmonic

COMEDIAN

CHARLIE BERENS

charlieberens.com Charlie Berens, the Midwest comedy king, his sets filled with tales of supper club cocktails and overuse of the word ‘ope,’ is also an award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author.

Between hosting the Manitowoc Minute and writing his new book The Midwest Survival Guide, Berens stays busy as the cornerstone of Midwest humor.

(Elizabeth Lintonen)

FINALISTS:

• Carly Malison • Dana Ehrmann • David Louis

COMMUNITY FESTIVAL

BAY VIEW BASH

bayviewbash.org In the city of festivals, each year we try to stuff as much action into whatever passes for good weather as we can.

Run entirely by volunteers, the Bay View Bash takes place on the third Saturday each September on Kinnickinnic Avenue,

turning the neighborhood into a family friendly rollicking street party. On the handful of stages, you’ll hear local and national music artists. Jugglers, food trucks, acrobats, strongmen and vendors abound. (Blaine Schultz)

FINALISTS:

• Bastille Days • Franksville Food Truck Festival • Lakefront Maifest Gluten-Free Friendly Festival • Summerfest

DANCE COMPANY

MILWAUKEE BALLET

milwaukeeballet.org Under the leadership of Artistic Director Michael Pink, Milwaukee Ballet has grown into a world-respected dance company on the strength of original productions such as Pink’s Dracula and his new reimagining of The Nutcracker.

Featured in the second half of the current season are the winners of MB’s international choreography contest, “Genesis.”

(David Luhrssen)

FINALISTS:

• Danceworks, Inc. • Warped Studios • Water Street Dance Milwaukee

LAKEFRONT FESTIVAL

SUMMERFEST

200 N. Harbor Drive summerfest.com Milwaukee’s premier music festival and outdoor venue puts the “summer” in the festival setting. The internationally known—and renowned—music fest features every type of music and entertainment possible under the sun, the moon and the stars. In fact, that’s the best way to enjoy it. (Harry Cherkinian)

FINALISTS:

• German Fest • Irish Fest • Polish Fest • PrideFest

LOCAL RADIO PERSONALITY

KENNY PEREZ

Kenny Perez is a radio staple at Radio Milwaukee, known for versatile music sets and his eclectic DJ style. Perez has a palpable passion for the art of radio, and his appreciation of live music and contagious humor make him a community DJ like no other. (Elizabeth Lintonen)

FINALISTS:

ETHNIC FESTIVAL

• Don Black • Chris Treater • Jayx

IRISH FEST

LOCAL TV PERSONALITY

irishfest.com Visible during the BBC’s TV coverage of Shane MacGowan’s funeral was a busker’s guitar case with a Milwaukee Irish Fest sticker—just another testimony to the festival’s position as the world’s great gathering of Irish music. The 2024 fest runs Aug 15-18 on the Summerfest grounds. (David Luhrssen)

FINALISTS:

• Black Arts Fest MKE • German Fest • Mexican Fiesta

MARK BADEN

WISN-TV Chief Meteorologist Mark Baden has been providing weather forecasts at the ABC affiliate for the past 26 years. And in that time, he has amassed numerous local and regional awards including Emmys. But he’s also known for his charitable work with children’s organizations, including Children’s Hospital and Neighborhood House. (Harry Cherkinian

FINALISTS:

ILLUSIONIST/MAGICIAN

• Brian Kramp • Rob Haswell • Ted Perry

LUKA LIVE

MILWAUKEE AUTHOR

lukalive.com For over a decade, magician-mentalist-deception artist Luka has been combining his dry, sarcastic humor with modern magic. Praised by the likes of “Weird Al” Yankovic and Packer Hall of Famer Antonio Freeman, it’s no trick that Luka has pulled this award out of his hat.

(Benjamin Drover)

FINALISTS:

• Glen Gerard • Lonesome Bill Walker • Two Brothers One Mind

JOHN GURDA

For decades, John Gurda has provided Milwaukeeans with a tour of our city’s history through his books and PBS programs. Who knew that he also conducted actual tours of the city’s historic sites?

His side gig as tour guide is the subject of his latest book, John Gurda’s Milwaukee.

(David Luhrssen)

FINALISTS:

• Christopher Chan • David Luhrssen • Wes Manko

JANUARY 2024 | 25

SPECIAL BEST OF MILWAUKEE

ARTS & ENTE RTAI N M ENT MOVIE THEATER

ORIENTAL THEATRE MKE

2230 N. Farwell Ave. mkefilm.org Milwaukee is fortunate in having two surviving movie palaces from Hollywood’s golden age. One of them, the Oriental, has long enjoyed special status among film buffs as the place to see indie films, foreign films and classics. The expensive renovations of the past years have restored the beautifully detailed orientalist interior. (David Luhrssen)

FINALISTS:

• Avalon Atmospheric Theater • Landmark's Downer Theatre • Marcus Majestic Cinema

MUSEUM (NON-ART)

MILWAUKEE PUBLIC MUSEUM

800 W. Wells St. mpm.edu MPM’s familiar structure will be replaced by a five-story building with a green rooftop terrace that includes an enclosed butterfly garden. Five permanent galler-

ies and related exhibits with distinctive themes are expected to incorporate several of the dioramas and collections visitors of the current museum are familiar with, in new and modern ways.

(Susan Harpt Grimes)

FINALISTS:

• America's Black Holocaust Museum • Discovery World • Harley-Davidson Museum

MUSIC EDUCATION

MILWAUKEE YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA myso.org The Milwaukee Youth Symphony is one of the largest youth orchestras in the country, with opportunities for young people to grow their musical skills at a high level. With a variety of ensembles available including jazz, steel pan bands, and symphony training, MYSO cultivates the growth of many young musicians from the Milwaukee area and beyond.

(Elizabeth Lintonen)

FINALISTS:

• Be Sound Music • Milwaukee Jazz Institute • Wisconsin Conservatory of Music

OUTDOOR MUSIC SERIES

CHILL ON THE HILL

bayviewneighborhood.org/ chill-on-the-hill It’s not difficult to find outdoor music in Milwaukee when the weather is nice. Yet, Humboldt Park’s Chill on Hill seems to have a magnetic pull. Each week acts like Dick Satan Trio’s playboy instrumental rock, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, folkie Joseph Huber or the rockabilly of The Grovelers take over the bandshell at Humboldt Park. The namesake hill becomes a place to gather, and I guess you’d say “chill.” Pack a picnic, head for the food trucks, grab a beer or glass of wine at the nearby Vine or dance to the music. (Blaine Schultz)

FINALISTS:

• Franksville Craft Beer Garden • Jazz In The Park • SoLu Estate Winery & Meadery

RADIO STATION

88NINE RADIO MILWAUKEE

220 E. Pittsburgh Ave. radiomilwaukee.org Radio Milwaukee champions Milwaukee’s art, music and cultural scene with emphasis on fostering inclusion and engagement in the community. In a celebration of all Milwaukee has to offer, the radio station promises to explore and unite the city’s diverse population in the latest stories, music, podcasts and more.

(Sophia Hamdan)

FINALISTS:

• 1130 WISN • 91.7 WMSE-FM • Jammin' 98.3 WJMR-FM

STAGE ACTOR

MATT DANIELS

Watching Matt Daniels perform on stage is watching a highly talented actor “disappear” into the role of whatever he’s playing. Be it the proper and very clever manservant Jeeves to that most infamous of misers Ebenezer Scrooge, Matt does it all—and infinitely more.

Milwaukee theater goers heartily agree.

(Harry Cherkinian)

FINALISTS:

• Dimonte Henning • Rae Pare • Tommy Hahn

THEATER COMPANY

MILWAUKEE REPERTORY THEATER

milwaukeerep.com The Rep is recognized as a leading regional theater in the U.S. for the quality of its productions as well as its commitment to equity, diversity and new play development. The second half of the 2023-24 season includes adaptations of the classics (Little Women), entertaining comedies (Guys on Ice) and thought-provoking drama (What the Constitution Means to Me) (David Luhrssen)

FINALISTS:

• First Stage • Next Act Theatre • Skylight Music Theatre

26 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

JANUARY 2024 | 27

SPECIAL BEST OF MILWAUKEE

C IT Y CO N F I D ENTIAL LOCAL ACTIVIST

LOCAL PODCAST

MILWAUKEEAN OF THE YEAR

VAUN MAYES

RADIO FREE GALAXY

SYMPHONY SWAN

The leader of the Community Task Force is a powerful presence, strong and resolute. Yet now and then a gentle quality blooms, especially around the young people he mentors. “We need to get our youth off the streets and involved in more positive activities, provide them with mentorship,” Mayes said. (Tom Jenz)

FINALISTS:

• Brad Schlaikowski • Deisy Espana • Peter Burgelis

LOCAL CHARACTER

CHARLIE BERENS

charlieberens.com Charlie Berens, the Midwest comedy king, his sets filled with tales of supper club cocktails and overuse of the word ‘ope,’ is also an award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author.

Between hosting the Manitowoc Minute and writing his new book The Midwest Survival Guide, Berens stays busy as the cornerstone of Midwest humor.

(Elizabeth Lintonen)

FINALISTS:

• Art Kumbalek • Dear Ruthie • Isaiah Funderburke & Nerissa Kaiming • Milverine

LOCAL ENTREPRENEUR

RYAN LAESSIG

milwaukeemakersmarket.com Ryan Laessig, owner of Milwaukee Makers Market and founder of Milwaukee Alt., set out to create Milwaukee Makers Market in 2015. The Market continues to thrive in the local art scene and fuel Laessig’s creative passion. His ambition as a Maker and entrepreneur reflects his artistic prowess and genuine support for Milwaukee’s small business community.

(Sophia Hamdan)

FINALISTS: • Geoff Hoen • Noel Kegel • Scott Noll

Radio Free Galaxy is a podcast network with a vision to give everyone a voice to speak about their passions. Movies, music games, television—interviews with the coolest bands or argue about Star Wars for a couple hours—it is all here.

(Blaine Schultz)

FINALISTS:

• 2 Familiar Podcast • Bridge the City • Tell Them You Mean Business

MILWAUKEE ALDERPERSON

MARINA DIMITRIJEVIC

Dimitrijevic has a long record of public service. In 2004 she became the youngest woman ever elected to the county board and became the board’s chairwoman in 2012. The longtime Bay View resident has represented her district on the common council since 2020. She is a champion for building a stronger community through environmentalism, inclusion and economic development. (David Luhrssen)

FINALISTS:

• JoCasta Zamarripa • Jonathan Brostoff • Mark Borkowski

MILWAUKEE COUNTY SUPERVISOR

RYAN CLANCY

Ryan Clancy was a Peace Corps volunteer and political activist. He taught in Milwaukee Public Schools before entering politics, becoming the first democratic socialist elected to office in Milwaukee since the 1950s. Clancy has been an advocate for public education and prison reform. (David Luhrssen

FINALISTS:

• Liz Sumner • Marcelia Nicholson • Peter Burgelis

FINALISTS:

• Hazel Jones • Ryan Laessig

MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESS

TWISTED PLANTS

Multiple Locations twistedplants.com Plant Vibes, the latest concept by Twisted Plants owners Arielle and Brandon Hawthorne, opened at Sherman Phoenix, Twisted Plants still serves their vegan comfort foods at two brick-and-mortar locations in Cudahy and Milwaukee’s East Side, with a third planned for West Allis.

Their food truck also appears at events throughout the area. (Sheila Julson)

FINALISTS:

• Artery Ink • Funky Fresh Spring Rolls • Paw Perfecta

MOST BELOVED POLITICIAN

TAMMY BALDWIN

As our U.S. Senator, Baldwin has pushed to lower prescription drug prices and extend high-quality health care for all; she has advocated for veterans and dairy farmers and for holding Wall Street accountable for leveraging our lives. (David Luhrssen

FINALISTS:

MILWAUKEE INFLUENCER

• Peter Burgelis • Ron Johnson • Tony Evers

DJ SHAWNA

MOST DESPISED POLITICIAN

Shawna Nicols, or DJ Shawna, is the official DJ of the Milwaukee Bucks, and has been the opener for a variety of famed artists, from Lizzo to Jonas Blue. The former professional athlete is also a motivational speaker, author, and podcast host whose personal mission is spreading love and positivity throughout the community.

(Elizabeth Lintonen)

FINALISTS:

• Christopher Novak • Discover Milwaukee • JMatt

28 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

Symphony Swan is an interdisciplinary artist who specializes in painting, printmaking, photo and film. Swan’s work focuses on themes of community and femininity, with an emphasis on motherhood and lived experience as a Black woman.

She is also the cofounder of BlankSpace MKE, an urban arts co-operative that works with creatives throughout the city.

(Elizabeth Lintonen

RON JOHNSON

Johnson looked genuinely stunned by almost losing to Mandela Barnes. Guess he doesn’t realize how disliked he is. He’s kept quiet since the election, but don’t forget: he spread the Big Lie of Trump’s victory, voted for tax cuts benefitting himself, denied the science of climate change and opposed raising the minimum wage. (David Luhrssen)

FINALISTS:

• Bob Donovan • Robin Vos • Tony Evers

C IT Y CO N F I D ENTIAL MOST TRUSTED PUBLIC OFFICIAL

PHILANTHROPIST

TONY EVERS

BADER PHILANTHROPIES

During the turbulent months of Covid and the Kenosha unrest, Tony Evers remained the calm voice of reason amidst the shouted slogans, paranoia and feverish attempts to politicize everything. He’s the picture of a good public servant, unflashy and focused on the public interest.

(David Luhrssen)

FINALISTS:

• Chris Larson • Mandela Barnes • Marina Dimitrijevic

NON-PROFIT/HUMAN SERVICES ORGANIZATION

COURAGE MKE

1544 S. Sixth St. couragemke.org Founded in 2015 by foster parents Brad and Nick Schlaikowski in their own home, Courage MKE Provides housing for displaced LGBTQ+ youth as well as scholarships four post high school education.

Forty percent of homeless young adults identify as LGBTQ+. And as many age out of the foster system, Courage MKE has a second location currently in the works.

(Harry Cherkinian)

FINALISTS:

• Ex Fabula • Ignite The Spirit • Mattie's Memory

ORGANIZATION SUPPORTING VETERANS

MILWAUKEE HOMELESS VETERANS INITIATIVE

6300 W. National Ave. mhvivets.org MHVI was founded and is currently still run by veterans that help homeless and at-risk veterans by providing services that help them regain a sense of independence. From providing household items as well as non-perishable foods, the organization strives to support and collaborate with other veterans organizations wherever possible. (Harry Cherkinian)

FINALISTS:

• Dryhootch Coffeehouse • Float Milwaukee • Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce (WVCC)

3300 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive bader.org Bader Philanthropies’ location on North MLK since 2018 may offer a clue to the organizations’ commitment to helping the city of Milwaukee. Likewise, Frank Cumberbatch, vice president for engagement at Bader Philanthropies, summed the philosophy up neatly saying, “People need a decent place to live in order to focus on their growth.” Bader’s grants and programs related investments in a variety of areas that focus on making life better for people living in neighborhoods in Milwaukee, rural Wisconsin and around the world. (Blaine Schultz)

FINALISTS:

• David & Julie Uihlein • Katie Heil

PLACE TO PICK UP THE SHEPHERD EXPRESS

COLECTIVO COFFEE

Multiple locations colectivocoffee.com With its warm ambiance and the sweet aroma of coffee, Colectivo creates an ideal atmosphere to read the Shepherd Express. Their coffee is roasted on-site at the Riverwest location, ensuring fresh, locally sourced coffee. Pair your cup with their many delicious artisan breads, pastries and croissants, made with quality ingredients. It’s truly a Milwaukee fan favorite. (Sophia Hamdan)

FINALISTS:

• Metro Market • Outpost Natural Foods - Bay View • Pick n Save

PLACE TO WORK FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE

URBAN ECOLOGY CENTER

Multiple Locations uuanecologycenter.org A nonprofit that began by cleaning parks in 1991, the Urban Ecology Center educates Milwaukee about the environment, conservation, sustainability and other issues related to urban ecology while highlighting the city’s natural assets.

Their programs for adults and children promote environmental stewardship.

(Sheila Julson)

PLACE TO WORK FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE

ACLU-WISCONSIN

aclu-wi.org The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has a mission statement to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. The organization remains in demand and active now as much as ever. (Blaine Schultz

FINALISTS:

• Ex Fabula • Milwaukee Turners • UBUNTU Research & Evaluation

STATE LEGISLATOR

CHRIS LARSON

Chris Larson has been a strong champion for social justice in the state senate and a highly respected senator. Larson served on the Milwaukee County board before his election to the Wisconsin state senate in 2010, representing the area of Milwaukee County along the lakeshore.

As a senator, he has held leadership positions in the Democratic caucus and has authored bills to advance tenants’ rights and prison reform. (David Luhrssen)

FINALISTS:

• Evan Goyke • Robyn Vining • Ryan Clancy

WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESS

FLOUR GIRL & FLAME

8121 W. National Ave. flourgirlandflame.com Flour Girl & Flame is a rustic, homestyle wood-fired pizza restaurant whose owners want to encourage inclusion throughout the farming community. They feel strongly about making sure everyone has the opportunity to work as a farmer, grower or producer. In the summer, they offer farm-fresh food, and in the winter, they can be found making pizzas and delicious appetizers at their West Allis location. (Elizabeth Lintonen)

FINALISTS:

• Artery Ink • FIFTH-MAIN • For The Love of Drax • Front Runner Chiropractic

FINALISTS:

• Advanced Ionics • Auburn Supply Group • Milwaukee Riverkeeper

JANUARY 2024 | 29

SPECIAL BEST OF MILWAUKEE

LO C ALLY- OW N E D FOO D – R ETAI L ARTISANAL CHEESE / CHEESE SELECTION / SAUSAGE SHOP

WEST ALLIS CHEESE & SAUSAGE SHOPPE

6832 W. Becher St., West Allis westallischeese.com Looking beyond sliced cheddar and processed cheese? West Allis Cheese & Sausage has a wide selection with many specialty items. Goat Gouda? You can find it here. The busy café adjacent to the Shoppe has great breakfasts, sandwiches and—look for it as the special du jour— cheese soup. (David Luhrssen)

FINALISTS ARTISANAL CHEESE:

• Alpinage Cheese • Clock Shadow Creamery • The Village Cheese Shop

BAKERY

ROCKET BABY BAKERY

6822 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa rocketbabybakery.com Crusty loaves of freshly baked bread, tantalizing pastries, croissants, cookies, and many more tasty delights await you at Rocket Baby. They even make specialty dog biscuits to treat your four-legged friends! It is pretty hard to resist expertly made-from-scratch baked goods, and Rocket Baby does a beautiful job making theirs utterly irresistible.

(Susan Harpt Grimes)

FINALISTS:

• Aggie's Bakery & Cake Shop • Bakehouse 23 • BB Cakes Bakery

FINALISTS CHEESE SELECTION:

BEER SELECTION / LIQUOR STORE

• Alpinage Cheese • Sendik's Food Market • Widmer's Cheese Cellars

FINALISTS SAUSAGE SHOP:

• Bunzel's Meat Market • Karl's Country Market • South Milwaukee Sausage and Meats

BACON

NUESKE'S APPLEWOOD SMOKED MEAT

203 N. Genesee St., Wittenberg nueskes.com Nueske’s Bacon is beloved by true bacon connoisseurs everywhere. Made from a lean cut of pork that’s slowly smoked over applewood, yields a wonderfully meaty bacon loaded with a delicious smoky aroma. When it’s cooked to crispy perfection, Nueske’s elevates everything it’s paired with, from humble breakfasts to mouth-watering burgers.

(Susan Harpt Grimes) • • • •

FINALISTS:

Becher Meats Bunzel's Meat Market Held's Meat and Cheese Market Usinger's Famous Sausage

DISCOUNT LIQUOR INC.

Multiple locations discountliquorinc.com If you can’t find it at Discount Liquor, it probably can’t be found in Milwaukee.

They stock some 2,00 import, craft and domestic beers and more than 8,000 wines from many countries around the globe. More than 4,000 varieties of spirits from national and local distillers line the shelves. (David Luhrssen)

FINALISTS BEER SELECTION:

• 1840 Brewing Company • Consumer Outlet Beverage • Ray's Wine & Spirits • • • •

FINALISTS LIQUOR STORE: Bert's Beer & Liquor Consumer Outlet Beverage Ray's Wine & Spirits Siegel's Liquor

BRATWURST / SAUSAGE

USINGER'S FAMOUS SAUSAGE

1030 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive usinger.com What would an outdoor gathering in Wisconsin be without a grill loaded down with brats and sausages? Thankfully, that is something we may never have to discover as Milwaukee is home to one of the best, longest operating, family-owned purveyors of bratwurst and sausages around. Since1880 the Usinger family sausage recipes have been an integral part of picnics, ball games, and festivals for generations of Milwaukeeans.

(Susan Harpt Grimes)

FINALISTS BRATWURST AND SAUSAGE:

• Bunzel's Meat Market • Karl's Country Market • South Milwaukee Sausage and Meats 30 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

BUTCHER SHOP / MEAT SELECTION / HOME COOKING MEAL KITS

BUNZEL'S MEAT MARKET

9015 W. Burleigh St. bunzels.com Generations of Milwaukee cooks have made Bunzel’s their go-to spot for high quality meats. Shoppers will only find the freshest cuts of chicken, beef, pork, and more, here. The well-stocked meat case is a tempting array of “what to make for dinner” solutions. Whether it’s delicious sausages for the grill, weeknight fajitas, or a fancy dinner, Bunzel’s will make any mealtime special. (Susan Harpt Grimes)

FINALISTS BUTCHER SHOP AND MEAT SELECTION:

• Becher Meats • Ray's Butcher Shoppe • South Milwaukee Sausage and Meats

FINALISTS HOME COOKING MEAL KITS:

• A to Z Dinners • Freshchef Meal Prep • The Real Good Life

CHEESE CURDS

CLOCK SHADOW CREAMERY

138 W. Bruce St. clockshadowcreamery.com Cheese curds are a favorite among Milwaukeeans. And while there’s so many different types and preparations for this beloved Wisconsin favorite, it’s the Clock Shadow curds that come out on top. Is it “the squeak” that comes from their fresh curds? There’s only one way to find out.

