The Riverwest Public House, the nation’s second co-operatively owned saloon, flexed its political muscle with a Packers / Politics gathering on an otherwise forgettable Sunday, at least for the Green and Gold. Rep. Tammy Baldwin brought her campaign to the tavern, which is bedecked like a political rally even when no office holders are present. She was joined by Mayor Tom Barrett, also getting his face out there among the energized electorate of the SoLo-ites and NoLo-lites who find the Lo-cust Street place a pleasant neutral grounds for gathering.
Rep. Sandy Pasch brought along (and left behind) a box of out-of-date (series 2009-2010 )Wisconsin Blue Books, the official guide to state government. The old Blue Books brought to mind a kinder, gentler age, when the state still had an Arts Board, and when legislators were unafraid to list their home addresses.
That has changed with the most recent edition, (2011-2012) where the Arts Board was gone completely and a whopping 77 legislators – more than half the total – took advantage of a new policy that lets them list their address merely by home town and zip code.
Pasch, who lost a recall challenge against Sen. Alberta Darling, still lists her home address on Berkeley Blvd., Whitefish Bay, whereas Darling is now simply a resident of “River Hills 53217.” (If you want her address, it is still listed in the Milwaukee Country Club membership directory.)
Why the change?
According to Blue Book editor Larry Barish, “in the past a few members each session have not listed street addresses usually for concern for the safety of family members. Do to heightened security concerns this session, I made listing street addresses optional for all members for this edition of the Blue Book.”
The Blue Book always includes a scholarly article. This year’s is “Progressivism Triumphant: The 1911 Wisconsin Legislature.”
Barish assures the reader that the subject matter was selected long before the current legislative session, although skeptics can be excused for pointing to the irony as judged by the 2011-12 legislative session’s developments.
SCENE ON THE STREET
-At the Shops at Grand Avenue food mall Monday, Jan. 23, an alert cashier at Culver’s noted a portentous sight heaving into view from the upward-bound escalator. “It’s a team,” she said to her crew. “Or maybe a school tour.” Sure enough, in a few moments some very tall young men, whose heads popped into view much sooner than any others on the escalator, made their way through what happened to be a very full lunch hour crowd at the downtown mall. They were the basketball team of the University of South Florida, on a nutritional break as they readied for Tuesday evening’s 7 p.m. game against Marquette. They walked past the Culver’s, and chuckled, somewhat derisively in the manner of college students, about what a crazy place Milwaukee must be, what with a product called a “Butterburger.” After making the rounds, though, the Butterburgers won, and the Bulls were fed.
-Be prepared for “Art in Bloom” (formerly Art en Fleur). The “Tribute to Art and Flowers” will return to the Milwaukee Art Museum March 29 to April 1. Volunteers held a training session at the museum Tuesday.
-The Chocolate Factory has closed its Grand Avenue location after decades downtown. Nine suburban and exurban locations remain, one of which (Bayshore) is served by public transportation.
COMING UP
A piece of furniture from a Milwaukee collection set some records – and some tongues wagging – when it sold last week for $3 million. More later from Plenty of Horne.
