As if Milwaukeeans needed anything else to feel insecure about, it seems we’ve been left out of Chicago’s Olympic plans. That city’s 2016 Olympic bid has nearly every event in the Chicago area, with Minneapolis (Minneapolis!?) serving as the main satellite site. Well, whatever, the Bears and Vikings still suck.
Education activists Jennifer Morales and Tina Owen,both openly gay, recently purchased Milwaukee’s only feminist bookstore – Broad Vocabulary in Bay View – from founders Amy Daroszeski, Molly Tennessen and Kelly Todd. Morales is a Milwaukee School Board member who came out publicly as a lesbian in 2006. Owen is the founder of the independent Alliance School.
Milwaukee’s Mike Starling provides some background music for the Biography Channel’s upcoming program about Bill Cosby. The song, “Funkee Monkee,” is an instrumental piece from Sterling’s album, Didjeriblue, Vol. 1.
Ann McCormack, a 2003 Milwaukee High School of the Arts graduate and a classically trained soprano, is feeling “oh so pretty” these days playing Maria in the 50th anniversary world tour of West Side Story. McCormack was chosen over thousands of candidates who auditioned in the U.S. and Europe.
Great Lakes Distillery owner Guy Rehorst wasn’t content to just let his Rehorst vodka convert Grey Goose and Absolut fans in Wisconsin. Now, he’s taking on Tanqueray and Bombay with his Rehorst gin. This gin’s made with nine different botanicals, including the never-before-used-in-gin sweet basil and Wisconsin ginseng. “The nose on it is real floral,” says Guy. Next on tap: bourbon.
Diana Laurence– a Milwaukee native, UW-Madison graduate and author of the popular Soulful Sex anthologies – asked readers to collaborate on her latest book, and collaborate they did. Laurence and a team of 64 fans wrote what’s being called the first “cooperatively written paranormal romance novel” in history. Called Bloodchained, it was released in September to some critical acclaim.
“La Cuisine du Garage” is the “number one garage cooking show in West Allis – at least so far,” brags John Ash, a physical therapist by day and cooking show co-host by night. Buddies Ash and Mark Meddaughserve up goofy, culinary creativity once a month for West Allis cable Channel 14. The show’s set is a garage and its chefs pack their tool belts with whisks and spatulas. It’s a gas.
Other local boys made good: Philip Dizack and Tobias Kaemmerer were selected as semifinalists in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Trumpet Competition in Los Angeles. Ryan Jay was recently named the host of Clear Channel’s first gay syndicated radio program, Pride Radio. It’s broadcast in more than 20 markets, including Madison’s WXXM-FM. And Michael Maize stars in the recently released movie, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, appearing alongside Ed Harris, Nicolas Cage and Jon Voight. Maize had previously done guest spots on “ER,” “CSI: NY” and “The Jamie Foxx Show.”
For wine fiends only: Tom and Kate Gomall of Whitefish Bay, lovers of California wine, decided to create their own Sauvignon Blanc. Together with six other couples in their neighborhood, they connected with Crushpad, a San Francisco winery that helps the ambitious craft their very own wines from afar. The Gomalls choose everything from the vineyard to the label and monitor the details from home through live streaming Web cameras, e-mailed vineyard updates and telephone chats with wine makers. Prices for their Crushpad wine may go as high as $50 per bottle.
When Teresa and Rick Jordan moved to Memphis three years ago, they thought they had left behind something very dear and cherished: the Green Bay Packers. But the people of T.J. Mulligan’s, the “official” Packers bar in Memphis, welcomed them with open arms and grilled brats. In September, the couple returned the favor and brought five longtime Memphis Packer fans up to Green Bay for their first taste of Lambeau (a rousing win over the Chargers). We’d like to welcome Jack and Lucy Thompson, Tami and Dave Kitkowski and Roger Bilesas the newest members of Packer Nation.
Element Everest, female lead in the Milwaukee hip-hop group Black Elephant, released her first solo album, Life is a Heist, in the fall. The album features guest performers Stic Man of Dead Prez fame and Big Pooh of Little Brother. Element’s voice has also been in national McDonald’s radio commercials and she’s a deejay for 88Nine FM.
Celebrity Sightings
Taylor Hicks, winner of the fifth season of “American Idol,” was recently spotted at Carnevor, while the Milwaukee ChopHouse hosted rock legend Alice Cooper and his daughter for dinner in one of its banquet rooms. Comedian Andrew Dice Clay enjoyed drinks at the bar while in town for his comedy show at Jokerz Comedy Club.