Pick some up. And listen. Then of course, munch away. (Harry Cherkinian)

FINALISTS:

• Hill Valley Dairy LLC • West Allis Cheese & Sausage Shoppe • Widmer's Cheese Cellars

CHOCOLATIER

FREESE'S CANDY SHOPPE

7312 W. Greenfield Ave. freescandy.com You had us at the word “chocolate.” But at Freese’s Candy Shoppe, the choices are (thankfully) endless. Perhaps the deliciousness factor lies in the family recipes. Or the unique one-of-a-kind creations like Brandy Old-Fashioned Smore On-a-stick—the perfect “swizzle stick” to accompany the famous state beverage.

(Harry Cherkinian)

FINALISTS:

• Indulgence Chocolatiers • Kilwins Milwaukee Bayshore • Melt Chocolates, Ltd.

LO C ALLY- OW N E D FOO D – R ETAI L CRAFT BEER

FARMERS MARKET

LAKEFRONT BREWERY

WEST ALLIS FARMERS MARKET

1872 N. Commerce St. lakefrontbrewery.com Lakefront’s hospitality is legendary, and so are their beers and an extensive restaurant menu with everything from Friday fish fry and cheese curds to mac & cheese, brats and kielbasa. Don’t miss their famous brewery tour! (Barry Houlehen)

FINALISTS:

• Eagle Park Brewing Company • OPE! Brewing Co. • Vennture Brew Co.

CUPCAKES

AGGIE'S BAKERY & CAKE SHOP

7328 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis aggiesbakery.com Aggie’s Bakery & Cake Shop has been dubbed “Metro Milwaukee’s #1 Cake Shop” and with good reason. The West Allis staple offers specialized cakes for every occasion, with more than enough options for any bakery lover to enjoy.

The family owned and operated business has a long history of handcrafted pastries going back generations.

(Elizabeth Lintonen) • • • •

FINALISTS:

Bakehouse 23 Classy Girl Cupcakes Cupkate Jen's Sweet Treats

DISTILLED SPIRITS

GREAT LAKES DISTILLERY & TASTING ROOM

616 W. Virginia St. greatlakesdistillery.com Fact: Great Lakes Distillery is Wisconsin’s first distillery since Prohibition.

Fun: its tours and the big wind-up ... it’s Tasting Room. GLD has been making distilled spirits in small batches including its award-winning Rehorst Vodka, Gin, Citrus Honey Vodka, Roaring Dan's Rum, Kinnickinnic Whiskey, Amerique 1912 Absinthe Verte & Absinthe Rouge.

(Harry Cherkinian)

FINALISTS:

• Bass Bay Brewhouse • Central Standard Crafthouse & Kitchen & Craft Distillery • Twisted Path Distillery

6501 W. National Ave., West Allis Farmers markets were once rare in Milwaukee, but since 1919, the West Allis Farmers Market has been bringing produce from the farm into the city. The seasonal market reopens in May and will continue through Thanksgiving.

(David Luhrssen)

FINALISTS:

• Riverwest Farmers Market • South Shore Farmers Market • Tosa Farmers Market

FROZEN PIZZA

SCREAMIN' SICILIAN PIZZA

3301 W. Canal St. screaminsicilian.com You scream, I scream, we all scream for Screamin’ Sicilian frozen pizza. And while they have all the familiar combos, go outside your familiar “pizza zone” and try the Bacon-Roni, Bessie’s Revenge, Boss Hog or the Mambo Italiano. With so much to choose from, it’s a great excuse to go back and try them all. (Harry Cherkinian)

FINALISTS:

stations. Woodman’s is the kind of place where you can find that one elusive ingredient that no one else seems to stock.

(Susan Harpt Grimes)

FINALISTS:

• G. Groppi Food Market • Outpost Natural Foods - Bay View • Sendik's Food Market

GROCERY - ETHNIC / GROCERY GOURMET / TAKE-OUT DELI

GLORIOSO'S ITALIAN MARKET

1101 E. Brady St. gloriosos.com Everything changes, it seems, especially on Brady Street. Yet since 1946 Glorioso's Italian Market has offered a deli counter with made-to-order sandwiches, pasta, pizza and flatbreads, as well as favorites such as gelato, espresso, cheese, fresh sausage and meats, wine and beer. Turns out brothers Joe, Eddie and Teddy Glorioso were onto something.

(Benjamin Dover)

FINALISTS ETHNIC GROCERY:

• El Rey • Jerusalem Market - Halal Meat Middle East Grocery • Ono Kine Grindz

FINALISTS GOURMET GROCERY:

• Cedar Teeth • Flourchild Pizza • Palermo Villa

• Frannie's Market • G. Groppi Food Market • Sendik's Food Market

GOURMET POPCORN

• Bunzel's Meat Market • Hannah’s Kitchen Catering & Events • Ono Kine Grindz

LUSH POPCORN

lushpopcorn.com Marcia Taylor, a biomedical engineer, never intended to start a popcorn business. But when her homemade gourmet popcorn became a hit with friends, family and coworkers, she realized she was on to something. Moving into the space formerly Klinger’s East, Lush has found a home in Riverwest. (Blaine Schultz)

FINALISTS:

• Goody Gourmets • Knights Gourmet Popcorn and Candies • Pop's Kettle Corn

GROCERY - ALL PURPOSE

WOODMAN'S FOOD MARKET

Multiple Locations woodmans-food.com What began as a single shop in Janesville over a century ago has bloomed into a 19-store grocery empire all across Wisconsin and into Illinois. The employee-owned stores feature a huge array of fresh produce, bakery, and meat, plus a large liquor section and even gas

FINALISTS TAKE-OUT DELI:

GROCERY - ORGANIC

OUTPOST NATURAL FOODS - BAY VIEW

2826 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. outpost.coop Outpost has locations in Milwaukee, Mequon and Wauwatosa, but our readers seem to favor Bay View. Located inside a former Sentry store, this Outpost maintains the tradition of the Outpost coop, founded in the ‘70s to spread the word on healthy eating and provide an alternative model of ownership. (David Luhrssen)

FINALISTS:

• Beans & Barley • Fresh Thyme Market • Good Harvest Market

JANUARY 2024 | 31

SPECIAL BEST OF MILWAUKEE

LO C ALLY- OW N E D FOO D – R ETAI L HARD CIDER

SODA

WINE SELECTION

LOST VALLEY CIDER CO.

SPRECHER BREWING CO.

RAY'S WINE & SPIRITS

FINALISTS:

• Discount Liquor Inc • Nonfiction Natural Wines • Waterford Wine & Spirits Milwaukee

408. W. Florida St. lostvalley.com Lost Valley Cider Co. has found the secret to exposing Milwaukee to the flavors of hard cider. With cider flights, seasonally rotating cider cocktails, and over 12 taps specifically for cider, with origins ranging from around the world to a selection brewed in house. Lost Valley also offers gourmet popcorn, kombucha and a rotating beer draft. (Elizabeth Lintonen)

701 W. Glendale Ave. sprecherbrewery.com The name Sprecher is synonymous with beer, Milwaukeeans have also discovered they make a great line of sodas.

Root Beer, Cream, Cheery Cola are nostalgic flavors but there’s also creative updates like the Maple Root Beer and the Blonde-Barrel Aged Root Beer.

(Harry Cherkinian)

FINALISTS:

• Black Bear • Dead Bird Brewing Company • Lakefront Brewery

• Blake's Orchard & Cider Mill • Cache Cider • Pomona Cider Company

HOT HAM & ROLLS

GREBE'S BAKERY

TEA

RISHI TEA & BOTANICALS

5132 W. Lincoln Ave. grebesbakery.com Everyone in Milwaukee knows that Fridays are for fish frys. But, what about Sundays? Sundays are for hot ham and rolls, of course. Two relatively simple things, freshly baked rolls and hot ham slices, pair perfectly together for a quick meal after church or before watching a sporting event. Grebe’s is so well known for this combo, that they offer it Tuesdays - Sundays. (Susan Harpt Grimes)

185 S. 33rd Court rishi-tea.com Loose leaf, bagged, seasonal, organic, you name it. Rishi has it all—and then some since their teas come from around the world. There are chai teas and concentrates, powers, sachets ... this list goes on and on. Choose from teaware, learn the proper temperature to brew tea.

There’s even recipes for cocktails. Teatails anyone? (Harry Cherkinian)

FINALISTS:

• HoneyBee Sage Wellness & Apothecary Cafe • Tippecanoe Herbs and Apothecary • Urbal Tea

• Layton Fruit Market • Peter Sciortino Bakery • South Milwaukee Sausage and Meats

32 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

FINALISTS:

8930 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa rayswine.com For over 60 years, Ray’s has been the go-to place for wine selection with a knowledgeable staff who can help you navigate your options. With over 8,000 wines from all around the globe, you’re sure to find a new or different wine each time you visit. (Susan Harpt Grimes)

FINALISTS:

JANUARY 2024 | 33

SPECIAL BEST OF MILWAUKEE

LO C ALLY- OW N E D R ES TAU R ANT AFRICAN RESTAURANT

BLUE STAR CAFE

1619 N. Farwell Ave. bluestarcafewi.com If you drive too fast down Farwell, you’ll miss this half-hidden local treasure. The small counter service café serves East African dishes Somali style, including savory crepes and sambusas, tender chicken and goat entrees, salmon dishes and some of Milwaukee’s best sandwich-es.

(David Luhrssen)

FINALISTS:

• Alem Ethiopian Village • Ethiopian Cottage Restaurant • Immy's African Cuisine

BAGEL

ALLIE BOY’S BAGELRY & LUNCHEONETTE

135 E. National Ave. allieboysmke.com A few years ago, it was hard to find a good bagel in Milwaukee—that’s a pun because the chain store bagels were often hard as cement. Allie Boy’s Bagelry does it right, with flavors ranging from plain to pumpernickel and plenty of schmears. Carry out or enjoy the airy Walker’s Point ambiance. (David Luhrssen)

FINALISTS:

• Big Apple Bagels • Bruegger's Bagels • Ruby’s Bagels

BAR FOOD

CAMINO

Multiple locations caminomke.com When it comes to bar food, Camino comes up a winner with its mix of classic and contemporary dishes to accompany all those beverages. Try the cabbage pierogi or the chorizo chili for starters.

And then move on to house sausages (ask about the Banger of the Month), wings, sandwiches, and of course, dessert. (Harry Cherkinian)

FINALISTS:

• Crafty Cow • Drunken Cobra Bar & Grill • Pete's Pub

BARBECUE / RIBS

DOUBLE B'S BBQ RESTAURANT

7412 W. Greenfield Ave. Doublebs.com They call themselves “Wisconsin’s best kept secret. “But not anymore. Fans agree that their barbecue is the best.

34 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

This is a family run operation that knows their way around a brisket as well as kielbasa, chicken, pork, ham, you name it. That even includes their own unique take on dessert: smoked pecan pie!

(Harry Cherkinian)

FINALISTS BBQ:

• Heaven's Table BBQ • Smoke Shack • Speed Queen Bar-B-Q

FINALISTS RIBS:

• Juniors Smoked BBQ • Pitch's Lounge & Restaurant • Saz's State House

BREAKFAST / BRUNCH

BLUE'S EGG

317 N. 76th St. bluesegg.com For over a decade, Blue’s Egg has topped “best of” lists for their outstanding breakfasts and brunch offerings. Known for their perfectly poached eggs, stuffed hashbrowns, and variations on eggs benedict, as well as a solid menu of classics.

It should come as no surprise that the popularity of Blue’s Egg may come with a lengthy wait at peak breakfast times, so plan ahead and make a reservation!

(Susan Harpt Grimes)

FINALISTS BREAKFAST:

• Comet Cafe • Ma Fischer's • Uncle Wolfie's Breakfast Tavern

FINALISTS BRUNCH:

• Comet Cafe • Honeypie Cafe • Uncle Wolfie's Breakfast Tavern • Vocado MKE

BUFFET / INDIAN/PAKISTANI RESTAURANT

CAFE INDIA BAY VIEW

2201 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. cafeindiamke.us An Indian restaurant was a welcome addition to the dining options on S. KK, which has become Milwaukee’s restaurant row. Along with the usual South Asian delicacies (and lunch buffet), Café India has a full bar including Indian beer and wine. An enclosed patio provides additional seating. (David Luhrssen)

FINALISTS BUFFET:

• India Garden • Lovers Lane Sushi and Seafood Buffet • Maharaja

FINALISTS INDIAN/ PAKISTANI RESTAURANT: • India Garden • Maharaja • Taste of India

BURGERS / ICE CREAM/FROZEN CUSTARD

KOPP'S FROZEN CUSTARD

Multiple Locations kopps.com Milwaukeeans love burgers, and we love our custard. So, it’s not too much of a surprise that Kopp’s tops the list for both categories. Kopp’s burger offerings stick to the classics - the “jumbo” burger patty, toasted bun, with or without cheese, topped “with the works” or without.

Kopp’s custard selection features two flavors a day on a rotating schedule with creamy and creative mouthwatering options like “Maple Syrup and Pancakes” or “Banana Walnut Chocolate Chunk.”

(Susan Harpt Grimes)

FINALISTS BURGERS:

• Camino • Crafty Cow - Burgers & Fried Chicken • Oscar's Pub & Grill

FINALISTS ICE CREAM/ FROZEN CUSTARD: • Joy Ice Cream Social • Leon's Frozen Custard • Purple Door Ice Cream

BURRITO / TACO

CAFÉ CORAZÓN

Multiple Locations corazonmilwaukee.com Wendy and George Mireles opened the first Café Corazon location in Riverwest in 2009. Today there are additional restaurants in Bay View and Brown Deer. Using locally sourced ingredients the menu offers plenty of options. Entrees like the Taco Truck Dinner and Salmon Burrito are the reason voters made Café Corazón Best of Milwaukee. (Benjamin Dover)

FINALISTS BURITO:

• Guanajuato Mexican Restaurant • Judy’s on North • Tavos Signature Cuisine

FINALISTS TACO:

• BelAir Cantina • Paloma Taco and Tequila • Tavos Signature Cuisine

CARIBBEAN RESTAURANT

CUBANITAS

Multiple Locations getbianchini.com Cubanitas (which means “little Cuban girls” in Spanish) offers the definition of Cuban cuisine. Empanadas. Plantains.

Lechon Asado (pulled pork) and the ever-popular ropa vieja (shredded flank steak with tomato sauce, onions, red and green bell peppers). Of course, there must be specialty drinks like the Cuba Libre!

(Harry Cherkinian)

LO C ALLY- OW N E D R ES TAU R ANT FINALISTS:

FINALISTS:

CENTRAL/SOUTH AMERICAN RESTAURANT

CHICKEN SANDWICH

• McCoco's Restaurants • Mobay Café • Sabor Tropical

CHEF PAZ RESTAURANT

9039 W. National Ave., West Allis chefpaz.com Since she was a little girl, Chef Maritza Paz longed to cook with her mother in the kitchen; Paz grew up in the city of Iquitos, Peru, along the shores of the Amazon River. She believes that the dishes are small works of art which show a little of her personality. Chef Paz specializes in Peruvian cuisine, which combines Incan, African, Japanese, French, German, Spanish and Italian influences. (Blaine Schultz)

FINALISTS:

• Amilinda • Mara's Grill • Triciclo Peru

CHEAP EATS / GREEK RESTAURANT PLACE TO EAT ALONE

OAKLAND GYROS

Multiple Locations oaklandgyros.com It’s nothing fancy but offers generous portions of tasty Greek food at reasonable prices and served up quickly. The formula for the East Side location near UWM was so successful that Oakland Gyros replicated itself on the South Side.

(David Luhrssen)

FINALISTS CHEAP EATS:

• Conejitos Place • Ma Fischer's • Martino's Italian Beef and Hot Dogs

FINALISTS GREEK RESTAURANT: • Apollo Cafe • Cosmos Cafe • Gyros West

FINALISTS PLACE TO EAT ALONE: • Maggio's Wood Fired Pizza • Pete's Pub • Zaffiro's Pizza

CHEF

ADAM PAWLAK

Adam Pawlak’s passion is pasta, among other things. As a local chef, Pawlak owns and operates Egg & Flour Pasta Bar in Bay View. He is committed to bringing a memorable experience to the community with every plate of handcrafted pasta he makes. Pawlak also has been featured on Food Network and in cooking classes at the Milwaukee Public Market.

(Elizabeth Lintonen)

• Anthony Gallarday • Gregory Leon • PJ Carini

CRAFTY COW BURGERS & FRIED CHICKEN

FINALISTS CHINESE RESTAURANT: • Emperor of China • Jing's • Sze Chuan Restaurant

FINALISTS KOREAN RESTAURANT: • Char'd • Maru Korean Bistro • Stone Bowl Grill

COFFEE SHOP

Multiple Locations craftycowwi.com Crafty Cow’s chicken sandwiches provide a variety to choose from for all tastes and appetites: there’s the Classic Chicken with a “special sauce”; the Fancy Chicken, which includes snap pea & broccoli slaw, and chipotle mayo. And for those who like more than just one chicken patty, there’s the Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit, a “double decker” with, you guessed, honey butter on a buttermilk biscuit.

(Harry Cherkinian)

ANODYNE COFFEE ROASTING CO.

FINALISTS:

FINALISTS:

• Heirloom MKE • Palomino Bar • Pete's Pub

Multiple Locations anodynecoffee.com The first place any Milwaukee coffee-lover turns for their daily fix, Anodyne coffee features a smooth espresso and bold coffee, each location offering beverages handcrafted and full of flavor. The Walker’s Point location frequently hosts live concerts, making Anodyne a community cornerstone. (Elizabeth Lintonen) • Avenue Coffeehouse • Discourse Coffee - Downtown • Stone Creek Coffee

CHICKEN WINGS

DONUTS

POINTS EAST PUB

CRANKY AL'S

1501 N. Jackson St. thepointseastpub.com The restaurant calls them their famous wings and the voters clearly agree. Deepfried and mixed with a special sauce, these wings are served with celery and a choice of ranch or blue cheese dressing.

You get to choose six, 12 or 18. But given how good they are, more is more—and a whole lot more. (Harry Cherkinian)

FINALISTS:

• Mangos Cafe East • Mr. Wings • TomKen's Bar & Grill

CHINESE RESTAURANT / KOREAN RESTAURANT

MOMO MEE ASIAN CUISINE

110 E. Greenfield Ave. momomerestaurant.com This pan-Asian restaurant is a favorite for Chinese and Korean cuisine. It’s well known for its Xiou Long Bao (soup dumplings). But there is, oh, so much more to choose from with a wide variety of clay pot, rice and noodle dishes. And if you’re wondering about the name, it’s simple: Momo means “dumplings”; “Mee” are noodles. (Harry Cherkinan)

6901 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa crankyals.com The next time you’re craving a freshly made donut that will “wow” you, get yourself over to Cranky Al’s. Cake donuts, filled donuts, vegan or gluten friendly, it doesn’t matter, because all of the donuts here are a treat for your taste buds. And, for cruller-lovers, Cranky Al’s makes one that just can’t be missed.

(Susan Harpt Grimes)

FINALISTS:

• Grebe's Bakery • Mochinut • Supernova Coffee and Doughnuts

FAMILY FRIENDLY RESTAURANT

SAFEHOUSE

777 N. Front St. safe-house.com Part restaurant, part “spy bar,” Safehouse is more than just good food and drink. Once you figure out the location, “spy recruits” have to pass a test to enter.

And then the fun really begins. (Harry Cherkinian)

FINALISTS:

• Carini's Southern Italian Restaurant • KIN by Rice n Roll SUSHI BAR • Maggio's Wood Fired Pizza

JANUARY 2024 | 35

SPECIAL BEST OF MILWAUKEE

LO C ALLY- OW N E D R ES TAU R ANT FARM-TO-TABLE RESTAURANT / GOURMET RESTAURANT

ODD DUCK

939 S. Second St. oddduckrestaurant.com There’s a very good reason why Odd Duck scores big with the voting foodies: its ever-changing, eclectic and innovative menu. Chili Crisp Devilled Eggs, Lamb and Potato Pierogi, Wood-Fired Za’atar Bread with Muhammarah and createyour-own Charcuterie Boards. The creative cocktails are just as inviting. (Harry Cherkinian)

FINALISTS FARM-TO-TABLE RESTAURANT: • Amilinda • Birch • ParkSide 23

FINALISTS GOURMET RESTAURANT: • Amilinda • Morel • Sanford Restaurant

FISH FRY / FRIED CHEESE CURDS / RESTAURANT SERVICE

LAKEFRONT BREWERY

1872 N. Commerce St. lakefrontbrewery.com Lakefront’s hospitality is legendary, and so are their beers and an extensive restaurant menu with everything from a Friday fish fry and cheese curds to mac & cheese, brats and kielbasa.

Don’t miss their famous brewery tour!

(Barry Houlehen)

FINALISTS FISH FRY: • Kegel's Inn • Pete's Pub • The Packing House

FINALISTS FRIED CHEESE CURDS: • Camino • Crafty Cow - Burgers & Fried Chicken • Pete's Pub

FINALISTS RESTAURANT SERVICE: • Amilinda • Carini's Southern Italian Restaurant • Maggio's Wood Fired Pizza

FRENCH RESTAURANT

LE REVE PÂTISSERIE & CAFÉ

7610 Harwood Ave., Wauwatosa lerevecafe.com French food at its finest and a menu guaranteed to have you speaking French in no time. The menu is extensive and easy to follow. And if your motto in life is, “eat dessert first,” then look no further.

The dazzling, colorful display macarons will be a great start, or finish, or both.

(Harry Cherkinian) 36 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

FINALISTS:

• Lake Park Bistro • North Shore Boulangerie • Pastiche Bistro

FROZEN YOGURT SHOP

YO MAMA!

1349 N. Wauwatosa Ave., Wauwatosa yomamagoodness.com Yo Mama! prides itself on their homemade, premium ice cream and offers self-service, soft-serve machines and various toppings to choose from. Their rotating menu options and probiotic cultures in the yogurt allow everyone to enjoy. Discover the delightful frozen yogurt that is Yo Mama! and build your own masterpiece in-store or order online.

(Sophia Hamdan)

FINALISTS:

• Daddy Yo's Frozen Yogurt • Hefner's Frozen Custard & Jumbo Burgers • Smart Cow

GELATO SHOP

GLORIOSO'S ITALIAN MARKET

1101 E. Brady St. gloriosos.com Everything changes, it seems, especially on Brady Street. Yet since 1946 Glorioso's Italian Market has offered a deli counter with made-to-order sandwiches, pasta, pizza and flatbreads, as well as favorites such as gelato, espresso, cheese, fresh sausage and meats, wine and beer.

