THE BUZZ
by B.C. Kowalski
Flower power A local photographer is spreading some joy and springtime hope with an image feed called The Tulip Project
Heidi Oberstadt takes her stunning Tulip Project photos in a makeshift workstation on her living room coffee table
As a professional photographer, Heidi Oberstadt found herself in the same situation many people have been in over the past two weeks: sitting around her house, in this case with her one year old child, with little to do. Her work volume is dwindling, with celebrations canceled or postponed because of the state-mandated social distancing measures to quell the coronavirus pandemic. She noticed social media has been filled with nothing but doom and gloom. Oberstadt figured her social media feed, and many others, needed some joy and color. And she happens to love tulips. Camera in hand, she got to work, and The Tulip Project was born. Every day Oberstadt posts a photo of a tulip — stark, bright colors against a pure black background. “There are so much true, but stressful things in everyone’s news feed,” says Oberstadt. “I thought a random intersection of a hopeful flower would help.” Her photography business, Heidi Oberstadt Media (a branch of Photographic Memories by The Oberstadts) is based in Stevens Point, where she once served as a city council member. To her, tulips are a flower that symbolizes hope and spring time— something to assuage people’s anxiety. Oberstadt says she takes photos of the tulips about three or four times daily, because they constantly change throughout the day. Her living room coffee table has become her makeshift studio, and sometimes a little hand from her one-year-old son, Teddy, will find its way into the background of one of her tulip photos. The response to the tulip photos has been overwhelming. “Everyone loves them,” Oberstadt says. “I’m surprised.
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I was hoping they would reach a couple of people who needed them, but a lot of people loved seeing the tulips and they’ve been shared a lot.” Oberstadt created a Facebook page dedicated to The Tulip Project. Her other work can be found at Heidi Oberstadt Media.
Southeast side will see a new wine and beer lounge A new wine and beer place slated for Wausau’s southeast side neighborhood was approved for a liquor license this month. Kin and Kind was approved for a liquor license by the city’s Public Health and Safety Committee March 16. Owner Rachel Radtke, who works at Sconni’s, told a city committee she’s looking to open a small place she can run herself or with one or two part time employees. Kin and Kind will be located at 2108 Grand Ave. Although she applied for the liquor license, Radtke plans to stick to serving beer and wine. When it’s up and running, Kin and Kind will be open 4–10 pm, Radtke says. She doesn’t plan to have live music or outdoor seating, and hasn’t yet specified an opening date.
New buyer for former Advanced Auto Parts building The building that once housed Advanced Auto Parts on Grand Avenue has been sold, real estate professionals tell City Pages. The building, at 501 Grand Avenue near Tri-City Restuarant, sold March 20 to TFTSF LLC, which is registered to Trevor Larson of Appleton, according to a state database. March 26–April 2, 2020
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