Brothers Joe, Eddie and Teddy Glorioso were onto something. (Benjamin Dover)

FINALISTS:

• Babe's Ice Cream & Dessert • Cold Spoons Gelato • Divino Gelato Cafe

GERMAN RESTAURANT

MADER'S RESTAURANT

1041 N. Old World Third St. madersrestaurant.com Founded in 1902, when the majority of Milwaukee’s population were German immigrants and they drank, what else?

Beer. Mader’s is still as popular as ever today, serving traditional German dishes in Bavarian decor with plenty of unique German brews. (Harry Cherkinian)

FINALISTS:

• Kegel's Inn • Old German Beer Hall • The Bavarian Bierhaus

GLUTEN-FREE/ FRIENDLY RESTAURANT

CAFE MANNA

3815 N. Brookfield Road, Brookfield cafemanna.com As the first Certified Green Restaurant in Wisconsin, Café Manna doesn’t fail to deliver fresh, flavorful food while keeping it 100% vegetarian—not to mention their wide variety of gluten-friendly options.

With most ingredients locally grown, dishes are high in quality and bring you the comfort of good, nutritional food.

(Sophia Hamdan)

FINALISTS:

• Cubanitas • Lakefront Brewery • Maya Ophelia’s

HOT DOG / KITCHEN OPEN AFTER 10 P.M.

THE VANGUARD

2659 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. vanguardbar.com It’s late and you are hungry. Where to go? Vanguard has you covered if you are looking for sausage, spirits or beer. Open until midnight or 1 a.m., the menu boasts hot dogs, bratwurst and outliers like the Duck BLT and Kozlov (Ukrainian Kovbasa pork sausage). The extensive spirits list offers more varieties of bourbon, rye, scotch and other hard stuff than is easily sampled. (Blaine Schultz)

FINALISTS HOT DOG:

• Martino's Italian Beef and Hot Dogs • Sammy's Taste of Chicago • The Dogg Haus

FINALISTS KITCHEN OPEN AFTER 10 P.M.:

• Elsa's On the Park • Oakland Gyros (Oakland Ave) • Pete's Pub

HOTEL RESTAURANT / RESTAURANT OPEN ON CHRISTMAS DAY

MASON STREET GRILL

425 E. Mason St. masonstreetgrill.com Located in the Pfister Hotel on the main floor, Mason Street Grill is the classic place for steaks and other chophouse fare cooked on wood-fire grills, featuring live jazz music. But there’s plenty of other choices including fish, chicken and barley risotto. Something for every palate. (Harry Cherkinian)

FINALISTS HOTEL RESTAURANT: • ARIA – The Restaurant at Saint Kate • Il Cervo • Tre Rivali

LO C ALLY- OW N E D R ES TAU R ANT FINALISTS RESTAURANT OPEN ON CHRISTMAS DAY: • Emperor of China • India Garden • Sze Chuan Restaurant

IRISH RESTAURANT

COUNTY CLARE IRISH INN & PUB

1234 N. Astor St. countyclare-inn.com Yes, they have corned beef and cabbage and plenty of potato dishes, but County Clare also offers a creative menu of Irish American fare served in their charming dining room. Where else can you buy the entire kitchen staff a round of pints? (Barry Houlehen)

FINALISTS:

• McBob's Pub & Grill • Mo's Irish Pub • Mulligans Irish Pub & Grill

ITALIAN RESTAURANT

TENUTA'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT

2995 S. Clement Ave. tenutasitalian.com Bay View has so many good places for pizza that choosing is hard. Tenuta’s has good pizza but also serves a menu of other Italian dishes pronounced as “authentic” by Milwaukeeans who have spent time in Italy. Be sure to try the arancini (fried rice balls, Italian sausage, cheeses) for an appetizer. (David Luhrssen)

FINALISTS:

• Carini's Southern Italian Restaurant • Maggio's Wood Fired Pizza • Sala - Modern Sicilian Dining

JAPANESE RESTAURANT / RAMEN

HUNGRY SUMO

2663 S Kinnickinnic Ave. hungrysumosushibar.com Hungry Sumo’s Sushi Bar and Asian Bistro shines as a powerhouse in Bayview. From ramen to donburi, and sushi to teriyaki, this restaurant offers a variety of delicious food for everyone to enjoy. Not to mention, you can find several gluten-free and vegetarian options. Stop in for an authentic plate and one of Milwaukee’s best Asian fusion restaurants.

(Sophia Hamdan)

FINALISTS JAPANESE RESTAURANT:

• Kanpai Izakaya • KIN by Rice n Roll SUSHI BAR • Kyoto

FINALISTS RAMEN:

• Easy Tyger • Kawa Ramen and Sushi • KIN by Rice n Roll SUSHI BAR

JEWISH/KOSHER-STYLE RESTAURANT

BENJI'S DELI

Multiple locations benjisdeliandrestaurant.com A Kosher-style Jewish deli is more than just a place to get cold cuts, soups and salads, it’s more of a diner that leans heavily Jewish. Let’s say you’re not into lox or fried matzoh, Benji’s also offers simple breakfast plates and various sandwiches fit for all eaters. (Sandy Reitman)

FINALISTS:

• Allie Boy’s Bagelry & Luncheonette • Friendship Cafe & Bakery • Jake's Deli

LOUISIANA/SOUTHERN RESTAURANT / SOUL FOOD

MAXIE'S

6732 W. Fairview Ave. maxiesmke.com Maxie’s is known for delicious cuisine, for savory flavors and propensity for plenty of spices. The ambient restaurant offers food that is all things Louisiana, Creole, and Cajun, with a bar full of plenty of wine, beer and whiskey options.

(Elizabeth Lintonen)

FINALISTS LOUISIANASOUTHERN RESTAURANT: • Belli’s Bistro & Spirits • Crawdaddy's on Greenfield • Lowcountry Milwaukee

FINALISTS SOUL FOOD:

• Daddy's Soul Food & Grille • Nino's Southern Sides • Sam's Place Jazz Cafe

MAC & CHEESE

COMET CAFE

1947 N. Farwell Ave. thecometcafe.com The East Side’s Comet Cafe specializes in local comfort food in a cozy cafe setting.

Their mac n’ cheese is known for its full flavor and a nourishing quality with thick, melty cheese in a sizeable portion built to share. (Elizabeth Lintonen)

FINALISTS:

• Crafty Cow - Burgers & Fried Chicken • Lakefront Brewery • Out & Out Eatery

MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT / MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT

CASABLANCA

Multiple Locations casablancaonbrady.con For over 30 years, Casablanca has been serving up some of the very best in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes.

And there’s literally something for every type of appetite, including burgers to vegetarian, wraps and sandwiches. You name it, Casablanca does it. And there’s even a hookah lounge to get into the vibe.

(Harry Cherkinian)

FINALISTS MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT:

• Carini's Southern Italian Restaurant • Lebnani house • Lupi & Iris

FINALISTS MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT:

• Damascus Gate Restaurant • Lebnani house • Pita Palace Mediterranean Cuisine

MEXICAN RESTAURANT

BOTANAS RESTAURANT

816 S. Fifth St. botanasoriginal.com The original Botanas in Walker’s Point has been a mainstay for Mexican food for decades. A dependable menu coupled with friendly service and a patio in the warm months have made the restaurant one of the destination points on Milwaukee’s near South Side. (Morton Shlabotnik)

FINALISTS:

• Café Corazón • Guanajuato Mexican Restaurant • Señor Tomas Mexican - Latin Restaurant • Tavos Signature Cuisine

NEW RESTAURANT (OPENED IN 2023)

HEIRLOOM MKE

2378 S. Howell Ave. heirloommke.com The husband-and-wife team of Jess and Pete have quickly made their mark on the local restaurant scene with their “from scratch” approach to focusing on foods grown with heirloom seeds. That includes supporting local farms and purveyors.

But there’s plenty of meat and seafood inspired dishes as well. (Harry Cherkinian)

FINALISTS:

• Hannah’s Kitchen Catering & Events • Maggio's Wood Fired Pizza • The Edison

OUTDOOR DINING

BARNACLE BUD'S

1955 S. Hilbert St. barnaclebuds.com It’s like the restaurant Gilligan and the Skipper would have opened if marooned in Milwaukee—a sea shanty along the Kinnickinnic River. You can even tie up your boat and walk onto the deck to enjoy good seafood and bar food and a unique water’s edge view of the city.

(David Luhrssen) JANUARY 2024 | 37

SPECIAL BEST OF MILWAUKEE

LO C ALLY- OW N E D R ES TAU R ANT FINALISTS:

tiful one looking out onto Lake Michigan. But, as the saying goes, it’s what’s inside that counts. And the food and drink add so much more to “that view.”

(Harry Cherkinian)

FINALISTS:

PIZZERIA - DEEP DISH / PIZZERIA - WOOD-FIRED OVEN / STREET FOOD VENDOR

FINALISTS:

SOUPS

• Café Benelux • Pier Garden at The Starling • The Bridgewater Modern Grill

FLOUR GIRL & FLAME

8121 W. National Ave., West Allis flourgirlandflame.com Flour Girl & Flame is a rustic, homestyle wood-fired pizza restaurant whose owners want to encourage inclusion throughout the farming community. They feel strongly about making sure everyone has the opportunity to work as a farmer, grower, or producer. In the summer, they offer farm-fresh food, and in the winter, they can be found making pizzas and delicious appetizers at their West Allis location. (Elizabeth Lintonen)

FINALISTS DEEP DISH PIZZERIA: • Capri di Nuovo • Fixture Pizza Pub • Tomaso's

FINALISTS WOOD-FIRED OVEN PIZZERIA:

• Carini's Southern Italian Restaurant • Maggio's Wood Fired Pizza • Wy'east Pizza

FINALISTS STREET FOOD VENDOR: • EZ Tiki • Maya Ophelia’s • Vocado MKE

PIZZERIA - THIN CRUST

BALISTRERI'S ITALIANAMERICAN RISTORANTE

812 N. 68th St., Wauwatosa balistreris.com Like a pastry shell, the thin crust on Balistreri’s imaginative gourmet pizzas holds bountiful flavors—and is good enough to eat by itself! Along with pizza arrabbiata, the Mediterranean (artichokes, olives, sundried tomatoes), Balistreri serves familiar pizzas loaded with pepperoni, mozzarella and the works. They also serve fine pasta dishes. (David Luhrssen)

FINALISTS:

• Fixture Pizza Pub • Lisa's Pizzeria • Tomaso's • Zaffiro's Pizza

RESTAURANT WITH A VIEW

HARBOR HOUSE

550 N. Harbor Drive bartolottas.com Mention the restaurant Harbor House and the first words are the view, the view, and the view. And it is a beau38 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

• Lake Park Bistro • Lakefront Brewery • The Bridgewater Modern Grill

ROMANTIC RESTAURANT

LAKE PARK BISTRO

3133 E. Newberry Blvd. bartolottas.com Perched on a bluff with gorgeous views of Lake Michigan, it’s easy to understand how this Bartolotta restaurant creates the perfect atmosphere for romance along with outstanding French inspired food. If you’re on a staycation or just looking to channel French mood and food in Milwaukee, this is the place to go—and romance the night away. (Harry Cherkinian)

FINALISTS:

• Amilinda • Carini's Southern Italian Restaurant • Milwaukee ChopHouse

SANDWICH / TAKEOUT/CURBSIDE PICKUP

LULU CAFE AND BAR

lulubayview.com Located at the triangle intersection of Howell, Kinnickinnic and Lincoln, since 2001 Café Lulu’s scratch-made menu items have drawn a following. Revolving sandwich specials and favorites like the Mooney Tuna will make you forget this place once was a Geroge Webb’s; the rhubarb pie ala mode just might become your go-to dessert. Sarah Jonas and Cameryne Roberts’ vision has become a destination for relaxed dining and a Bay View hub. (Blaine Schultz)

FINALISTS SANDWICH:

• Benji's Deli • Hannah’s Kitchen Catering & Events • Riley's Sandwich Co.

FINALISTS TAKEOUT/ CURBSIDE PICKUP:

• Café Hollander - Downer • Hannah’s Kitchen Catering & Events • Ono Kine Grindz

SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

ST. PAUL FISH COMPANY stpaulfish.com St. Paul Fish Company is a cornerstone of the Milwaukee Public Market. An incredible selection of fresh fish and seafood from clams to shark; sole to perch; lobster to Bayview herring. Dine at the bar, dining room or find a cozy spot outside int the Third Ward, when Mother Nature permits.

(Blaine Schultz)

• Carini's Southern Italian Restaurant • Harbor House • Lowcountry Milwaukee

THE SOUP MARKET

Multiple Locations thesoupmarket.com Since 2004, The Soup Market has been warming Milwaukeeans with steaming bowls of tasty soup. With four locations around the city, a presence at local farmer’s markets, and daily availability in “red bag” Sendik’s stores, it’s easy to find, and fill up, on restorative chicken noodle, chicken dumpling, chili, and up to six additional varieties during any given week.

(Susan Harpt Grimes)

FINALISTS:

• Café Zupas • Libby Montana • Pete's Pub

STEAKHOUSE / SUPPER CLUB

FIVE O'CLOCK STEAKHOUSE

2416 W. State St. fiveoclocksteakhouse.com If it’s classic steak and all the fixings you’re craving, then pay a visit to the Five O’Clock Steakhouse. From baked French onion soup and shrimp cocktail to every type of steak imaginable, this steakhouse has it all. And there’s also land and sea and surf and turf dishes. (Harry Cherkinian)

FINALISTS STEAKHOUSE: • Carnevor • Mo’s, A Place for Steaks • Rare Steakhouse

FINALISTS SUPPER CLUB: • Mo’s, A Place for Steaks • Schwarz's Supper Club • The Packing House

SUB SANDWICH

COUSINS SUBS

Multiple locations cousinssubs.com Submarine sandwiches were more or less unknown in Milwaukee before the ‘70s and Cousins was one of the pioneers.

Their sandwiches are reliably fresh and tasty, prepared on site with a good variety of meat and non-meat options.

With many locations across metro Milwaukee, you’re never far from a Cousins.

(David Luhrssen)

FINALISTS:

• Cheba Hut "Toasted" Subs • Suburpia - Wauwatosa • The Chocolate Factory

LO C ALLY- OW N E D R ES TAU R ANT SUSHI

KIN BY RICE N ROLL SUSHI BAR

7484 W. State St., Wauwatosa kinbyricenroll.com Tosa’s village has plenty of highly regarded restaurants to choose from. Operated by family members who also helm Rice n Roll on the Milwaukee’s East Side, entrees at KIN are separated on the menu by Thai Street Food, Chef Specialties and Sushi Bar maki rolls. (Blaine Schultz)

FINALISTS:

• Kanpai Izakaya • Kyoto • Screaming Tuna Milwaukee

TAPAS (SMALL PLATES)

LA MERENDA

125 E. National Ave. lamerenda125.com Tapas are small plates, Spanish in origin and savory, served along with wine and drinks at a bar. In Italian, it means “early snacks.” La Merenda features both cuisines including local Wisconsin artisan cheese and beet salad, to Italian influenced salads and veggies. The global influences are many. So, start sampling!

(Harry Cherkinian)

FINALISTS:

• Movida at Hotel Madrid • Odd Duck • Story Hill BKC

THAI RESTAURANT

RICE N ROLL BISTRO

1852 N. Farewell Ave. ricenrollbistro.com In its nine years, Rice N Roll Bistro has established itself as a leader in Asian fusion cuisine as well as sushi. Its Thai dishes have captured the palates of its devoted fans with such creations as the Milwaukee (shrimp tempura with a mix of veggies and sauces) to a new dish, MKE Dangerous (tuna, salmon and more veggies in a spicy sauce). Thai it all! (Harry Cherkinian)

FINALISTS:

• Bangkok House Authentic Thai Cuisine • EE-Sane Thai-Lao Cuisine • Sticky Rice • Sweet Basil

VEGAN-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT

TWISTED PLANTS

Multiple Locations twistedplants.com Plant Vibes, the latest concept by Twisted Plants owners Arielle and Brandon Hawthorne, opened at Sherman Phoenix, Twisted Plants still serves their vegan comfort foods at two brick-and-mortar

locations in Cudahy and Milwaukee’s East Side, with a third planned for West Allis.

Their food truck also appears at events throughout the area. (Sheila Julson)

FINALISTS:

• Beerline Cafe • Cafe Manna • Strange Town

VEGETARIAN-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT

BEANS & BARLEY

1901 E. North Ave. beansandbarley.com Beans & Barley was on the leading edge when it opened as a health food store in 1973 and even a decade later, with the addition of a small café, it was still teaching Milwaukee that it’s possible to enjoy eating well without fried food and red meat. The dining room, lunch counter and grocery remain a locally owned hub for healthy dining. (David Luhrssen)

FINALISTS:

• Beerline Cafe • Cafe Manna • Twisted Plants

VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT

HUÉ ASIAN KITCHEN

2691 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. huerestaurants.com Everything changes. Hué has settled in a few doors east, to the corner spot that formerly housed Sven’s Café. The outdoor patio is a gem in warm weather.

Sure, Milwaukee is home to the weekly fish fry, but Hue’s Vietnamese fish fry is a delightful twist on a classic. Turmeric marinated, beer battered swai is served with garlic fried rice, Asian slaw and Thai basil aioli. Their food truck is ubiquitous at summer events around town as well.

(Bemjamin Dover)

FINALISTS:

• Mekong Cafe • Pho Saigon • Vientiane Noodle Shop

WINE LIST

STORY HILL BKC

5100 W. Bluemound Road storyhillbkc.com Story Hill BKC is well known for its extraordinary food. But it’s the affordable wine list that’s just as impressive. Glasses run from $9 to $12. Full bottles range from $36 to $48. But it’s what’s inside those bottles that counts. Reds. Whites. Sparkling. Sip and sup. (Harry Cherkinian)

FINALISTS:

• Carini's Southern Italian Restaurant • Mason Street Grill • Nonfiction Natural Wines JANUARY 2024 | 39

SPECIAL BEST OF MILWAUKEE

M I LWAU K E E M US I C ACOUSTIC MUSICIAN

EVAN CHRISTIAN

Chicago-born, Milwaukee-raised musician Evan Christian studied flamenco guitar in Madrid, Spain. He mixes blues, soul and R&B with what Jelly Roll Morton coined the “Spanish tinge.”

Not only a musician, Christian also put his money where is guitar is, opening Gibraltar MKE, “A Bar With A Flair For The Arts Located In The Historic Third Ward.” (Blaine Schultz)

FINALISTS:

• Adam Fettig • Catelyn Picco • Holly Haebig • Peter Thomas

BLUEGRASS BAND

WHISKEYBELLES

Last year purists scoffed at characterizing the Whiskeybelles as a bluegrass band. This year again, pearls will be clutched. Where will this madness end?

Let’s just agree that with music based in traditional country, the female trio, who never take themselves as serious as all that, are familiar faces at local outdoor festivals. How would you define their sound? Check out one of their shows to settle it once and for all. (Benjamin Dover)

FINALISTS:

• Chicken Wire Empire • Millbillies • Valley Fox

BLUES BAND

MILWAUKEE BLUES ROCK COLLECTIVE

With a variety of songs including “Hold On” by Alabama Shakes, “Give Me One Reason” by Tracy Chapman and Voodoo Woman” by Susan Tedsechi in their set, Milwaukee Blues Rock Collective takes this year’s prize. (Benjamin Dover)

FINALISTS:

• Altered Five Blues Band • Big Al Dorn and the Blues Howlers • Hanna Simone • Jonny T-Bird & the MPs

CLUB DJ

DJ SHAWNA

Shawna Nicols, or DJ Shawna, is the official DJ of the Milwaukee Bucks, and has been the opener for a variety of famed artists, from Lizzo to Jonas Blue. The former professional athlete is also a motivational speaker, author, and podcast host whose personal mission is spreading love and positivity throughout the community.

(Elizabeth Lintonen)

40 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

FINALISTS:

• Don Black • Goth Barge • Ronco • Sushi Lor

COUNTRY

REBEL GRACE

This group of five seasoned local musicians teamed up in 2010 to become favorites in the alt-country scene along with a number of other genres. Their take on contemporary country music developed a growing list of fans across the state. Check them out and rock out.

(Harry Cherkinian)

FINALISTS: • Dan Lepien • LadyBird • Road Crew

COVER/TRIBUTE BAND

FAILURE TO LAUNCH

From modest basement beginnings to the stage at Summerfest, Failure to Launch has seen the range of a musical journey. The band specializes in engaging, high-energy performances of danceable music, favorite songs and well-known anthems ranging from the 60’s to today’s Top 40 and are a perfect set of performers for any event. (Elizabeth Lintonen)

FINALISTS:

• FM Rodeo • Landline • Smart Mouth

ELECTRONIC ARTIST / RAP/HIP HOP ARTIST / VOCALIST - MALE

JOHNNY FRANCHINO

Johnny Franchino’s video for “Track Star” includes the comment “Chino for president …” But first the Milwaukee-Racine artist collects this year’s Shepherd Express Best of Milwaukee award in the Electronic/Rap-Hip Hop category. Soulful and aggressive, Franchino was one of 30 singers who auditioned for R&B group The New Grey. (Blaine Schultz

FINALISTS ELECTRONIC ARTIST: • CHAN • Heart of Black • Ronco

FINALISTS RAP/HIP-HOP ARTIST: • D'Aych • Emmitt James • Taiyamo Denku • Twan Mack • Vincent Van Great

FINALISTS MALE VOCALIST: • Adam Fettig • Leandre Poe • Rich Hoffman

FOLK BAND

LADYBIRD

Milwaukee folk-country band Ladybird has been making a name for themselves in local music with songs that feature vivid imagery and lyricism. Musician Pete Freeman has taken elements of solo work into this new project that musically highlights life’s simple pleasures.

(Elizabeth Lintonen)

FINALISTS:

• Atlantic Wave • Long Mama • The Midnight Purchase

INDIE BAND

SOCIAL CIG

If there’s one band in the local indie scene that has worked to elevate the entire music community, that band is Social Cig. Between their set at this year’s Summerfest, participation in the legendary, sold-out Turner Hall show, and the release of their brand new EP, titled “In The Pocket,” Parker Schultz and the rest of the band are taking their dreamy, indie-pop style to the next level, and with it, the entire Milwaukee music scene.

(Elizabeth Lintonen)

FINALISTS:

• Bug Moment • Lack of Reason • Ladybird • Volcano Choir

JAZZ COMBO

DE LA BUENA

Expanding from a trio to 10 or more players onstage, De La Buena has long held a unique spot in Milwaukee music, building on Latin jazz and often heading for the outer limits. A foundation of the band, percussionist-vocalist-educator-producer Cecilio “Cee Loe” Negrón Jr. died unexpectedly in June. That’s what makes this award bittersweet. And also, what makes the group’s next chapter part of an unfolding legacy. (Blaine Schultz)

FINALISTS:

• B. D. Greer and the Gents • Donna Woodall Group • Garrett Waite

M I LWAU K E E M US I C METAL BAND

POLKA BAND

STILL STAYER

SQUEEZETTES

Still Stayer stands out as a Milwaukee metal band with heartfelt lyrics and melancholy mood music with the classic hard rock sound. Their latest release, All Heart has reached successful numbers on Spotify, and Still Stayer is a band to keep an eye out for as they continue to grow their musical prowess and eager fanbase.

(Elizabeth Lintonen)

FINALISTS:

• Apex Aura • Conniption • Heart of Black • Snag

MUSIC PRODUCER/ENGINEER

MYSTIK MUSIK

At the 2022 Big Beat MKE competition, Mystik Musik incorporated reggaeton bounce in a semifinal matchup. In another battle the heavyweight saved a beat with a sample using their opponent’s name in it. Savvy work like this earned Mystik Musik the title. (Blaine Schultz)

FINALISTS:

• Jeff Hamilton • Ryan Rosmann • TTP Music Lab

Reigning champs four years running, The Squeezettes lean into Milwaukee’s ethnic musical heritage and give it a fun update.

Anchored by Mike Chaltrey’s distinct sousaphone and drummer-vocalist Michael Eells; driven by the twin Milwaukee-centric Baldoni accordions of Linda Mueller (lead accordion) and Pamela Scesniak (rhythm accordion), this polka-inspired group blends humor and tradition.

Where else but Milwaukee would you find such a high-energy band fronted by ex-burlesque chanteuse-turned-oldschool torch singer, Chanel le Meaux?

(Benjamin Dover)

FINALISTS:

• Blaskapelle Milwaukee • Tally Ho Brass Band • The November Criminals

ROCK BAND

THE NEW GREY

This Milwaukee-based Rock, Indie, Hip Hop and R&B band formed in 2017 with members Johnny Franchino, Mike Hartl and Luis Santana. Their name comes from a collaborative approach to their

genre of music, combining multiple influences into one unique blend. Be sure to listen to their new single “Orange County” available on all streaming platforms. (Sophia Hamdan)

FINALISTS:

• Diet Lite • Ladybird • Scam Likely • Tigera

VOCALIST - FEMALE

ANNA ZALESKI

Anna Zaleski is a country vocalist as well as a skilled guitarist and fiddle player who regularly performs at Nashville North on Brady Street. Zaleski’s stage presence and ability to connect with any crowd makes her a mesmerizing vocal performer.

(Elizabeth Lintonen)

FINALISTS:

• Angie Rypel • Ashley Patin • B. D. Greer • Holly Haebig

JANUARY 2024 | 41

SPECIAL BEST OF MILWAUKEE

O UT & AB O UT ALL-AGES VENUE / LIVE MUSIC VENUE / ROCK CLUB

CACTUS CLUB

2496 S. Wentworth Ave. cactusclubmilwaukee.com All-ages shows, an all-inclusive mission statement, outdoor socializing and a nearly ever-present food truck. Bay View’s Cactus Club has hosted bands like Low, The Reigning Sound and The White Stripes (who played their first out of town show here) and countless local acts—the club also hosts all sorts of non-music events. When is a music club more than a music club? When it is Cactus Club.

(Blaine Schultz)

FINALISTS ALL-AGES VENUE:

• Bear Paw Adventure Park • Franksville Craft Beer Garden • X-Ray Arcade | Games, Music, and More

FINALISTS LIVE MUSIC VENUE: • Franksville Craft Beer Garden • SoLu Estate Winery & Meadery • X-Ray Arcade

FINALISTS ROCK CLUB:

• Paulie's Pub & Eatery • Promises • Shank Hall • X-Ray Arcade | Games, Music, and More

ARCADE/GAMING / VIDEO ARCADE

UP-DOWN MKE

615 E. Brady St. Updownarcadebar.com/milwaukee Up-Down Milwaukee blends a vibrant, neon arcade bar into a perfect fusion of ‘80s and ‘90s nostalgia for friends and family to enjoy. Attendees can choose from over 60 retro video games, pinball machines and skee-ball, as well as indulge in an extensive craft beer selection and house-made pizza. (Sophia Hamdan)

FINALISTS ARCADE/GAMING:

• Reunion Restaurant • The Garcade • X-Ray Arcade | Games, Music, and More

FINALISTS VIDEO ARCADE:

• Dead Bird Brewing Company • The Garcade • X-Ray Arcade | Games, Music, and More

ART STUDIO/CLASSES (NON-BAR)

CREAM CITY CLAY, INC. POTTERY SCHOOL & ART STUDIO

7105 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis The studio provides an environment—the equipment as well as the support—where student as well as artists can learn and grow. (Morton Shlabotnik)

42 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

FINALISTS:

ing drinks made with its secret ingredients. They have added an outdoor patio for the summer and heated huts for our Wisconsin winter weather (by reservation only). (Harry Cherkinian)

ATTRACTION FOR OUT-OF-TOWN GUESTS / BREWERY TOUR / MILWAUKEE TOUR

FINALISTS BAR FOR QUIET CONVERSATION:

• Angelic Roots • The Art School, Inc. • Vibez Creative Arts Space

LAKEFRONT BREWERY

1872 N. Commerce St. lakefrontbrewery.com Lakefront’s hospitality is legendary, and so are their beers and an extensive restaurant menu with everything from Friday fish fry and cheese curds to mac & cheese, brats and kielbasa. Don’t miss their famous brewery tour! (Barry Houlehen)

FINALISTS ATTRACTION FOR OUT-OF-TOWN GUESTS: • Bear Paw Adventure Park • Franksville Craft Beer Garden • Harley-Davidson Museum

FINALISTS BREWERY TOUR: • Layman Brewing • Miller Brewery • Sprecher Brewing Co.

FINALISTS MILWAUKEE TOUR:

• Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery • City Tours MKE • Tippecanoe Herbs and Apothecary

AXE THROWING BAR

AXE MKE

1924 E. Kenilworth Place axe.mke.com Axe MKE is a novelty Milwaukee bar that allows for a safe way to experience axe throwing. Perfect for any event, gathering, or individual with rage issues, Axe MKE turns axe throwing into an exhilarating sport and hobby. Recently, Axe MKE started to offer ‘glow throw,’ which means the bar is flooded with black light and lasers, as if the axe throwing itself wasn’t thrilling enough. (Elizabeth Lintonen)

FINALISTS:

• Lumber Axe • NorthSouth Club • West Bend Axe & Escape

BAR FOR QUIET CONVERSATION / COCKTAIL LOUNGE / ROMANTIC BAR

AT RANDOM

2501 S. Delaware Ave. atrandommke.com The retro-sophisticated vibe underscores the fun of a visit to this evening only lounge (5 p.m. if you’re checking the time).

Since 1964, At Random has been provid-

• Bryant's Cocktail Lounge • Sugar Maple • Tied House Milwaukee

FINALISTS COCKTAIL LOUNGE: • Bryant's Cocktail Lounge • La Piña • Tied House Milwaukee

FINALISTS ROMANTIC BAR: • Blu • The Bar at Saint Kate • Tied House Milwaukee

BAR ON A BUDGET

THE DRUNK UNCLE

1902 S. 68th St., West Allis facebook.com/thedrunkuncle If you are the end point of the annual Santa Cycle Rampage you’ve made a mark. The friendly West Allis neighborhood tap The Drunk Uncle—call it a dive bar if you like—boasts 48 drafts, sports on TV, bar games and cheap booze.

(Benjamin Dover)

FINALISTS:

• Clementines Tavern • Redbar • The Gig • The Newport

BAR TO BE SEEN IN / HOTEL LOUNGE

THE BAR AT SAINT KATE

139 E. Kilbourn saintkatearts.com Well, there’s plenty of artwork to be seen at the Saint Kate, and Milwaukeeans also like to be seen there as well. And many do given the packed bar area, especially on weekends. So, dress your best. This is the place to get your selfies on! (Harry Cherkinian)

FINALISTS BAR TO BE SEEN IN: • La Piña • NorthSouth Club • Tied House Milwaukee

FINALISTS HOTEL LOUNGE: • Kimpton Journeyman Hotel • Pufferfish • The Pfister Hotel

O UT & AB O UT BAR TO WATCH SOCCER / SPORTS BAR / TRIVIA NIGHT

MORAN'S PUB

912 Milwaukee Ave., South Milwaukee moranspub.com With Milwaukee poised to host professional soccer, Moran’s Pub will be the spot to talk local football or World Cup. “I love how soccer brings everyone closer together where you leave as friends no matter the outcome of the match,” owner James Moran said. (Blaine Schultz)

FINALISTS BAR TO WATCH SOCCER:

dozens of park benches to enjoy a view of Milwaukee’s skyline, boats and a beach— South Shore Terrace Kitchen & Beer Garden wins again. Need some exercise?

Follow the path south and hike as long as you like. (Blaine Schultz)

FINALISTS:

• Estabrook Beer Garden • Franksville Craft Beer Garden • Kegel's Inn

BLOODY MARY

SOBELMAN'S

• Matty's Bar & Grille • Pete's Pub • Points East Pub • The Highbury Pub

Multiple Locations sobelmanspubandgrill.com Sobelman’s Bloody Marys are a drink and a “meal” with those over-the-top toppings: Colby jack cheese, a pickled Polish sausage, a pickled mushroom, a pickled Brussels sprout, an asparagus, a celery stalk, a green onion, and on another toothpick a shrimp, a lemon wedge, and a grape tomato. (Harry Cherkinian)

FINALISTS TRIVIA NIGHT:

FINALISTS:

• Nomad World Pub • Pete's Pub • The Highbury Pub

FINALISTS SPORTS BAR:

• Blackbird Bar • Creed's Foggy Dew • Lakefront Brewery

BAR WITH A PATIO / MOCKTAIL SELECTION

BOONE & CROCKETT

818 S. Water St. BooneMilwaukee.com In the summer of 2022 as we were cautiously easing out of the pandemic, Boone & Crockett’s parking lot hosted a concert by Alejandro Escovedo. With a cruise ship in the harbor dwarfed by the Hoan Bridge, Taco Moto food truck serving up dinner and the Paddle Tavern launching kayaks, what more could you ask for? Well, if you needed a space for a wedding reception that evening, the adjacent Cooperage had you covered.

(Blaine Schultz)

FINALISTS BAR WITH A PATIO: • Blackbird Bar • Fluid Milwaukee • SoLu Estate Winery & Meadery

FINALISTS MOCKTAIL SELECTION: • HoneyBee Sage Wellness & Apothecary Cafe • Kul Mocks • Tied House Milwaukee

BEER GARDEN

SOUTH SHORE TERRACE KITCHEN & BEER GARDEN

2900 S. Shore Drive southshoreterrace.com At this point, South Shore Terrace Kitchen & Beer Garden’s greatness is an open secret. A beer, wine and food selection;

• Centraal Grand Café & Tappery • Matty's Bar & Grille • The Wicked Hop

COCKTAIL KIT

GREAT LAKES DISTILLERY & TASTING ROOM

616 W. Virginia St. greatlakesdistillery.com Fact: Great Lakes Distillery is Wisconsin’s first distillery since Prohibition. Fun: its tours and the big wind-up ... it’s the Tasting Room. GLD has been making distilled spirits in small batches including its-award winning Rehorst Vodka, Gin, Citrus Honey Vodka, Roaring Dan's Rum, Kinnickinnic Whiskey, Amerique 1912 Absinthe Verte & Absinthe Rouge.

(Harry Cherkinian)

FINALISTS:

• Discount Liquor Inc • Foundation • Style Up Group

CRAFT BEER SELECTION AT A BAR

SUGAR MAPLE

441 E. Lincoln Ave. mysugarmaple.com The tap beers are endless, with plenty of booze-based drinks available as well.

Contributing to its low-key vibe, Sugar Maple even features hemp-based drinks.

From Slip-N-Cider to Three Sheets, Sugar Maple serves it up just the way you like it.

(Harry Cherkinian)

DANCE CLUB

MAD PLANET

533 E. Center St. mad-planet.net For decades, Mad Planet has been a local institution for all things club dance.

The eclectic bar specializes in satisfyingly nostalgic playlists and immaculate vibes.

Mad Planet is the place to hear wellknown music or live performances under brightly colored lights and bright party ambiance, making it the groovy Milwaukee bar scene staple it has always been.

(Elizabeth Lintonen)

FINALISTS:

• Bodega • LaCage NiteClub • Room Seven

ESCAPE ROOM

ESCAPE THE ROOM MILWAUKEE

220 E. Erie St. #10 escapetheroom.com/milwaukee Escape the Room MKE features four intricately designed puzzle rooms that allow for players to follow a storyline as they try to find their way out. Escape the Room offers a fun challenge that hopefully encourages teamwork and camaraderie and not actual rage. (Elizabeth Lintonen)

FINALISTS:

• 60 To Escape - Milwaukee Escape Rooms • 7 Keys • City 13

HAPPY HOUR

MULLIGANS IRISH PUB & GRILL

8933 S. 27th St., Franklin mulliganson27th.com Sláinte! The hybrid Irish pub-sports bar in Franklin boasts a boatload of taps mixing craft beer, macro mainstays and the usual Irish suspects—Guinness, Harp, Magners and Smithwick’s. Hungry? The menu is wide-ranging, from a savory Jameson whiskey-glazed salmon to Irish classics like shepherd’s pie and bangers and mash served with a killer Guinness-based gravy to pub pizzas. They feature a half dozen fish fry choices plus a combo platter year-round on Friday but during Lent, the fryers are also working on Wednesday. (Blaine Schultz)

FINALISTS:

• Fluid Milwaukee • Franksville Craft Beer Garden • Mason Street Grill

FINALISTS:

• Burnhearts • Matty's Bar & Grille • The Drunk Uncle JANUARY 2024 | 43

SPECIAL BEST OF MILWAUKEE

O UT & AB O UT HOOKAH LOUNGE

JAZZ CLUB

CASABLANCA

CAROLINE'S

Multiple Locations casablancaonbrady.con For over 30 years, Casablanca has been serving up some of the very best in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes.

And there’s literally something for every type of appetite, including burgers to vegetarian, wraps and sandwiches. You name it, Casablanca does it. And there’s even a hookah lounge to get into the vibe.

(Harry Cherkinian)

FINALISTS:

• Dream Lab • Revel Bar • Room Seven

IMPORT BEER SELECTION AT A BAR

401 S. Second St. For those seeking the cool, retro nostalgic atmosphere of live jazz, Caroline’s is where you want to go. And the voters agree. Local performers combine with an intimate atmosphere to make it all upbeat and personal. Throw in some martinis and old fashioneds. Tune in and check it out. (Harry Cherkinian)

FINALISTS:

• Bar Centro • Blu • The Jazz Estate

KARAOKE BAR

DRUNKEN COBRA BAR & GRILL

2235 N. Farwell Ave. vontriers.com It’s a remnant of Germania wedged onto a busy corner of Milwaukee’s East Side with dark wood, stained glass and a wide selection of German beer. Added in recent years is a “German inspired” food menu. Drink or dine in the beer garden during the warm months. (David Luhrssen)

6818 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa drunkencobratosa.com Food, drinks, trivia, parties and most importantly, karaoke – Drunken Cobra has it all. Nestled between Rocket Baby Bakery and Speedway, this neighborhood pub prides itself on their diverse selection of brews, locally-inspired food and genuine community of friends and families. Get yourself ready for a night full of endless entertainment. (Sophia Hamdan)

FINALISTS:

FINALISTS:

VON TRIER

• Archie's Flat Top • Café Benelux • The Drunk Uncle

IRISH PUB

COUNTY CLARE IRISH INN & PUB

1234 N. Astor St. countyclare-inn.com Yes, they have corned beef and cabbage and plenty of potato dishes, but County Clare also offers a creative menu of Irish American fare served in their charming dining room. Where else can you buy the entire kitchen staff a round of pints?

(Barry Houlehen)

FINALISTS:

• Mo's Irish Pub Wauwatosa • Moran's Pub • Paddy's Pub

• Amped • Brass Monkey Pub West Allis • Tonic Tavern • Walker's Pint

MARGARITA

CAFÉ CORAZÓN

Multiple Locations corazonmilwaukee.com Wendy and George Mireles opened the first Café Corazon location in Riverwest in 2009. Today there are additional restaurants in Bay View and Brown Deer. Using locally sourced ingredients the menu offers plenty of options. Entrees like the Taco Truck Dinner and Salmon Burrito are reasons voters made Café Corazón Best of Milwaukee. (Benjamin Dover)

FINALISTS:

• Blu • Sala - Modern Sicilian Dining • Tied House Milwaukee

MICROBREWERY/TAPROOM / PET-FRIENDLY ESTABLISHMENT

OPE! BREWING CO.

6751 W. National Ave., West Allis opebrewingco.com More than tasty beers and seltzers: food trucks, bar games, live music and more, including a taproom membership. Dog friendly inside and out. (Blaine Schultz)

FINALISTS MICROBREWERY: • Lakefront Brewery • Layman Brewing • Third Space Brewing

FINALISTS PET-FRIENDLY ESTABLISHMENT:

• Bad Moon Saloon • Black Husky Brewing • SoLu Estate Winery & Meadery

NEW BAR (OPENED IN 2023)

CAMP KARMA

7033 W. Becher St. barwestallis.com This West Allis bar boasts delicious cocktails and beer, as well as pool, darts, and gambling machines in an inviting atmosphere. Camp Karma is a place ideal for their bar dice and live music, with refreshing new beverages. (Elizabeth Lintonen)

FINALISTS:

• La Piña • Pomona Cider Company • Pop

PLACE FOR FAMILY FUN

SAFEHOUSE

FINALISTS:

777 N. Front St. safe-house.com Part restaurant, part “spy bar,” Safehouse is more than just good food and drink. Once you figure out the location, “spy recruits” have to pass a test to enter. And then the fun really begins.

(Harry Cherkinian)

MARTINI

FINALISTS:

• La Piña • Tavos Signature Cuisine • Tied House Milwaukee

ELSA'S ON THE PARK

833 N. Jefferson St. elsas.com Elsa’s brought European elegance to Milwaukee nightlife at a time when most bars were covered in barnwood paneling.

44 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

They have great burgers, imaginative bar food, local art displayed on the walls and, yes, those martinis are a knock-out!

(David Luhrssen)

• Bear Paw Adventure Park • Franksville Craft Beer Garden • Little Sprouts Play Cafe

O UT & AB O UT STRIP CLUB

SILK EXOTIC DOWNTOWN MKE GENTLEMEN'S CLUB

730 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive silkexotic.com Here we are in 2024 and there is still a category for Best Strip Club. With other “gentlemen’s clubs” in the running it remains obvious that there is still a demand. Or as Art Kumbalek once said, “If you have a wad of Washingtons burning a hole in your pocket, and you’re itching to stick a couple, three or more of them within the friendly confines of someone’s G-string or what-have-you, I suggest that your grocery store, fast-food joint or walk-in health clinic is not the place to perform such a charitable deed. No sir; you get your gift-giving fingers over to Silk Exotic, adult entertainment par excellence, I kid you not.” (Benjamin Dover)

FINALISTS:

• Heart Breakers • Rickey's on State • The Airport Lounge

WHISKEY SELECTION AT A BAR

THE VANGUARD

2659 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. vanguardbar.com It’s late and you are hungry. Where to go? Vanguard has you covered if you are looking for sausage, spirits or beer. Open until midnight or 1 a.m., the menu boasts hot dogs, bratwurst and outliers like the Duck BLT and Kozlov (Ukrainian Kovbasa pork sausage). The extensive spirits list offers more varieties of bourbon, rye, scotch and other hard stuff than is easily sampled. (Blaine Schultz)

FINALISTS:

• Giggly at Saint Kate • The Stillery - Richfield • Tied House Milwaukee

WINERY

SOLU ESTATE WINERY & MEADERY

W8269 County Road F, Cascade Soluestate.com Located on the Kettle Moraine Trail in Sheboygan County, SoLu Estate is a working winery and meadery with a full bar, dining area, retail component, live music nights, tastings and tours. Fourteen different varietals grow in the vineyard and are used in their French-inspired dry and fruit wines. (Sheila Julson)

FINALISTS:

• Apple Works Winery • Chiselled Grape Winery • Pieper Porch Winery & Vineyard

JANUARY 2024 | 45

SPECIAL BEST OF MILWAUKEE

B O DY, M I N D & S PI R IT ACUPUNCTURIST

GYM

REIKI STUDIO

MILWAUKEE COMMUNITY ACUPUNCTURE

WISCONSIN ATHLETIC CLUB

MKE MINDBODY WELLNESS

• Acupuncture & Holistic Health Associates • Amanda Gawrysz • Heaven & Earth Acupuncture and Wellness

ALTERNATIVE MEDICAL CLINIC

MKE MINDBODY WELLNESS

• 8 Branches Chinese Medicine • A Right Path Wellness • Natural Escape LLC • Thrive Holistic Medicine • Zuza's Way Integrative Care

BOUTIQUE FITNESS

HEALIUM HIIT • Afterglow MKE • Burn Boot Camp • SPIRE Fitness • Train Moment MKE

CROSSFIT-STYLE GYM

BREWCITY CROSSFIT • Badger CrossFit • Dropout CrossFit

• Burn Boot Camp • Peak Physique Personal Training • SPIRE Fitness • Vita Fitness & Physical Therapy

MASSAGE THERAPIST

JAY BY THE BAY MASSAGE AND WELLNESS • 9th Cloud Therapy • RPM Bodywork • Susan Arenkill • Zen Garden Bodywork

PERSONAL TRAINER

MARGAUX CHANDLER • Alex Feavel • Garrett Van Auken • Michael McVicker

PILATES STUDIO

FLYING SQUIRREL PILATES

• A Right Path Wellness • Angelic Roots • Lovely Salon and Spa • MKE Yoga Social • Susan Arenkill

SPA

LOVELY SALON AND SPA

• Beau-T Works, LLC • CORA Beauty and Spa • Elie Bleu Threading and Spa • Kalm Wellness Services Center for Integrated Healing

YOGA STUDIO

HEALIUM HOT YOGA • Embody Yoga • Empower Yoga • The Heart Revival Center for Yoga & Buddhism • Tribal Yoga School • Yoga by Analisia

• Afterglow MKE • Club Pilates • East Side Pilates

B O U G HT & S O LD ANTIQUE STORE

AUTO DEALERSHIP - PREOWNED

BOUTIQUE CLOTHING

ANTIQUES ON PIERCE

SCHLOSSMANN'S HONDA CITY

ALIVE AND FINE

• BC Modern • Clocktower Antiques • Spectre Vintage

AUTO DEALERSHIP - DOMESTIC

HEISER CHEVROLET WEST ALLIS

• Andrew Chevrolet Service & Parts • Campbell's Auto Sport • Mike Juneau's Brookfield Buick GMC • Millennium Motor Sales, Inc.

AUTO DEALERSHIP - IMPORT

SCHLOSSMANN'S HONDA CITY • Andrew Toyota • David Hobbs Honda Service • Don Jacobs Toyota • Sommer's Subaru • Reina International Auto 46 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

• Boucher Cadillac of Waukesha • Cassandra's Motorsports • Campbell's Auto Sport • David Hobbs Honda Service • Millenium Motors • Reina International Auto

BIKE SHOP

WHEEL & SPROCKET • South Shore Cyclery • Truly Spoken Cycles • The Bikesmiths

BOOKSTORE

BOSWELL BOOK COMPANY

• Lion's Tooth • Downtown Books Bought & Sold • Voyageur Book Shop

• Boho Luxe Boutique • FIFTH-MAIN • Hollyville • Omen Subculture Clothing and Accessories • Plume

CARPET/FINE RUGS

SHABAHANG AND SONS PERSIAN CARPETS • Carpetland USA Flooring Center West Allis • Hunt's Flooring • Shabahang Rug Gallery • Stu's Flooring

B O U G HT & S O LD CBD RETAIL SHOP

FLOORING (NON-CARPET)

MATTRESS STORE

KNUCKLEHEADS CBD & VAPES

STU'S FLOORING

VERLO MATTRESS

• Canni Hemp Co: Milwaukee's THC /CBD Dispensary • Kind Oasis • Landright’s Botanical Healing Center • TerraSol Dispensary

CLOTHING - CHILDREN'S

ONCE UPON A CHILD BROOKFIELD • BlackBear Children's Boutique • Children's Orchard New Berlin • Creatively Yours

CLOTHING - MEN'S

MODA3

• Beard MKE • Jos A. Bank • Omen Subculture Clothing and Accessories • MILWORKS • SayWerd

CLOTHING - WOMEN'S

OMEN SUBCULTURE CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES • Artery Ink • Boho Luxe Boutique • FIFTH-MAIN

• Carpetland USA Flooring Center West Allis • Floor Coverings International • Hunt's Flooring

FLORIST

414LORAL

• Flowers For Dreams • Flowers By Jan • Parkway Floral Inc.

FURNITURE - NEW

BILTRITE FURNITURELEATHER-MATTRESSES • Bachman Furniture • Colder’s Furniture, Appliances, and Mattresses • Steinhafels

FURNITURE - RESTORED

BC MODERN • Home Again • Ormson Supply • Spectre Vintage

GARDEN CENTER

PLANT LAND

• Bayside Garden Center • Kellner Greenhouse • Stein's Garden & Home

COMIC BOOK STORE

GIFT SHOP

LOST WORLD OF WONDERS

FISCHBERGER'S VARIETY

• Downtown Books Bought & Sold • Immortal Toys and Collectables • Lion's Tooth

• Angelic Roots • Beard MKE • Beth Eaton Pottery • Oniomania

EYEWEAR

HARDWARE STORE

MILWAUKEE EYE CARE

BLIFFERT HARDWARE

• Biltrite Furniture-Leather-Mattresses • Brady Street Futons • HassleLess Mattress

MOTORCYCLE DEALERSHIP

HOUSE OF HARLEY-DAVIDSON

• Indian Motorcycle of Metro Milwaukee • Reina International Auto • Suburban Motors Harley-Davidson

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT STORE

WHITE HOUSE OF MUSIC • Brass Bell Music Store • Cream City Music • Korinthian Violins LLC • Wade's Guitar Shop

NEW RETAIL STORE (OPENED IN (2023)

BAKEHOUSE 23

• Blast Radius • Ebb & Flow Design Co. • Omen Alternative Music and Media • To Hell & Back Vintage

NOVELTY/VARIETY STORE

WINKIE'S

• Beard MKE • Fischberger's Variety • Immortal Toys and Collectables

PET RETAIL STORE

BARK N' SCRATCH OUTPOST • Mac's PET DEPOT Barkery • Pet Supplies Plus Greenfield • Skilos | A Family Pet Store

• Ace Hardware-Lisbon Ave • Elliott Ace Hardware • Menards

RECORD STORE

FASHION ACCESSORIES

HEAD SHOP

BEARD MKE

KNUCKLEHEADS CBD & VAPES

• Acme Records • Lilliput Records • Omen Alternative Music and Media

• 414 Eyes • Eyes on the Lake • Metro Eye

• J. Riley • Omen Subculture Clothing and Accessories • SHOP

FINE JEWELRY STORE

THE JEWELRY CENTER • A Trio Jewelry Design Studio • MKB Jewelry • Rohr Jewelers

• Blue Dream Vape & Smoke • Blue on Greenfield • Pipe Dreams LLC • Smokin Glass Greenfield

LIGHTING SHOWROOM

BBC LIGHTING

RUSH-MOR LTD MUSIC & VIDEO

SHOE STORE

STAN'S FIT FOR YOUR FEET

• Allen Edmonds • Milwaukee Boot Company • SayWerd

• LUCE Lighting + Luxuries

JANUARY 2024 | 47

SPECIAL BEST OF MILWAUKEE

B O U G HT & S O LD TOBACCO SHOP

VAPE SHOP

VINTAGE/THRIFT STORE

KNUCKLEHEADS CBD & VAPES

KNUCKLEHEADS CBD & VAPES

PLUME

• Blue Dream Vape & Smoke • Metro Cigars Brookfield • Uhle Tobacco Company

• Blue on Greenfield • Blue Dream Vape & Smoke • TerraSol Dispensary

• Dupree's Vintage • SayWerd • Ultratwist Vintage

H O M E I M PROV E M ENT ARCHITECT

ELECTRICIAN

DAN BEYER ARCHITECTS ROMAN ELECTRIC, • Absolute Home Improvements Inc. PLUMBING, HEATING • Johnsen Schmaling Architects & COOLING INC. • Racinowski Design Studio BASEMENT/REC ROOM REMODELER

JJB HOME IMPROVEMENTS • Design Tech Remodeling • Home Path Remodeling • LaBonte Construction • Refined Renovations

BATHROOM REMODELER

DESIGN TECH REMODELING

• Home Path Remodeling • JJB Home Improvements • LaBonte Construction • Refined Renovations

CLOSET DESIGN

JJB HOME IMPROVEMENTS

• All About Organization • California Closets - Milwaukee • Closets by Design - Milwaukee

• Best Electric Service, Inc. • Brighter Connection Electrical • Current Electric

CREAM CITY LANDSCAPING

• Eco Harmony Landscape & Design • Legacy Landscaping • M C Green Services

HOME BUILDER

PAINTER

BIELINSKI HOMES

JJB HOME IMPROVEMENTS

• JJB Home Improvements • LaBonte Construction • Stepping Stone Homes

HOME REMODELING

JJB HOME IMPROVEMENTS • Design Tech Remodeling • Home Path Remodeling • LaBonte Construction

HVAC

ROMAN ELECTRIC, PLUMBING, HEATING & COOLING INC. • Dave Jones - Plumbing, HVAC, Fire Protection, Electrical • Gross Heating & Air Conditioning • West Allis Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.

• AJ Painting Contractors • Brandon & Sons Painting LLC • Colorwheel Painting • Perfectionist Painting

PLUMBER

ROMAN ELECTRIC PLUMBING, HEATING & COOLING, INC.

• Bontempo Plumbing & Drain Cleaning • Budiac Plumbing Inc • Erspamer Plumbing

ROOFER

SEMPER FI ROOFING & EXTERIORS

• Absolute Home Improvements Inc. • Allrite Home & Remodeling • Formula Home Improvements, Inc.

INTERIOR DESIGN

WINDOW & SIDING

JJB HOME IMPROVEMENTS

ALLRITE HOME & REMODELING

• Carpetland USA Flooring Center West Allis • Graceful Space MKE • Refined Interiors

KITCHEN REMODELER

JJB HOME IMPROVEMENTS • Design Tech Remodeling • Home Path Remodeling • LaBonte Construction 48 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

LANDSCAPER/LAWN MAINTENANCE

• Absolute Home Improvements Inc. • Formula Home Improvements, Inc. • Home Path Windows and Doors

LG BTQ DRAG EVENT

LGBTQ ADVOCATE

LGBTQ-INCLUSIVE BUSINESS

HAMBURGER MARY'S MILWAUKEE

COURAGE MKE

CACTUS CLUB

LGBTQ EVENT

LGBTQ-OWNED BUSINESS

PRIDEFEST

FLOUR GIRL & FLAME

• Blonde Ambition • Lakefront Brewery Drag Queen Bingo • This is it!

DRAG PERSONALITY

DITA VON

• Ester Flonaze • Marbella Sodi • Melee The Queen

• Arika Kaosa • Geoff Hoen • Peter Burgelis

• Courage MKE Gala • Hue Revue • Slayground

• Amilinda • Beard MKE • Flour Girl & Flame

• Artery Ink • Beard MKE • Maya Ophelia’s

M E D I C AL ALCOHOL & DRUG REHAB CENTER

EYE DOCTOR

ORTHODONTIST

ROGERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

MILWAUKEE EYE CARE

BELL ORTHODONTIC SOLUTIONS

• 10th Street Comprehensive Treatment Center • Serenity Inns • United Community Center

CHIROPRACTOR

CHIROPRACTIC COMPANY OF GERMANTOWN

• Front Runner Chiropractic • North Point Chiropractic • Shorewood Family Chiropractic

COSMETIC DENTIST

MAJOR DENTAL CLINICS OF MILWAUKEE • Afterglo Organic Teeth Whitening Studio • Megan Steiner • Stephanie Murphy DDS

COSMETIC SURGEON

DR. ANAND PATEL VISAGE FACIAL PLASTIC SURGERY

• Dr. Lorelle L. Kramer, MD - Aesthetic and Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Center, LLC of Greater Milwaukee • Dr. Thomas G. Korkos • Mark F. Blake, M.D.

DENTIST

DR. DANIEL M. DOMAGALA, DDS

• 414 Eyes • Metro Eye • MyEyeDr.

HOME MEDICAL CARE

• Barden Orthodontics • Bubon Orthodontics • Grafton Orthodontics

AURORA HEALTH AT HOME

PERIODONTIST

HOSPITAL

PHYSICAL THERAPIST

FROEDTERT HOSPITAL

CHIROPRACTIC COMPANY OF WAUKESHA

• Comfort Keepers Home Care • Hearts To Home Senior Home Care • Ralyn Homecare

• Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Hospital - Milwaukee Campus • Aurora St Luke's Medical Center • Children's Hospital Of Wisconsin

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• Revitalize Physical Therapy • Vita Fitness & Physical Therapy • Wisconsin Orthopedic Physical Therapy

MILWAUKEE EYE CARE

PSYCHIATRIST / PSYCHOLOGIST

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

• Aaron Munson, Counselor • Anika Heaverlo • Dr. Carlyle H. Chan, MD

• Jason N. Edmonds, M.D. • LasikPlus • TLC Laser Eye Centers

VITA FITNESS AND PHYSICAL THERAPY • Allison Ayers • Debbie Callif • Medical Support Services • Tender Touch Therapy Medical Support Services

LAKESHORE PSYCHOLOGY SERVICES

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• Kalm Wellness Services Center for Integrated Healing • Living Lighter Health Coaching • Syinthesis Sound Healing Center

• Darling Dental LLC • First Place Dentistry • Stephanie Murphy DDS

JANUARY 2024 | 49

SPECIAL BEST OF MILWAUKEE

M E D I C AL SPEECH THERAPIST

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COMMUNICATION AND FEEDING SPECIALISTS

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• Speech Specialists, LLC • Tender Touch Therapy Medical Support Services

• Natural Escape LLC Wellness Begins Within • Speech Specialists • Zuza's Way Integrative Care

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R EAL ES TATE REAL ESTATE AGENCY

REAL ESTATE AGENT/BROKER

SHOREWEST REALTORS

PETER ADAMS, COLDWELL BANKER REALTY

• Corcoran Realty & Co. • Cornerstone Realtors • Jay Schmidt Group - Keller Williams Realty North Shore

• Katie Corcoran • Lea Byrd • Tegan Dunk Vantage Realty

RENTAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT GROUP

WELCOME HOME MILWAUKEE

• Home Path Property Management • New Land Enterprises • The Bozzuto Group

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AESTHETICIAN

AUTO SERVICE & REPAIR

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• Bryan Esarco • Murray's Tax Service • Simply Balanced Accounting

• Endless Detailing • Lmtless Auto Spa • Sauced Detailing

LOVELY SALON AND SPA MANYO MOTORS • Aesthetics by Ashley • Beauty Marked LLC • Natural Escape LLC

• Hale Park Automotive Inc. • Knepper Brothers Inc • Riverside Automotive Service

ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATION

BANK

WISCONSIN HUMANE SOCIETY MILWAUKEE CAMPUS

CHASE BANK

• Humane Animal Welfare Society HAWS of Waukesha County • JR'S Pups N Stuff • Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission

AUTO BODY SHOP

MILWAUKEE AUTO BODY • Hale Park Automotive Inc • Mander Collision & Glass • Pro Comp Auto Body Inc

50 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

• Bank Five Nine • BMO Harris Bank • PNC Bank

BARTENDING SERVICES

OVER THE MOON BARTENDING • Allure • Pour Inc • The Crafted Tavern

• Brumder Mansion • Schuster Mansion Bed & Breakfast • Sheridan's Bed and Breakfast

AVANT-GARDE

• Atomic Tattoos LLC • Body Ritual • Golden Crystal Body Piercing • Str8 Klownin Ink

BOUTIQUE HOTEL

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• County Clare Irish Inn & Pub • Dubbel Dutch Hotel • Kinn Guesthouse Downtown Milwaukee

CATERER

BUNZEL'S MEAT MARKET

• Carrot Bomb Catering • Over The Moon Bartending • Tall Guy and a Grill Catering

S E RV I C ES R EN D E R E D COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSINMILWAUKEE

• Alverno College • Marquette University • Milwaukee School of Engineering

CREDIT UNION

EDUCATORS CREDIT UNION • Landmark Credit Union • Summit Credit Union • UW Credit Union

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• Dog City Hotel & Spa • Dogtopia of Milwaukee East Side • Tails N' Trails Pets

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EDUCATORS CREDIT UNION • Associated Bank • Chase Bank • Summit Credit Union

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EDUCATORS CREDIT UNION

• Summit Credit Union • UW Credit Union • Wisconsin Mortgage Corporation

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION FOR OPENING A CHECKING ACCOUNT

UW CREDIT UNION • Associated Bank • Bank Five Nine • Summit Credit Union

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION PROVIDING BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE

EDUCATORS CREDIT UNION • BMO Harris Bank • Summit Credit Union • UW Credit Union

FINANCIAL PLANNER/ STOCK BROKER

EDUCATORS CREDIT UNION

• Melinda Wilke & Associates Northwestern Mutual • Summit Credit Union • The Wolf Group - Merrill Lynch Wealth Management

GREEN BUSINESS

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• Anguil Environmental Systems, Inc. • Everything Grows LLC • Tippecanoe Herbs and Apothecary

HAIR REMOVAL

ROSE AESTHETICS THIRD WARD • European Wax Center • Kiras Kove • Lovely Salon and Spa

HAIR SALON - MEN'S

CUTTING GROUP • Gent's Classic Barber Shop • Hedwig's Hair Salon • Stag Barbershop

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LOVELY SALON AND SPA • Elements Salon Suites • Fever Salon • Hedwig's Hair Salon

HOTEL ROOMS

THE PFISTER HOTEL • Brewhouse Inn & Suites • Saint Kate - The Arts Hotel • The Iron Horse Hotel

INSURANCE AGENCY

SHOREWEST INSURANCE ASSOCIATES LLC

• Gramoll & Associates Inc American Family Insurance • Leonard Insurance Services • Reilly Insurance Services

INSURANCE AGENT/BROKER

GRAMOLL & ASSOCIATES INC AMERICAN FAMILY INSURANCE

• Claudia Reilly • Jason Marquardt State Farm Insurance Agent • Meissner Insurance Agency, LLC

LASHES

LASH DOLLS MILWAUKEE

• Gädis Beauty • Salon Nova • The Beauty Hub LLC • VeVa Beauty Bar

LAW FIRM - BANKRUPTCY

DEBT ADVISORS LAW OFFICES MILWAUKEE

• Bankruptcy Law Office of Richard A. Check S. C. • Becker, Hickey & Poster, S.C. • Lombardo Law Office

LAW FIRM - BUSINESS

MELNICK & MELNICK, S.C.

• Fox O'Neill & Shannon • Gruber Law Offices, LLC • OVB Law & Consulting, S.C.

LAW FIRM - CRIMINAL DEFENSE

KIM & LAVOY, S.C.

• Jacob Manian • Jones Law Firm LLC • Mastantuono Coffee & Thomas SC

LAW FIRM - DIVORCE

NELSON, KRUEGER & MILLENBACH, LLC

• Gasparri & Joyce S.C. • Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown, LLP • Halling & Cayo, S.C.

LAW FIRM - ESTATE PLANNING

FOX O'NEILL & SHANNON

• Becker, Hickey & Poster, S.C. • C.H. Law, LLC • Law Offices of Carlson & Lunde, S.C.

JANUARY 2024 | 51

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S E RV I C ES R EN D E R E D LAW FIRM - FAMILY LAW

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• Law Offices of Carlson & Lunde, S.C. • MacGillis Wiemer, LLC • Nelson, Krueger & Millenbach, LLC

LAW FIRM - FULL SERVICE

GIMBEL, REILLY, GUERIN & BROWN, LLP • Fox O'Neill & Shannon • Groth Law Accident Injury Attorneys • Law Offices of Carlson & Lunde, S.C.

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JONES LAW FIRM LLC • Gendlin Liverman & Rymer Sc • Jurowski Law

LAW FIRM - PERSONAL INJURY

HUPY AND ABRAHAM

• Action Law Offices • Gendlin Liverman & Rymer Sc • Groth Law Accident Injury Attorneys • Gruber Law Offices, LLC

MOVING COMPANY

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK

• Back Breakers Moving • Coakley Brothers & Brothers Interiors • Hernia Movers

NAIL SALON

NAIL BAR MILWAUKEE • Future Nails • Lovely Salon and Spa • Studio Nails

• Alexian Villiage • Azura Assisted Living and Memory Care of Brookfield at Mierow Farm • Comfort Keepers Home Care

TATTOO PARLOR

BLACK RABBIT TATTOO COLLECTIVE • Black Dawn Tattoo • Inkwell Tattoo Company • Str8 Klownin Ink

VETERINARIAN

COMMUNITY VETERINARY CLINIC • Bayshore Veterinary Clinic • Brown Deer Animal Hospital LLC • Riverwest Veterinary Clinic • Small Animal Hospital

WEDDING VENUE

THE IVY HOUSE • Story Hill Firehouse • The Pfister Hotel • The Starling

S PO RTS & R EC R EATI O N BOWLING ALLEY

BAY VIEW BOWL

PET GROOMING/SERVICES

• Falcon Bowl • Landmark Lanes • South Shore Bowl

EMBARK PET SPA

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• Beauty & The Barks • Central Bark Oak Creek • Tails N Trails

PHOTOGRAPHER

DEE VON DRASEK PHOTOGRAPHY • Eric Ellis • Lien Phu Photography • Lila Aryan

PICTURE FRAMING GALLERY

SOUTH SHORE GALLERY & FRAMING

• Creative Enterprises • Greenwood Park Gallery & Framing • Sadler Gallery 52 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

S PO RTS & R EC R EATI O N CONTINUED

FAVORITE BUCKS PLAYER

GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO • Bobby Portis • Brook Lopez • Jrue Holiday

FAVORITE PACKERS PLAYER

AARON JONES • AJ Dillon • David Bakhtiari • Jordan Love

GOLF COURSE

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• Brown Deer Park Golf Course • Erin Hills Golf Course • Washington County Golf Course

MINI GOLF COURSE

GASTRAU'S GOLF CENTER

• Holey Mackerel!

• Missing Links Driving Range, Miniature Golf, Toptracer, Golf Course Milwaukee • Nine Below | Build-Your-Own Mini Golf Bar

PADDLESPORTS - RENT OR BUY

MILWAUKEE KAYAK COMPANY

• Brew City Kayak - Milwaukee Kayak Rentals and Tours • Nomad Boardsports • Paddle Pewaukee

REC SPORTS LEAGUE

BREWCITY MILWAUKEE LAKEFRONT BRUISERS | MILWAUKEE ROLLER DERBY MARATHON

FAVORITE BREWERS PLAYER

• Altius Gymnastics Academy • Beckum Stapleton Little League • Fat Daddy's • NorthSouth Club • Volley Life

CHRISTIAN YELICH

ROCK CLIMBING VENUE

• Brew City Half Marathon • Lake Country Triathlon • Milwaukee Marathon

• Corbin Burnes • Rowdy Tellez • Sal Frelick

ADVENTURE ROCK MKE

• Turner Hall Climbing Gym

JANUARY 2024 | 53

SPECIAL HEALTH & WELLNESS TRUE HEALTH

She’s So Hot!

BY KATHERINE BAYLISS, MD

L

isa, an effervescent 53-year-old woman confides “First I feel like I’m going to die. Then I get unspeakably hot and break out in a diffuse sweat dampening my clothes and ruining my make up.”

Hot flash. That telltale sign of women losing hormones. Yet, I contend that reducing women’s experience of menopause to “some uncomfortable episodes of being too hot” dismisses the complexity of this transitional phase of life. First, hot flashes are not just an internal fire. The experience is more like a “neurotransmitter shower” that can be accompanied by feelings of panic, angst, or as in Lisa’s case, doom.

Moreover, most women experience other sometimes debilitating symptoms: insomnia, memory challenges, weight gain, sexual dysfunction, urinary dysfunction, depression, anxiety, even panic attacks. With menopause, risk for several chronic diseases jump:

54 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis. even dementia. Is menopause natural? Of course. But nature doesn’t really care about our health and longevity once we can no longer propagate. Still most women would like to live vibrant lives into old age. So, is hormone replacement therapy (HRT) the answer?

There are few other areas in medicine that have been fraught with as much prolonged controversy and misinformation as HRT. In the ‘90s, postmenopausal HRT was the standard of care.

Then, an alarming press release in 2002 announced early results of the Women’s Health Initiative study (WHI) suggesting HRT increased risk of heart attacks, blood clots, strokes and scariest of all, breast cancer. The approach to menopause was turned on its head overnight, which in the end, in my opinion, was one of the biggest disservices ever done to women’s health.

RISKS IN PERSPECTIVE While too complex to detail here, main issues with the WHI were that the study women tended to be 60 or over (10 years beyond menopause), and the hormones used were Conjugated Equine Estrogen (CEE-a blend of estrogens made from horse urine) with or without Provera—a synthetic progestin.

Today, we typically use bio-identical hormones, (molecules that match our human hormones) which doubtlessly interact differently at a cellular level.

Over the years, further analysis of the WHI showed opposing data: HRT has a helpful effect on cardiovascular and bone health, and generally reduces risk of death in younger women or those in the early postmenopausal period.

To put the risk of breast cancer in perspective, it only occurred in woman that were receiving Provera in conjunction with CEE. Estrogen alone turned out to be protective. In those receivIllustration by Michael Burmesch.

ing Provera, breast cancer increased from about 3/1000 to about 4/1000 per year. This slight increase in breast cancer risk disappeared in subsequent analysis that looked only at women who received HRT closer to the time of menopause, but the new findings never got the headline “splash” of the initial results. Other observational studies have also shown no data proving that HRT causes breast cancer. Yet knowledge gaps persist among doctors, stemming from insufficient training on menopause-related issues and women remain fearful.

Menopausal transition is a major midlife event, usually beginning between ages 45 and 55 and lasting about seven to ten years. I see so many women that start to experience difficult symptoms of anxiety, irritability and insomnia in their mid to late 40s and don’t understand what is happening to them.

Often times a well-intended physician will offer an antidepressant, which might help, but doesn’t address the root cause (it is hormone not serotonin imbalance). There remains a dearth of research on HRT and while HRT is not right for every woman, it is safe to say it is significantly underutilized.

Once we had Lisa on her optimal bio-identical hormone regimen, she could not believe the difference. Her mood is stable, she is sleeping well and has only a rare hot flash. She feels like her old self again.

Katherine Bayliss, MD, a Milwaukee native, practiced in conventional medicine as a pathologist for 25 years. She now lives her passion, helping others through the more holistic Functional Medicine model.

JANUARY 2024 | 55

SPECIAL HEALTH & WELLNESS OUT OF MY MIND

KICKED TO THE CURB, AND IN THE GUT

BY PHILIP CHARD Illustration by Michael Burmesch.

“I’ve been ostracized,” Ellen told me, tearing up.

A decade-long member of a small and tight knit group of friends, she suddenly found herself persona non grata. The decision to cast her out was orchestrated by Tina, the alpha female of this klatch, someone she had considered a close friend and confidant.

“To say I was shocked is a gross understatement,” she reported. “Over the years, I was there to support Tina through her divorce, then a job loss and, just last year, a health crisis. I always had her back.”

“Do you know why she turned on you?”

I asked.

Ellen’s attempts to get a straight answer to that question proved futile.

Tina ended their final conversation by coldly stating that the “cost benefit ratio” for maintaining their friendship was no longer sufficient, but she never provided a clear rationale, leaving Ellen to ruminate about “Why?”

EMPTY TALK The other members of this social confab told Ellen they wished to remain friends, but it proved mostly empty talk. Many of her invitations to socialize were turned aside with lame excuses, and when meetings did occur, there was a decided emotional chill in the air. Ellen imagined that Tina had not only kicked her to the curb but also poisoned the well.

“I’ve been surprised by how painful this has been,” she told me.

56 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

I was not. For most of us, social rejection proves among the more intense emotional wounds one can suffer. In fact, research shows ostracism can be more distressing and wreak greater psychological damage than bullying, intimidation or harassment. More than a few suicides, many by children and teens, can be attributed to this social tar and feathering, much of it exacerbated by social media.

“Two things are at work here,” I told her. “Being rejected is one thing, and that’s bad enough, but when you aren’t given a plausible reason, that makes it far worse.”

Studies show emotional suffering, whatever the source, is exacerbated by not knowing why it is happening.

One’s distress seems meaningless and unjust. If Ellen had been afforded a rational explanation for being cast out, her hurt would have been somewhat easier to bear.

“I don’t know if I’ll ever get over this,” she lamented, and rightfully so.

MOVE ON? If you’ve ever had one or more of the important people in your life cast you out into the interpersonal cold while also failing to provide a cogent explanation for doing so, you realize how challenging it is to let go and move on. In her struggle to cope, Ellen ping-ponged between trying to forgive and practice compassion and feeling consumed with anger and bitterness.

She recognized that resentment is a self-inflicted wound that only amplifies one’s suffering but was unable to transcend it.

As social animals, being ostracized stabs at the heart of foundational human needs, such as belonging and acceptance, and it undermines self-esteem. This causes myriad ill effects, including depression, grief, bitterness and even an inflammatory reaction in the body, and these impacts can persist for long periods of time.

“What can I do?” Ellen pondered.

“You can find someone else who has been shunned and include that person in your life,” I suggested.

And she did. Ellen befriended someone in her workplace who was excluded for her unconventional appearance, and then another from her church who was ostracized by the other congregants for what they perceived as her moral failures. In helping them salve their respective emotional trauma, she experienced some healing of her own.

Gradually, Ellen developed a mindset described by Oprah Winfrey, who said, “I don’t want anyone who doesn’t want me.” An attitude that may sound cold, but one with the best odds of moving past the deep wound of social rejection.

Philip Chard is a psychotherapist and author with a focus on lasting behavior change, emotional healing and adaptation to health challenges.

For more, visit philipchard.com.

JANUARY 2024 | 57

SPECIAL HEALTH & WELLNESS ASK ALLY

Dear Ally, It’s the New Year.

I read your last column about calling our resolutions, “Daily Acts of Courage.”

I’m not there yet. Even though you wrote that we matter, I don’t feel that way.

You also said that changing our mindset is an inside job. I know I had a rough childhood, but I’m afraid to look inside. Maybe nothing’s there. It’s not that I’m shallow; I just don’t know how to go inside. Can you help?

Beginner

Dear Beginner,

Consider yourself, a work in progress, never shallow. You’d be surprised at how many people feel the same way but are too shy to ask. Give yourself a pat on the back for calling yourself a beginner. It automatically gives you the freedom to ask lots of questions and make lots of mistakes.

There’s one significant ingredient to go inside. Quiet time for yourself. Try it. Every day. Even five minutes can put you on the right path. When you intentionally make time for yourself, you start putting yourself first. That sounds easy, but is actually, harder than you think.

GOING WITHIN After trying this for years, I find that it’s best to practice your quiet time, first thing in the morning. You can bring your coffee or tea with you. Sit comfortably on the floor or a chair.

Close your eyes and try to feel the stillness in the room. Stay conscious of your breath. It’s important that you feel relaxed, comfortable and safe in this space.

Everyone reacts to the quiet differently, but there is one constant obstacle: our thoughts. The mind never wants to shut off. Life worries, such as bills, obligations or troubling relationships, will pester you and make you feel restless.

58 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

The thoughts will keep coming. Choose not to follow your thoughts. Let them float away. This is hard work, and it takes a long time. It’s important to stay in the stillness and Accept What Is in The Moment. Stay the course and over time, your determination for the stillness, will outlast your swirling thoughts.

You’ll start learning things about yourself as soon as the chatter is gone. It’s difficult to describe in words, but you’ll start feeling differently about your life. Patience is important here. This practice takes a long time. If you can trust the process, you may begin to feel more peaceful.

A potential positive outcome, generated by the quiet, is that you might hear your inner voice, the wisest part of you.

No hidden agendas here, just your best interest at heart. The ideal situation is to develop your quiet time habit, so that your inner voice becomes louder and easier to hear.

Our inner voice is a tremendous resource and can help shape our lives according to our own wishes, values and goals.

If staying in the stillness isn’t working, you can try guided or silent meditations as well. Insight Timer and Headspace are great free apps.

CHECKING IN WITH OURSELVES Once you have established a routine, spend the rest of the time, enjoying the stillness as long as your time permits.

As you become more comfortable in the silence, you can start the process of going inside with a simple exercise.

Try checking in with yourself over something simple, like a movie or dinner invitation from friends.

Ask yourself whether you really want to go or not. Too often, we automatically accept social invites without even asking ourselves. Listen for an answer.

If nothing happens, try again later. An answer will come to you.

Once you practice the habit of checking in with yourself, your connection to your inner voice will strengthen. You’ll start asking yourself tougher questions and learn to rely on your voice for guidance. After a while, you may even begin to feel like you’re actively creating your life and shaping it according to your wishes.

This is the main reason we go inside, to develop a strong connection with our inner self. As the connection becomes deeper, we’re able to create a life that’s more authentic, more in tune with who we are and who we want to become.

Here for you,

Ally

Send your questions to AskAlly@shepex.com.

JANUARY 2024 | 59

SPECIAL HEALTH & WELLNESS CANNABIS

Farm Bill Extended, Hemp Reform Measures Gain Support Among Stakeholders, Lawmakers

BY SHEILA JULSON Photo by Evgeniya Pavlova/Getty Images.

T

he Sept. 30 renewal deadline for the Farm Bill, a package of agricultural legislation passed

by Congress every five years, has come and gone. On Nov. 16, 2023, President Joe Biden threw the existing Farm Bill a lifeline by signing into law the Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024. This extended the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, a.k.a. the 2018 Farm Bill, so authorized programs can continue through Sept. 30, 2024.

In addition to supporting farmers, ranchers, forestry stewardship, disaster assistance and other vital agricultural programs, the 2018 Farm Bill categorized hemp—the plant cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant—as an agricultural commodity and federally legalized industrial hemp with a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration of less than 0.3%.

In addition, grey areas in the 2018 Farm Bill led to a boom in the production and sales of minor cannabinoids that produce a “high,” such as Delta-8 THC and THCA. These products are particularly popular in states like Wisconsin that have yet to pass any form of marijuana legalization.

Farmers and entrepreneurs that grow, process and sell hemp and its derivates, whether it’s for cannabidiol (CBD), fiber or a food ingredient, all have differing priorities and interests, which will surely complicate policymaking.

“While specific details regarding hemp-related provisions in the impending Farm Bill have yet to be unveiled, the U.S. Hemp Roundtable, in collaboration with 31 national, state, and regional organizations, is actively championing a united industry agenda.

This collective effort emphasizes seven pivotal priorities aimed at alleviating regulatory burdens on hemp farmers 60 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

and ensuring consumer access to safe products,” says Jonathan Miller, general counsel of the U.S. Hemp Roundtable, a leading coalition of companies and organizations committed to safe hemp and CBD products.

We’ve got to wait a little longer to see which reforms make it into the final legislative package, but some key hemp reform bills introduced by lawmakers have gained strong support and have a chance of making it into the final Farm Bill package:

PROPOSALS TO ADDRESS HEMP PRODUCT SAFETY CONCERNS The Congressional Research Service (CRS), a public policy research institute of the United States Congress, states in its Nov. 29, 2023, report, “Farm Bill Primer: Selected Hemp Industry Issues” that while the 2018 Farm Bill addressed hemp cultivation, consumer products containing hemp or hemp derivatives remain unregulated.

The CRS report referenced additional hemp bills that have been filed this session that might be absorbed into broader legislation such as the Farm Bill. One example is S. 2451: Hemp Access and Consumer Safety Act, introduced in July by Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon. It allows regulatory marketing pathways for hemp-derived cannabidiol substances used in dietary supplements and food.

WHAT SEPARATES HEMP FROM CANNABIS? The National Cannabis Industry Association notes that the current definition of hemp “rests on a total THC limit of 0.3%, a figure chosen in the 1970s for classification purposes, not for assessing the plant’s psychoactive effects.

Bumping this limit up to 1% Total THC would have a negligible impact on impairment but could have a monumental effect on farmers’ operations.”

Farmers whose hemp plants test over the current 0.3% limit have to destroy entire crops.

In 2022, Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine filed the Hemp Advancement Act. The legislation would provide hemp reforms such as increasing the 0.3% THC legal threshold for hemp products to 1% on a dry weight basis. There’s strong support among industry groups to fold this legislation into a broader agricultural package.

ENDING DISCRIMINATORY HEMP POLICIES This past March, a bipartisan group of legislators introduced H.R. 1428, The Free to Grow Act 2023, under the Farm Bill. This legislation would expand economic opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals.

The U.S. Hemp Roundtable lists repealing the hemp felon ban that was included in the 2018 Farm Bill among their main priorities, stating, “Promoting justice, equity and the planet by repealing the felon ban in HR 1428, supporting hemp research at minority serving institutions, and enhancing climate opportunities through carbon credit programs.”

Several stakeholders in the hemp industry have expressed support for this bill and other measures to repeal the hemp felon ban. “We remain optimistic that the Farm Bill presents an opportune moment to enact these key changes crucial for the advancement of the hemp industry,” says Miller.

Sheila Julson is a Milwaukeean who writes the Eat Drink and Cannabis Connection columns for shepherdexpress.com.

JANUARY 2024 | 61

SPECIAL WINTER ARTS GUIDE

Winter

ARTS GUIDE JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2024

The Rep Retells ‘Little Women’ for Today’s Audience

A

BY DAVID LUHRSSEN

long with Mark Twain, Louisa May Alcott is one of the few 19th-century American novelists with whom most people are still familiar. Her fame rests on one of the most cherished young adult novels, Little Women (1868).

Alcott’s protagonist and alter ego, Jo March, is a teenage tomboy who’d rather be a writer than a wife. Hollywood has helped keep Little Women in circulation, with Katherine Hepburn starring as Jo in 1933, Winona Ryder in 1994 and Saoirse Ronan in 2019 film. Two 21st century novels were inspired

by Little Women, Katherine Weber’s The Little Women and Geraldine Brooks’ March.

And then there is Kate Hamill’s 2018 stage version of Little Women, directed for the Milwaukee Rep’s upcoming production by Marti Lyons. Lyons is familiar to local theatergoers from her work with American Players Theatre and for directing Wife of a Salesman at the Rep.

LITTLE WOMEN Rebecca Cort, Cy Paolantonio, Katie Peabody, and Amelio García in LIttle Women.

Photo by Bronwen Houck. Coutesy The Milwaukee Repertory Theater.

Lyons describes Hamill as “a marvelous adaptor of stories.”

Her Little Women follows Alcott’s narrative but through her own “high-energy, deeply theatrical, and ensemble-driven aesthetic. While Hamill's work does not encompass the totality of the novel—and how could it?—it so beautifully showcases the heart of Alcott's story,” Lyons continues.

While respecting the integrity of Alcott’s novel, Hamill’s take on Little Women is a version created for audiences today.

“Much like Louisa May Alcott staged plays with her sisters in their living room, so we are an ensemble of artists who are putting on a play set now, then, and in our collective imagination,” Lyons says. “Our costumes, like our set, are inspired by the period, but with contemporary influence and the play takes place across several locations. Ultimately, as an artistic ensemble, we are retelling an American classic through a contemporary lens.”

The Milwaukee Repertory Theater will perform Little Women Jan 16-Feb. 18 at the Quadracci Powerhouse.

Recommended for ages 10 and up.

Rebecca Cort, Katie Peabody, Colleen Madden, Amelio García, and Cy Paolantonio in LIttle Women. Photo by Bronwen Houck.

62 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

Illustrations by Tim Czerniakowski.

JANUARY 2024 | 63

SPECIAL WINTER ARTS GUIDE

53212 PRESENTS

BOMBSHELL THEATRE CO.

CABARET MILWAUKEE

53212presents.org

bombshelltheatre.org

facebook.com/cabmke

5 POINTS ART GALLERY

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Jan. 5-14

CAPITAL CITY THEATRE, MADISON

5ptsartgallery.com

capitalcitytheatre.org

ACACIA THEATRE COMPANY

This One’s for You: The Songs of Barry Manilow, Feb. 22

acaciatheatre.com

CARROLL PLAYERS

THE ALICE WILDS

carroll-players.com

thealicewilds.com

CARTHAGE COLLEGE THEATRE

Untitled (show of ten), through Jan. 20

carthage.edu/arts/ experience-the-arts/ theatre-dance-performances

ALL IN PRODUCTIONS allin-mke.com

CATEY OTT DANCE COLLECTIVE

ALVERNO ART & CULTURES GALLERY The Modern Landscape, Feb. 2-March 9 AMERICAN PLAYERS THEATRE (APT) americanplayers.org APERI ANIMAM aperianimam.com ARTS @ LARGE artsatlargeinc.org BACH CHAMBER CHOIR bachchoirmilwaukee.com Epiphany Concert: Glorious Exultation, Jan. 7, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, New Berlin BAYVIEW GALLERY NIGHT bvgn.org BEL CANTO CHORUS belcanto.org BLACK ARTS MKE blackartsmke.org Black History Month: Hi-Hop Hooray!

School Matinees, Feb. 7-23 BLACK HOLOCAUST MUSEUM abhmuseum.org BOERNER BOTANICAL GARDENS boernerbotanicalgardens.org

cateyott.com CEDARBURG ART MUSEUM Photo by Tim Albrechtson. Courtesy of Bombshell Theatre Co.

cedarburgartmuseum.org

The 1953 Technicolor movie that brought Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe together in a romantic comedy had a history. It was adapted from a 1949 stage musical (“Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend”), based on a 1925 novel by a pioneering Hollywood female playwright, Anita Loos. Loos’ novel spoofed the male libido, always a good subject for comedy. It’s back on stage this winter at the Sunset Playhouse in Elm Grove. (David Luhrssen)

A Decade of Collection Acquisitions, through Jan. 14

BOULEVARD THEATER milwaukeeboulevardtheatre.com THE BOX THEATRE CO. boxtheatreco.org Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Feb. 9-25 Disney has mined familiar fairytales for material since the days of Uncle Walt.

In recent decades, the studio turned twice to Hans Christian Andersen for loose adaptations of his 1837 tale, “The Little Mermaid.” The Broadway musical version debuted in 2007 and has become popular on stage across the U.S. (David Luhrssen) BRONZEVILLE ARTS ENSEMBLE facebook.com/ BronzevilleArtsEnsemble BROOM STREET THEATRE, MADISON bstonline.org

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CEDARBURG CULTURAL CENTER cedarburgculturalcenter.org The Little Show: CCC’s Annual Juried Exhibit, through Jan. 14 CCC’s Annual Members Exhibit, Jan. 20-March 3 CEDARBURG PERFORMING ARTS CENTER cedarburgpac.com Brass Transit: The Musical Legacy of Chicago, Jan. 19 Forever Young, Feb. 24 CHANT CLAIRE CHAMBER CHOIR chantclaire.org CHARLES ALLIS ART MUSEUM charlesallis.org Talk Back Chapter One: Estate, through Jan. 7 CHAZEN MUSEUM OF ART (UW-MADISON) chazen.wisc.edu Art of Enterprise: Israhel van Meckenem’s 15th Century Print Workshop, through-March 24 Look What Harvey Did: Harvey K. Littleton’s Legacy, through Aug. 16

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CHORAL ARTS SOCIETY OF SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN choralartsonline.org THE CONSTRUCTIVISTS

EARLY MUSIC NOW

FALLS PATIO PLAYERS

earlymusicnow.org

fallspatioplayers.com

La Morra, Shaping the Invisible, Feb. 24, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

Pride and Prejudice, Feb. 24, Feb. 9-11

theconstructivists.org CONCORD CHAMBER ORCHESTRA concordorchestra.org Jewels, Jan. 28, Central United Methodist Church CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY cuw.edu COVERED BRIDGE ART STUDIO TOUR cedarburgartistsguild.com DANCECIRCUS dancecircus.org DANCEWORKS PERFORMANCE MKE danceworksmke.org Biome, Created by Gina Laurenzi, Feb. 29-March 3 DAVID BARNETT GALLERY

Photo courtesy of Early Music Now.

On their first North American tour, the seven-member pan-European ensemble will focus on the music of Italy—specifically, the Renaissance era of Leonardo da Vinci. Safe to say that most of us have never heard the music La Morra’s singers and instrumentalists will present, including work by composers such as Giovanni Serraglia and Henricius Issac. Their concert will be an excursion beyond the usual canon of early European music. (David Luhrssen)

Photo by Kris Sapinski. Courtesy Falls Patio Players.

Even if you’ve never read Jane Austen, you know her work through many film, television and theatrical renditions.

Her 1813 novel, Pride and Prejudice, is among her most popular. Although the social system navigated by Elizabeth Bennet is considerably different than the mores of today, her problem of finding the right partner, and seeing through phoniness, remains timely.

(David Luhrssen)

davidbarnettgallery.com

EX FABULA

Latin Voices, through Jan. 14

exfabula.org

FESTIVAL CITY SYMPHONY

Since 2009, Ex Fabula has been connecting community through the art of true, personal storytelling. Ex Fabula, which is Latin for “from stories”, presents storytelling workshops, StorySlams and Community Collaborations where people listen to each other, feel heard, and grow in empathy and understanding. (Morton Shlabotnik)

festivalcitysymphony.org

Nudes in Art, through Jan. 14 DEAD MAN’S CARNIVAL facebook.com/Dead-Mans-Carnival338362982860387

A Classical Affair to Remember, Jan. 27

Seeking Joy/ StorySlam, Jan. 17, Pilot Project Lost/StorySlam, Feb. 28, Ope! Brewing

Photo by Lindsay Jones. Courtesy Festival City Symphony.

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, FCS’ program features music from the Romantic Age—that’s capital “R” for the period in European culture that elevated Lord Byron and E.T.A. Hoffman as well as composers who longed to break the rules, engage in subjective fantasies and explore the exotic, erotic and the sublime. Characteristic among them was Robert Schumann, whose seldom-heard Concert Piece for Four Horns shares the bill with Antonin Dvořák’s Serenade for Strings and Felix Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4.

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Illustrations by Tim Czerniakowski.

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FINE ARTS QUARTET

FORTE THEATRE COMPANY

GROHMANN MUSEUM

fineartsquartet.com

fortetheatrecompany.org

msoe.edu/grohmann-museum

FIRST STAGE

Legally Blonde, Jan. 26-28

firststage.org

Reese Witherspoon starred as a cute, unserious-looking sorority girl in a 2001 romantic comedy, based on an autobiographical novel, that became popular enough to spawn sequels—and a stage play. The Broadway musical opened in 2007 and its assertion of femininity on campus traveled to London’s West End and now to Franklin, Wis. (David Luhrssen)

Cory Bonnet: Patterns of Meaning, Jan. 19-April 28

The Lightning Thief, Feb. 3-March 3, Todd Wehr Theater

FORWARD THEATER, MADISON forwardtheater.com JEFF FRANK

The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk, Jan. 25-Feb. 11

Courtesy of First Stage.

The old gods are still among us. In Rick Riordan’s 2005 novel The Lightning Thief, a 12-year-old boy with ADHD, Percy Jackson, stumbles into an odyssey on a class trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He must confront a nasty Fury, a Minotaur and other beings while coming to terms with his own identity as the son of Poseidon (by a human mother). Sequels followed sales, and then a Broadway rock musical by Rob Rokicki.

FOUR SEASONS THEATRE, MADISON fourseasonstheatre.com The Hello Girls, Feb. 22-March 3

franklymusic.org

Courtesy of Grohmann Museum at MSOE.

FRESCO OPERA THEATRE, MADISON

For “Patterns of Meaning,” Pittsburgh painter Cory Bonnet used old wooden foundry patterns as the foundation for new creations—paintings, sculptures and assemblages. “Patterns of Meaning” is a novel approach to historic preservation coupled with a thoughtful repurposing of industrial artifacts,” says Grohmann’s director James Kieselburg. “Patterns from frames, wheels, core boxes and gears become the materials on which scenes of industry are painted, from which glass is cast, and with which new sculptural assemblages are constructed.” (David Luhrssen)

frescoopera.com GALLERY 218 gallery218.com

Elephant & Piggie, Feb. 24-March 7, Milwaukee Youth Arts Center

Winter Gallery Night/String Theory jazz duo, Jan. 19

FLORENTINE OPERA

GALLERY FOOD HALL

florentineopera.org Songbird, Feb. 16-18 Jacques Offenbach’s operettas have been ranked “among the finest of all light musical entertainment,” an inspiration for Gilbert and Sullivan.

The Florentine Opera’s Songbird is a slimmed down version of Offenbach’s three-act La Périchole (1850), a story of impoverished street singers too poor to pay for a marriage license. Songbird switches the setting to New Orleans and moves the calendar forward to the 1920s. (David Luhrssen)

CORY BONNET

FRANKLY MUSIC

GALLERY NIGHT AND DAY gallerynightmke.com Jan. 19-20 GHS DRAMATIC IMPACT gsdwi.org

GROVE GALLERY gallerygrove.com

GREEN GALLERY

David Jones: Shadow Play, through Jan. 27

Thegreengallery.biz Michelle Grabner: New Paintings and Sculpture, through Jan. 13

Rachel Foster: Empathetic Objects, Feb. 16-March 23

GREENDALE COMMUNITY THEATRE greendaletheatre.org The Last 5 Years, Jan. 11-13

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Illustrations by Tim Czerniakowski.

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HAGGERTY MUSEUM OF ART

HARLEY-DAVIDSON MUSEUM

marquette.edu/haggerty-museum

harley-davidson.com

Image in Dispute: Dutch and Flemish Art from the Haggerty Museum of Art’s Collection, through May 12

Mama Tried: Bringing It Together, through January 2025

It was a time of upheaval and religious conflict in the Low Countries with militant Protestants waging war against religious iconography. “As traditions of artmaking came under increasing verbal and physical attack, artists began to innovate, developing new subjects to accommodate changing beliefs and new pictorial modes that rendered conventional themes with gripping emotion and psychological force,” said curator Kirk Nickel of an exhibit featuring some 50 paintings, engravings and etchings from the Haggerty’s collection. (David Luhrssen) Dynamic Range: Photographs by Bill Tennessen, Jan. 19-May 12

ichc.net Emma Langford, Jan. 27 Reverie Road, Feb. 10

Photo courtesy of Harley-Davidson.

Antwerp painter, The Feast of Achelöus, 1620/1630. Oil on copper. Museum purchase, anonymous fund, 96.6.4, Collection of the Haggerty Museum of Art, Marquette University

IRISH CULTURAL AND HERITAGE CENTER

Mama Tried is an annual invitational for custom motorcycles—from choppers to racing bikes—that draws enthusiasts from around the world to Milwaukee. The H-D Museum’s first major new exhibition since COVID gathers 13 motorcycles, “an eclectic selection of everything and everyone,” says curator David Kreidler. When held in recent years at the Eagles Ballroom, Mama Tried has included as many as 100 motorcycles plus vendors. “We’re not trying to recreate the event but introduce the event,” Kreidler explains.

(David Luhrssen) Off-Road Harley-Davidson, continuing Building a Milwaukee Icon: HD’s Juneau Ave. Factory, continuing Tsunami Motorcycle Display continuing H. F. JOHNSON GALLERY OF ART carthage.edu/art-gallery Beauty Will Save the World, through-Jan. 20 HOVER CRAFT hovercraftmke.com HYPERLOCAL MKE hyperlocalmke.com INSPIRATION STUDIOS ART GALLERY inspirationstudiosgallery.com Rogues Artists Group Exhibit, February

Reverie Road is a new Celtic trad band of former members from well-known groups Solas (John Williams on accordion and Winifred Horan on fiddle) and Gaelic Storm (Katie Grennan on fiddle), plus concert and Indian raga pianist Utsav Lal. They come to town on their first tour with a brand new album.

Judging from their already-released single “The Gap of Dreams,” this promises to be a great show from some veteran players. (Barry Houlehen) The Drowsy Lads, Feb. 17 JAMES MAY GALLERY jamesmaygallery.com Lydia Disdain, Lorna Ritz, J Myska Lewis, January JAZZ GALLERY CENTER FOR THE ARTS jazzgallerycenterforarts.org Free Improvisation Sessions, Saturday mornings Milwaukee Jazz Institute, Sunday afternoons JEWISH MUSEUM MILWAUKEE jewishmuseummilwaukee.org The Book Smugglers: Partisans, Poets and the Race to Save Jewish Treasures from the Nazis, Jan. 19-May 19 The act of writing has always been sacred in Jewish history, and its centrality is illustrated by the efforts of Lithuanian Jews to rescue their literary heritage from destruction. JMM curator Molly Dubin describes the exhibit as a “nearly unbelievable true story” of Jews who, during the Holocaust and its aftermath, “through brave acts of resistance, powerful friendship and devotion to literature, rescued thousands of rare books and manuscripts.”

(David Luhrssen)

Theatrical Tendencies, The Submission, February

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Illustrations by Tim Czerniakowski.

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JOHN MICHAEL KOHLER ARTS CENTER jmkac.org/home.html Asberry Davis: Run Your Own Way, through Jan. 7 Sunny Leerasanthanah: Naturalization, through Jan. 28 Kea Tawans: I Traveled into the Future in a Dream, through Jan. 28 Recent Acquisitions: Mary Jo Schwalback, through Feb. 4 Sharing the Same Breath, through April 21 Rose B. Simpson: Counterculture, through Feb. 25 Cloth as Land, through June 16 The 30-piece exhibit, which runs through June 16, 2024, taps into JMKAC’s already impressive collection of traditional HMong textiles augmented by examples of contemporary HMong mixed-media art. (Michael Muckian)

KETTLE MORAINE SYMPHONY kmsymphony.org Beethoven’s Fifth, Jan. 27 (UWM Washington County) Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony in C Minor was for a long while the most performed symphony in the canon and it remains the most familiar—even to non-classical audiences. The stark opening theme is the sonic manifestation of the defiant spirit of humanity, struggling forward against adversity.

It’s music for our time. (David Luhrssen) KOHLER MEMORIAL THEATER

MARCUS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER marcuscenter.org DRUMLine Live, Jan. 6 Funny Girl, Jan. 9-14 (Broadway Series) Forbidden Broadway: The Next Generation, Jan. 25-27 Cécile McLorin Salvant, Jan. 27 The Magic of Bill Blagg Live, Feb. 2 The Lightning Thief, Feb. 3-March 3 (First Stage)

kohlerfoundation.org

Black Violin, Feb. 9

KO-THI DANCE COMPANY

Dance Theatre of Harlem, Feb. 14

ko-thi.org LAKE ARTS PROJECT lakeartsproject.com LAKE COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE lakecountryplayhousewi.org Miscast Cabaret, Jan. 13

Johnny Cash: The Official Concert Experience, Feb. 15 Songbird, Feb.16–18 (Florentine Opera) Mamma Mia! Feb. 20-25 (Broadway Series)

Geezers, Jan. 26-Feb. 11 Urinetown the Musical, Feb. 28-March 10 LATINO ARTS, INC. latinoartsinc.org Celebrating Our Shared Roots, through Feb. 23 11th Annual Guitar Festival Concert, Feb. 11 LILY PAD GALLERY WEST lilypadgallery.com Into the Night, through Jan. 7 LYNDEN SCULPTURE GARDEN lyndensculpturegarden.org LaNia Sproles: Products of the Heart, through Feb. 25 MADISON MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART mmoca.org MADISON THEATRE GUILD madisontheatreguild.org

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(L to R) Jalynn Steele (Tanya), Christine Sherrill (Donna Sheridan), and Carly Sakolove (Rosie). Photo by Joan Marcus. Courtesy Marcus Performing Arts Center.

The feel-good 1999 Broadway hit was adapted into a popular 2008 movie starring Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan. The romantic comedy features crowd favorites from Swedish supergroup ABBA, such as “Lay All Your Love on Me,” “Waterloo” and “Dancing Queen.” (David Luhrssen) Delfeayo Marsalis, Feb. 29 MARN ART + CULTURE HUB marnarts.org Yosh Yorner FW24//Slush, Jan. 12 MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY THEATRE marquette.edu/communication/ theatre-arts.php

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MASTER SINGERS OF MILWAUKEE

MILWAUKEE BALLET

MILWAUKEE MAKERS MARKET

mastersingersofmilwaukee.org

milwaukeeballet.org

milwaukeemakersmarket.com

MATERIAL STUDIOS + GALLERY

Genesis, Feb. 8-11

MILWAUKEE MUSAIK

materialstudiosandgallery.com

The 11th edition of Milwaukee Ballet’s biannual Genesis International Choreographic Competition offers three one-act world premieres from company dancers by exciting emerging choreographers chosen by artistic director Michael Pink. Covid risk limited the 2022 competition to Americans, but this year’s contestants are Australia’s Jack Lister, Italy’s Matteo Di Loreto and New Jersey’s Tsai Hsi Hung. Qualified judges from around the country select the winner who, in addition to receiving the top cash prize, will return in 2025 to create a full-length premiere. A cash award also goes to the one choreographer voted favorite by audiences.

(John Schneider)

milwaukeemusaik.org

MEMORIES DINNER THEATRE memoriesballroom.com MENOMONEE FALLS SYMPHONY mfso.net Valentine’s Dinner Concert with vocalist Corynn Latta, Feb. 10 (Davian’s, Menomonee Falls) MIAD GALLERY AT THE AVE galleryattheave.miad.edu Punks, Geeks, and Lovers: A Zine Exhibition, through Jan. 27 MILLER HIGH LIFE THEATRE Shen Yun, Feb. 3-4

MILWAUKEE CHAMBER THEATER

Gala Evening with Joyce Yang, Jan. 23 (Wisconsin Lutheran College Center for Arts & Performance) MILWAUKEE OPERA THEATRE milwaukeeoperatheatre.org MILWAUKEE REPERTORY THEATER milwaukeerep.com Guys on Ice, Jan. 12-March 13 (Stackner Cabaret) Little Women, Jan. 16-Feb. 18 (Quadracci Powerhouse) What the Constitution Means to Me, Feb. 6-March 10 (Stiemke Studio) MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM

milwaukeechambertheatre.org

mam.org

A Moon for the Misbegotten, Jan. 19-Feb. 4

mso.org

MILWAUKEE CHILDREN'S CHOIR

Mozart Oboe & Symphony, Feb. 2-3

Darrel Ellis: Regeneration, through Jan. 14 50 Paintings, through June 23

milwaukeechildrenschoir.org

So, what can be said of such a diverse cross-section of 50 unrelated contemporary paintings? A lot, actually.

Namely that all cross-sections have their own particular angle-of-entry.

The works in “50 Paintings” are indeed diverse in form, strategy, and style; the curators have a good read on the attitudes that are bubbling in contemporary art studios, as well as the histories from which they’ve sprung.

(Shane McAdams)

The Music Must Dance, Feb. 25 (St. Sebastian Parish)

Art, Life, Legacy: Northern European Paintings in the Collection of Isabel and Alfred Bader, through Jan. 28

mkefilm.org

Labadie Conducts Mozart, Jan. 26-27

Beethoven Piano & Pictures at an Exhibition, Feb. 9-10

mkefringe.com

Modest Mussorgsky sought “a new kind of melody” that emulated the inflections of human speech. Whether or not he achieved that end, the Russian composer added several works to the classical music canon, including Pictures at an Exhibition (1874). Moved by the death of his close friend, painter Victor Hartmann, Mussorgsky wrote Pictures with unusual speed as a tribute. The piano suite is accompanied at the MSO concert by Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and a work by early 20th century Mexican composer Silvestre Revueltas, Redes. (David Luhrssen)

MILWAUKEE INSTITUTE OF ART & DESIGN GALLERY

Goosby Plays Mendelssohn, Feb. 23-25

MILWAUKEE COMEDY milwaukeecomedy.com MILWAUKEE FESTIVAL BRASS mfbrass.org Holiday Brass, Dec. 9 (St. Sebastian Parish) MILWAUKEE FILM

MILWAUKEE FRINGE FESTIVAL

miad.edu MILWAUKEE IRISH ARTS milirisharts.wordpres.com MILWAUKEE JAZZ INSTITUTE milwaukeejazzinstitute.org MILWAUKEE JAZZ ORCHESTRA mjojazz.com 74 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

Illustrations by Tim Czerniakowski.

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MILWAUKEE YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA myso.org Rhythmic Revolution, Jan. 26 Flute Fanfare, Feb. 7 Symphonic Spectacular, Feb. 10 Symphonic Power, Feb. 11 Prelude Winter Wind Ensemble, Feb. 21 Progressions Winter Concert, Feb. 22 Founders Concert, Feb. 24 MILWAUKEE YOUTH THEATRE milwaukeeyouththeatre.org The Day the Waters Came, Feb. 1-2, Feb. 4 MORNING STAR PRODUCTIONS

NEXT ACT THEATRE nextact.org Scarecrow, Feb. 21-March 17 Playwright Heidi Armbruster stars in her own one-woman play, an autobiographical piece about a New York City actress who returns to her Wisconsin family’s dairy farm as her father is dying. Scarecrow is funny and touching, one part loss and two parts survival. Armbruster described it by saying there is “an opportunity in grief or crisis to reconfigure or recommit.”

(David Luhrssen) NŌ STUDIOS

OVERTURE CENTER FOR THE ARTS, MADISON overture.org Beetlejuice, through Jan. 14 Perfect Pair: Mozart & Mahler, Jan. 19-21 Yid Vicious, Jan. 20 The Rainbow Fish, Jan. 20 The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk, Jan. 25-Feb. 11 Shane Gillis, Jan. 26 The Anonymous Lover, Feb. 2-4

nostudios.com

Panchromatic Steel, Feb. 3

NORTH SHORE ACADEMY OF THE ARTS

PAINT CEDARBURG: A PLEIN AIR PAINTING EVENT

facebook.com/ northshoreacademyofthearts

cedarburgartistsguild.com/ paint-cedarburg

morningstarproductions.org

NORTHERN SKY THEATER

MUSEUM OF WISCONSIN ART

northernskytheater.com

wisconsinart.org

OCONOMOWOC ARTS CENTER

Lon Michels: Disrupting Patterns, through Jan. 21

oasd.k12.wi.us/artscenter

philomusicaquartet.com

The Piano Men: Celebrating Billy Joel & Elton John, Jan. 12

Winter Masters, Feb. 12 (Schwan Concert Hall)

Wrong Window, Jan. 25-27 (OHS Players)

PIANOARTS

Katherine Steichen Rosing: Resilience, through Feb. 18 MOWA | DTN (SAINT KATE-THE ARTS HOTEL) Vaughan Larsen: Everything I Could Ever Want, through Jan. 14 Various exuberant and fertile tendrils snake through Vaughan Larsen’s exhibition “Everything I Could Ever Want,” on view at MOWA-DTN through Jan. 14, 2024. Literally, the show is backdropped by their own fetching hand-designed, vegetal-patterned wallpaper, against which plays out a frolicking exploration of identity in the form of photographic portraiture.

Within the socio-political landscape of 2023, this verdant visual display might be read from the outset as anything from postmodern social politics to pre-Adamic innocence, though the longer one remains in Larsen’s garden, the more natural it all seems.

(Shane McAdams) MOWA ON THE LAKE (ST. JOHN’S ON THE LAKE)

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Shrek the Musical Jr., Feb. 8-10 (Silver Lake Intermediate) The Wizard of Oz, Feb. 22-24 (Nature Hill Intermediate) OIL A CITY GALLERY oilmilwaukee.com OPTIMIST THEATRE optimisttheatre.org OUTSKIRTS THEATRE facebook.com/outskirtstheatre Bat Boy, Feb. 5-14 OVER OUR HEAD PLAYERS overourheadplayers.org Seven Sacrifices, Jan. 19-20, Jan. 25- 28 Snow Dance 2024, Feb. 9-11, Feb. 15-18, Feb. 22-25, Feb. 29

PENINSULA PLAYERS peninsulaplayers.com PHILOMUSICA QUARTET

pianoarts.org PORTRAIT SOCIETY GALLERY portraitsocietygallery.com PRESENT MUSIC presentmusic.org Cello, Cello, Jan. 31, Feb. 1 (Jan Serr Studio) Recently appointed as Kronos Quartet’s cellist, Paul Wiancko will debut a commission by Milwaukee’s Jan Serr and John Shannon. Wiancko’s older chamber works, American Haiku, Closed Universe, and When the Night Comes will also be performed. “Cello, Cello” will also feature a second world premiere, a new multi-media work

by Pamela Z (along with some of her earlier pieces). “The concert will finish with the Fluxus audience-participation classic Hooting and Drinking Machine

by John White, and then segue into a post-concert reception,” says PM’s Co-Artistic Director Eric Segnitz.

(David Luhrssen)

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PROMETHEUS TRIO

RACINE THEATRE GUILD

wcmusic.org

racinetheatre.org

Haydn, Moravec and Brahms, Feb. 5

Dial M for Murder, Jan. 12-28

“This year is different insofar as we have a different violinist for each concert and our programs are affected by our guests. We definitely consult with them on the program,” said Prometheus’ Stefanie Jacob. Her daughter, Emmy Tisdel, will join the trio as guest violinist on this program, playing Paul Moravec’s Mood Swings. They will be joined by Georgi Dimitrov, a violist with the MSO, for Brahms Piano Quartet in G minor, Op 25. A Haydn trio will fill out the program. (Ken Kapp) QUASIMONDO PHYSICAL THEATRE quasimondo.org RACINE ART MUSEUM ramart.org RAM Showcase: Four Jewelers and the Artists of Color Acquisition Fund, through Jan. 13 RAM Staff Selects: A Community Curated Exhibition, through Jan. 13 Variations on a Theme: Artists Books, through Jan. 13 Collection Focus: Don Reitz, through Feb. 3 Wisconsin Artists 1960-90, through Feb. 3 Gathering Voices at RAM: 20 Years of Building America’s Largest Contemporary Craft Collection, through Feb. 24

DIAL M FOR MURDER

saintkatearts.com Donna Ruff: Focal Point, through Jan. 14 Erik Benson: A Happy Place, through Jan. 14 Soobin Jeon, through Jan. 14 William Lamson, through Jan. 14 SEAT OF OUR PANTS READER THEATRE mkereaderstheatre.com

Cast left to right: Lindy Haug (Margot), Mark Neufang (Tony), Scott Kovacik (Max). Photo by Joycelyn Fish. Courtesy Racine Theatre Guild.

“Do you really believe in the perfect murder?” Margot asks her lover, a murder mystery author. In Alfred Hitchcock’s adaptation of Dial M for Murder, Margot was played unforgettably by Grace Kelly and her lover, Max, by the nervously affable Robert Cummings.

Ray Milland was Margot’s suave husband, plotting her demise. Hitchcock based the film on a play by Frederick Knott; the stage version is making a comeback with a recent version at the Milwaukee Rep and now at RTG. (David Luhrssen) Alice in Wonderland, Feb. 2-4 The Golden Girls Special, Feb. 3-4 Broadway Blockbusters, Feb. 10

SHARON LYNNE WILSON CENTER FOR THE ARTS wilson-center.com Genevieve Heyward, Feb. 9 Milwaukee Classical Guitar Society, Xufei Yang, Feb. 10 Steve March-Torme, Feb. 14 Bodytraffic, Feb. 23 SHEBOYGAN THEATRE COMPANY stcshows.org Into the Woods, Feb. 16-24 SKYLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE skylightmusictheatre.org Xanadu, Jan. 26-Feb. 11

Kal Bergendahl Project, Feb. 17

SOUTH MILWAUKEE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Now and Then, Feb. 23-March 10

southmilwaukeepac.org

REAL TINSEL GALLERY

Going Gershwin: Ryan & Ryan, Jan. 19

RAM Showcase: Focus on Clay, through May 25

realtinsel.com

RAM’s First 20 Years: A Visual History of the Art and Architecture, through July 20

r-t-w.com The Wolves, Jan. 21-Feb. 11

RACINE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

sacranovacathedrale.com

racinesymphony.org

SAINT KATE - THE ARTS HOTEL GALLERY

RENAISSANCE THEATERWORKS

SACRA NOVA CHORALE

George Gershwin was one of the most remarkable American composers of the early 20th century, He wrote hit songs (“Fascinating Rhythm”), orchestral compositions (Rhapsody in Blue) and an opera (Porgy and Bess).

Rising from roots in Tin Pan Alley, he was determined to reconcile European traditions with the vernacular music of America, especially jazz.

(David Luhrssen) Catapult Magic Shadows, Feb. 2

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Illustrations by Tim Czerniakowski.

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SUNSET PLAYHOUSE sunsetplayhouse.com Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, through Jan. 14 (Bombshell Theatre Co.) A Fox on the Fairway, Jan. 18-Feb. 4 Other Desert Cities, Jan. 19-21 Soul Sisters: Aretha to Whitney, Jan. 22-23 Country Crossover, Feb. 8-11 THEATRE GIGANTE theatregigante.org THEATRICAL TENDENCIES theatricaltendencies.com The Submission, Feb. 16-18, Feb. 23-25 THIRD AVENUE PLAYHOUSE, STURGEON BAY thirdavenueplayworks.org THRASHER OPERA HOUSE, GREEN LAKE thrasheroperahouse.com TORY FOLLIARD GALLERY toryfolliard.com UW-PARKSIDE THEATRE uwp.edu/the rita/ theatreperformances.cfm UW-MILWAUKEE PECK SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

UWM THEATRE/PECK SCHOOL OF THE ARTS UWM UNION ART GALLERY uwm.edu/studentinvolvement/ arts-and-entertainment/ union-art-gallery UW-WHITEWATER CROSSMAN GALLERY uww.edu/coac/crossman UW-WHITEWATER YOUNG AUDITORIUM uww.edu/youngauditorium VAR GALLERY & STUDIOS

UWM Wind Ensemble & Symphony Band, Feb. 16 (Zelazo Center) Miscast 2024 (Music Building Recital Hall), Feb. 17 First & Second Year Voice Recital, Feb. 19 80 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

WILD SPACE DANCE COMPANY wildspacedance.org WINDFALL THEATRE windfalltheatre.com

bairdcenter.com

VILLA TERRACE DECORATIVE ARTS MUSEUM

WISCONSIN CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC wcmusic.org

villaterrace.org

WISCONSIN CRAFT

Supernova: Hope Yang & Keith Kaziak, through March 10

wisconsincraft.org

VILLAGE PLAYHOUSE villageplayhouse.org VOICES FOUND voicesfoundrep.com WALKER'S POINT CENTER FOR THE ARTS wpca-milwaukee.org

Vocal Arts Festival, Jan. 26-27 (Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts)

Fiber/Form 2023, Feb. 2-16

WEST PERFORMING ARTS CENTER nbexcellence.org/community/ westpac.cfm

John Alleyne: Super Natural, through Feb. 17

WAREHOUSE ART MUSEUM

Winterdances: Liminal, Feb. 1-4 (Theatre Building Mainstage Theatre)

Blind Dating at Happy Hour, Feb. 9-11, Feb. 16-18 (West Bend Masonic Center)

WISCONSIN CENTER

wammke.org

Cello Cello, Jan. 31-Feb. 1 (Present Music) (Jan Serr Studio)

westbendtheatreco.com

vargallery.com

uwm.edu/arts/events

Vocal Showcase Recital, Jan. 26 (Music Building Recital Hall)

WEST BEND THEATRE COMPANY

WISCONSIN LUTHERAN COLLEGE CENTER FOR ARTS AND PERFORMANCE wlc.edu WLC Jazz Festival Concert, Jan. 20 The Fourth Wall, Feb. 4 Philomusica String Quartet, Feb. 12 WLC Theatre: Encore!

Feb. 16-18, 22-24 Sarah Hagen, Feb. 25

John Gruenwald

WISCONSIN MUSEUM OF QUILTS & FIBER ART

WATER STREET DANCE MILWAUKEE

wiquiltmuseum.com

waterstreetdancemke.com WAUKESHA CIVIC THEATRE waukeshacivictheatre.org Bat Boy: The Musical (Outskirts Theatre Co.), through Jan. 14 Songs I’ve Grown Into, Songs I’ve Grown Out Of, Jan. 19-20

Winter Quilt Show 2024, Feb. 10 WISCONSIN PHILHARMONIC wisphil.org Waukesha JanBoree Family Concert, Jan. 21 (St. Luke Lutheran Church, Waukesha)

The Humans, Feb. 2-18

WOODLAND PATTERN BOOK CENTER

Joe Richter, Feb. 14

woodlandpattern.org

WEST ALLIS PLAYERS westallisplayers.org

WUSTUM MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS ramart.org

JANUARY 2024 | 81

SPECIAL PETS | SPONSORED BY TAILS N' TRAILS PETS LLC

KIBBLE SEEMS SAFE, BUT …

BY CALEY WEIS, BARK N’ SCRATCH OUTPOST ASSOCIATE

A

recent dog food recall has the pet industry talking. Some people may think raw food is likely to be the face of a recall, but that isn’t the case.

According to The Raw Dog Food Truth podcast, 66% of all pet food recalls in the past 10 years have been kibble related. More astoundingly, 98% of pathogenic bacteria (salmonella, listeria, or e coli) recalls in 2021 were for kibble.

Feeding kibble is easy and cost effective. It seems safe, too, because kibble is cooked. However, kibble can contain traces of bad bacteria.

You wouldn’t touch cooked hamburgers with your bare hands and then go about your day without washing them. Yet, humans touch dog kibble without thinking twice about washing their hands afterwards. In addition to containing meat, kibble is sprayed with fats and oils that transfer at the touch.

Regardless of the pet food you are feeding, it is important to wash hands, scoopers, bowls, and mats regularly

Photo by Agustin Vai/Getty Images.

82 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

to ensure bad bacteria isn’t given the right breeding grounds to multiply. Additionally, ensure that children don’t have access to pet food bowls. Even if the bowl is empty, the fats and oils leftover could contain bad bacteria that your toddler is now putting in their mouth.

Many kibble feeders dump pet food bags into a plastic container. Unfortunately, this can cause more harm than good. Remember those fats and oils?

They build up inside the container and grow rancid, developing invisible molds.

It is best to keep dry dog food inside its original packaging because pet food bags are designed to keep kibble fresh.

Stop in seven days a week with any questions. At Bark n Scratch Outpost, we think outside the bag.

Content sponsored by Bark n’ Scratch Outpost. Locally owned since 2006, Carrie, Michael and staff are dedicated to educating pet owners about healthy options for their pets.

Bark n’ Scratch is located at 5835 W. Bluemound Road, Milwaukee, WI 53213. www.milwaukeepetfood.com JANUARY 2024 | 83

CULTURE

This Month in Milwaukee

Photo courtesy of Friends of the Domes.

6 THINGS TO DO IN JANUARY

BY SOPHIA HAMDAN, ELIZABETH LINTONEN, DAVID LUHRSSEN AND BLAINE SCHULTZ OPEN SIX DAYS EACH WEEK

THURSDAY, JAN. 18

Mitchell Park Domes p The Domes are among Milwaukee’s architectural landmarks, but they are also monuments to the more hopeful, space-age future widely imagined when they opened in the 1960s. The trio of beehive structures—the Tropical Dome, the Desert Dome and the Floral Show Dome—are open year-round but are especially welcome this time of year, giving Milwaukeeans a chance to trade the cold for warmer climates and exotic foliage.

Kevn Kinney w/ Miles Nielsen Shank Hall Thomas Wolfe had it wrong. Kevn Kinney’s return visits to Milwaukee often include a local performance where Photo of Kevn Kinney the songwriter lets courtesy of Shank Hall. his hair down and tells a few stories. Picking up to move to Atlanta in the ‘80s, Kinney’s band Drivin N Cryin grabbed the brass ring and swung from Island to Geffen Records. Along the way he found a careerist path slightly out of the spotlight worked just fine and simply kept finding ways to make music.

An anticipated 100-plus song tribute to Kinney rolls out soon.

JANUARY 14 Big Head Todd and The Monsters w/ Martin Zeller The Pabst Theater As high points go it was impressive: In 2011 the crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery was awakened by a live performance of “Blue Sky” by Big Head Todd and The Monsters. Led by Todd Park Mohr, the band has been at it for three and a half decades of writing, recording and touring with over 20 albums to their credit. It seems like a lifetime ago when opener Martin Zeller fronted The Gear Daddies, making frequent stops to Milwaukee music clubs.

Back then the Minnesota band that was tilling the fields of Americana while radio was drowning in grunge.

SATURDAY, JAN. 20

Image by NSA Digital Archive/

Getty Images.

Beethoven X Coldplay p Bradley Symphony Center Beethoven X Coldplay transforms the Eroica into an oratorio, weaving the melodies and lyrics of Coldplay into the original Beethoven, pairing them together based on content and context.

It is the alternate Eroica Beethoven may have created had he known the music of Coldplay at the time. Three worldclass vocalists join a full orchestra, and conductor-composer Steve Hackman alternates between conducting the orchestra and playing the piano. Many of Coldplay’s most well-known songs are interpolated, including “Yellow,” “Viva La Vida,” Clocks” and “The Scientist.”

JANUARY 16

JANUARY 26-28

Andrew J. Graff u Boswell Book Company Author Andrew J. Graff returns to Boswell with his latest novel True North. Set in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, where Graff grew up, True North follows the fictional story of the Brecht family as they navigate family dynamics, drama and togetherness in the face of natural disaster. Graff captures a heartwarming story of struggle that serves as a refreshing read to celebrate the start of the new year. Program begins at 6:30 p.m.

“Forbidden Broadway: The Next Generation” Marcus Performing Arts Center Save the date! Forbidden Broadway: The Next Generation hits Marcus Center’s Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall.

This Tony Award winning performance weaves satirical comedy into over 30 fan-favorite Broadway hits including Hamilton, Wicked, Frozen and more.

It’s a fresh perspective on traditional theater, and you’ll want to be in the room where it happens.

84 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

JANUARY 2024 | 85

HEAR ME OUT DEAR RUTHIE | SPONSORED BY UW CREDIT UNION

A STICKY, STINKY SITUATION DEAR RUTHIE, I caught my partner selling his worn, dirty underwear to fetish lovers online, and I’m not sure how I feel about it. It’s not as though he’s cheating on me, but it feels like he is somehow.

The fact that he kept it from me tells me he knows he did something wrong.

While I wondered where the extra cash was coming from, I didn’t investigate things as well as I should have. The money is surprisingly good, but it just feels off. I don’t know how to feel or what to do.

ANY THOUGHTS,

Słinky Siłuałion DEAR STINK BOMB, I gotta tell ya, this is a new one for me! Dirty undies? Really?

People never cease to amaze me.

While he’s not exactly pimping himself out in a sexual manner— no web cam shows, nude photos or outright prostitution, I can see how the sexual nature of this has you bothered.

Start by talking to him as to why he kept this from you. That conversation should open up communications about what’s really going on here. In the end, if you’re simply not comfortable with his side business, ask him to stop. Explain that it’s hard for you to move forward with your relationship with this activity going on in the background. If he refuses to close shop, this may not be the relationship for either of you.

XXOO

Ruthie

Have a question for Ruthie? Want to share an event with her? Contact Ruthie at dearruthie@shepex.com.

Follow her on social media, too!

Facebook: Dear Ruthie | Instagram: RuthieKeester | Twitter: @DearRuthie

86 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

DEAR RUTHIE BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Ruthie's Social Calendar JANUARY 9 SHEPHERD EXPRESS BEST OF MILWAUKEE AWARDS AT ITALIAN COMMUNITY CENTER (631 E. CHICAGO ST.): The voting is done, and the fun has begun! The Shepherd Express team tabulated your votes, and the winners will be announced at this annual reception. Get your ticket at https://www.shepherdtickets.com/events/146714941/best-of-milwaukee and enjoy live music, food, cash bars and more during the 5-8 p.m. party.

THROUGH JANUARY 14 FUNNY GIRL AT MARCUS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER (929 N. WATER ST.): The much-talked about revival rolls into Cream City with this charming production. As heartfelt as it is hilarious, this exciting tour moves on after its January 14 performance so see www.marcuscenter.org today for tickets and show times.

JANUARY 12 & 13 GOBLIN KING MASQUERADE BALL AT TURNER HALL BALLROOM (1040 VEL R. PHILLIPS AVE.): Explore an enchanting world of fantasy with cash bars, drag shows, photo booths, waltz classes, scavenger hunts, vendors and more. See www.awkwardnerdevents.com for details, tickets, dress code and Pride Night specifics.

JANUARY 14 THE WISCONSIN DRAG AWARDS AT FIVE NIGHTCLUB (5 APPLEGATE COURT, MADISON): The Drag Awards are back and better than ever! Discover who the winners are in multiple categories, including Best Drag Queen and Favorite Community Partner and others.

Will I take the Comedy Queen category? Attend the 8 p.m. event to find out. There is no cover charge, but you can reserve a $25 table by emailing blbproductions2022@gmail.com.

JANUARY 18 BINGO GAME SHOW AT HAMBURGER MARY’S (730 S. FIFTH ST.): See what has the city talking when you hit up this hilarious drag-queen bingo that amps up the fun with a few riffs on game shows. Eat, drink and be “Mary” during the free 7:30 p.m. bingo night where donations go to a local charity.

JANUARY 27 PRIDE NIGHT FOR XANADU AT SKYLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE (158 N. BROADWAY ST.): The gods have descended upon Cream City to bring us this kooky musical and a pride night all rolled into one! Arrive early to meet me and the rest of Milwaukee’s own Golden Girls after getting tickets at www.broadwaytheatrecenter.com.

JANUARY 2024 | 87

HEAR ME OUT | SPONSORED BY UW CREDIT UNION

Photo by aaron LeMay/Getty Images.

Milwaukee Recognized Among the Nation’s LGBTQ+ Friendly Cities

FIVE YEARS OF TOP RANKING ON HRC MUNICIPAL EQUALITY INDEX

BY PAUL MASTERSON

M

ilwaukee recently made the Top LGBTQ+ Friendly Cities List. While it is nice to be number one or among the top 10, ranking 15th among the 50 metropolitan areas in contention is quite an accomplishment. Consider that those top tier cities include San Francisco as No. 1 (the nation’s gay mecca since the 1970s), four other Californian cities, as well as the other usual suspects, Chicago, Denver and New Orleans with a couple of surprises, Baltimore and Pittsburgh. Recognition required an array of criteria to fulfill, of course, but among the most important was the particular city’s Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Municipal Equality Index (MEI) score. Milwaukee, meanwhile, celebrates its fifth consecutive 100% MEI rating for the past five consecutive years.

Established in 2012 as a measure of LGBTQ+ equality of nation’s cities, the HRC defines the Municipal Equality Index as “an examination of how inclusive municipal laws, policies and services are of LGBTQ+ people who live and work there.” Scoring criteria are divided among five categories: I. Non-Discrimination Laws (to include evaluation 88 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

of relevant city, county and state laws); II. Municipality as Employer (to include non-discrimination employment and contractor practice); III. Municipal Services (to include an Equality Commission and LGBTQ+ Liaison); IV. Laws Enforcement (to include an LGBTQ+ Liaison and Hate Crime report to the FBI); and V. Leadership on LGBTQ+ Equality (to include pro-equality policies and engagement). Additional “flex” points are accrued in each category when the municipality goes above and beyond the base criteria. This would include elected LGBTQ+ officials in the Leadership category or extended LGBTQ+ dedicated services in the Municipal Services category.

In that first year and in 2013, only Milwaukee and Madison were evaluated and scored 85% and 95% respectively. Madison, as capital, has long been the hub of Wisconsin’s LGBTQ political activism and easily met MEI criteria.

RAISING GRADES FOR CITY SERVICES Milwaukee’s weakness in those inaugural years lay in part with the low marks for city’s services and programs and its

relationship with the community. However, due in great part to the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) LGBT Liaison, the relationship between law enforcement and the community scored significantly higher.

In 2014 Milwaukee increased its score to 91% while Madison achieved 100%, a rating it maintains to the present. Green Bay and Kenosha were added to the MEI list. The following year, 2015, saw Milwaukee’s score slip to 82%. Racine was added to the MEI (it just attained a 100% score in 2023).

Milwaukee’s score plummeted precipitously to 71% in 2016. According to the published score card, Milwaukee’s standing weakened in that year’s assessment due to evolving criteria that were not met. The MEI now included Oshkosh and Appleton.

The city’s Equal Rights Commission published its 2017 annual report citing that low MEI score and its improvement to 92 in that same year. It also expressed its dedication to raising the score to a perfect 100. Milwaukee would finally achieve that perfect number in 2018. That success was in great part due to the city’s ban of conversion therapy for minors. Then-Alderman Cavalier Johnson sponsored the ban that passed in March of that year. The city has maintained that perfect score ever since, celebrating five consecutive years in 2023.

LGBTQ+ friendly mayors John Barrett and Cavalier Johnson may be credited with having paved the way for the advance of equality that has resulted achieving the 100% MEI rating.

Their embrace of diversity and inclusion have been a plank in the platforms of both. Mayor Johnson’s appointment of an LGBTQ liaison to his office in 2022 helped buttress the MEI category “Municipal Services.” Another contributing factor is the 2020 election of JoCasta Zamarripa as the Milwaukee Common Council’s first and only LGBTQ+ identified member.

Her presence within city government strengthens government and community ties, reinforcing Milwaukee’s MEI Leadership on LGBTQ+ Equality category score. Zamarripa had also served as a Wisconsin State Legislator from 2011-2019.

Additionally, underscored by the official participation of elected officials, relationships with LGBTQ+ organizations such a Milwaukee Pride, Inc, producer of PrideFest and the Pride Parade, serve to buttress the MEI score.

The question remains, why is the MEI important? In our nation today, LGBTQ+ people plan their futures and pursuit of happiness based in part on the quality of life provided by their chosen city of residence. Vying for talented populations to provide a pool of human resources to ensure their prosperity, cities of all sizes have recognized the need to accommodate diversity and inclusion. The MEI provides the measure of success of that effort. This quid-pro-quo arrangement insures both the city and LGBTQ+ resident enjoy the positive impacts of one upon the other.

Paul Masterson is an LGBTQ activist and writer and has served on the boards of the Milwaukee Gay Arts Center, Milwaukee Pride, GAMMA and other organizations.

JANUARY 2024 | 89

ART FOR ART'S SAKE

From The City That Always Sweeps

BY ART KUMBALEK

And let’s go back to Dec. 30, 2004, when I soothsayed:

2024

The Year 2004: Sucked.

A Look Ahead, 2005: Will suck, even more.

How ’bout January 2017? Here: The Year 2016: Sucked, but good.

I

’m Art Kumbalek and man oh manischewitz what a world, ain’a? So how’s this new year been treating you’s so far? I don’t know if it’s just me but to be honest, I don’t notice a dime’s worth of difference from the previous crappy year. But I hear it’s got that “new” year smell that experts are calling 2024, good lord.

January, again—that time of year that reminds me of what writer Roald Dahl (The Magic Finger, The Twits) said: “If I had my way, I’d remove January from the calendar altogether and have an extra July instead.” Amen, I’ll buy that, and I might also put a down payment on this, from his Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: “You should never, never doubt something that no one is sure of.”

OK, got it, what the fock.

But here’s something that I’m surely confident of, and that would be my truthfully traditional dead-on Look Back/Watch Out Ahead essay, and please remember that pithiness is the soul of brevity; so here, for you to pith on: The Year 2023: Sucked, but good, major big-time—wars, inhumanity, Counsell to the Cubs.

Watch Out Ahead, 2024: Will suck, even more, you betcha.

And just so you’s know, I’ve been annually whipping out this savantsodden style of essay for more than 30 years and dag-focking-nabit if I’ve ever been off the mark. Check this, from Dec. 30, 1993: 1993: Sucked.

1994: Will suck.

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Watch Out Ahead, 2017: Will suck, even more. Can you believe it? The only surefire thing I can predict is there’ll be a sucker born at least every minute, and maybe a couple, three.

Remember?

Yes sir, clean, economical and nearelegant with the pith, ain’a? And that’s all I’ll say about the media bullshit from well-paid prognosti-fockingcators you’ll read and hear this time of a new year, ’cause I need to break this off right here, right now, and do something nice for myself like crank up the thermostat and mix another hot focking toddy, after all, it’s focking January, so I’ve heard.

So happy focking New Year. But before I go, I’d like to mention that for Christmas, I received a nice little story from my buddy Little Jimmy Iodine. I already had it, so I thought I’d re-gift it to you ’cause what the fock. Here, try it on: Christmas morning, a cop on horseback sits at a traffic light; next to him is a kid on a shiny new Schwinn. Cop says to the kid, “That’s a nice bicycle you’ve got there. Did Santa bring that for you?”

Kid says, “You betcha, officer.” Cop says, “Next year tell Santa to put a taillight on that bike.”

Yeah, hate to disappoint if you were in the market for a next-year’s prediction to be a tad rosier, but please remember that disappointment is a fact of life.

Albert focking Einstein was disappointed that he never found a way to wrap up his Theory of Everything before he croaked. And I’m disappointed that I’ll never get to meet Marilyn Monroe, not to mention my deep disappointment cum despair that my bonehead ancestors thought a better idea was to settle in the Upper Midwest instead of the temperate and libertine lifestyle climes of Ta-focking-hiti, cripes.

Cop decides to give the kid a lesson for Christmas and gives the lad a $20 bicycle-safety violation ticket. Kid takes the ticket, wishes the cop a merry Christmas but before he rides off, says, “Excuse me, officer. That’s a nice horse you’ve got. Did Santa bring that for you?” Upholding the spirit of the season, the cop says, “Yes son, he sure did.”

But that’s life, mister. Yes, you’ll be disappointed, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon, and maybe for the rest of your life. Your Auntie Mame may once have said, “Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death,” but your Uncle Artie says, “Life’s a crap casserole and all you can do is strap on the ol’ feedbag and say ‘bon appétit.’”

So, tradition: I wish that you’s all have a relatively copacetic new year and make a resolution that we may—lo, these days of age and rage—believe that one of these days “We’ll drink a cup of kindness yet / For the sake of auld lang syne”—hey, at my age I still like to think anything’s possible, what the fock, ’cause I’m Art Kumbalek and I told you so.

Kid says, “Maybe next year tell Santa to put the focking asshole at the back-end of the horse instead of on top, OK?” Ba-ding.

Clock illustration by kotoffei/Getty Images.