1. Register to Give Milwaukee’s Waterways a Spring Cleaning
CHRIS DROSNER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Milwaukee’s rivers are one of its foundational assets, and every year the Milwaukee Riverkeeper’s Spring Cleanup sends thousands of volunteers fanning out across the metro area to pull trash from the riverbanks and surrounding green spaces. This is extraordinarily satisfying in multiple ways: Communing with the little slices of nature you’re beautifying, the belonging of being a part of something bigger, the little hit of dopamine when you free a shredded plastic bag from a tangle of sticks. There are also moments of absurdity: Last year, I fished a flamboyantly large pink purse out of the Kinnickinnick River near the Sixth Street bridge. The things that end up on our rivers’ banks never cease to surprise. You can pick from dozens of cleanup sites – starting points for your morning adventure – at the registration here.
2. Load Up on Texas-style Q at the K&L BBQ Truck
ANN CHRISTENSON, DINING EDITOR
On Sunday, the Easter Bunny brought me smoked meats! I helped the Bunny along by making sure to hit the K&L’s BBQ truck (outside Ope! Brewing Co., 6751 W. National Ave.) right when they opened (which was 1 p.m.) because I didn’t want to look at the menu and see a bunch of things crossed off. The beef brisket was so good – thick-cut, with an excellent bark. All of the meats I had – pulled pork and salt-and-pepper rubbed turkey – were plenty flavorful from the spices and smoke, though I appreciated a little smoky-sweet BBQ sauce on my brisket sandwich. I’d take a pile of succulent smoked meats with sliced pickles and pickled onions over a basket of Peeps and jelly beans any day. Ope’s calendar says K&L will be back April 18-19.
Tell us who you’d pick to be a Betty this year!
3. Check Out 414Flea’s First Outdoor Market of the Season
AMRITA THAKKAR, DIGITAL EDITOR
While the temperature is creeping rather sluggishly upward, Milwaukee is already ready for outdoor season. Sure, it’s still pouring buckets occasionally, but spring is here, and I, for one, am about ready to leave my cocoon.
On April 12, 414Flea will be starting up their regular series of outdoor markets at Zocalo Food Park (636 S. 6th St.) again, featuring local artists, makers and more. While I’m more of a thrift store person myself, I’m a frequent patron of the artists and makers, as proven by the variety of prints and (probably unneeded) candles in my apartment. The market features vendors selling skincare, jewelry, vintagewear, upcycled clothes, art prints and more – and if you don’t need any of those, it’s still a good day to go down and grab a bite from the food trucks with some good music in the background. Check out the full list of vendors here, and don’t forget your umbrella.
4. Watch Mikey and Nicky
ARCHER PARQUETTE, MANAGING EDITOR
When I was growing up, my grandmother, who lived with us, had her “shows.” There was one TV in the house, and when it was time for those shows, that TV was 100% spoken for. There was Murder, She Wrote, Matlock and of course Columbo. I always had a soft spot for Lieutenant Frank Columbo’s faux-bumbling ways, and actor Peter Falk’s slight resemblance to my grandfather played no small part in that. But alas, for many years, I was ignorant of Falk’s stellar film performances.
When he wasn’t playing that disheveled detective, he did phenomenal character work on the big screen, largely for director/actor John Cassavetes: Husbands, A Woman Under the Influence. Just last week, I saw what is perhaps my favorite collaboration between the two, Mikey and Nicky. Cassavetes is in front of the camera, not behind it, with the 1976 movie written and directed by Elaine May. It follows two long-time friends in Philadelphia (their names should be fairly obvious), one of whom believes that the mafia has taken out a hit on him (Cassavetes) and calls the other (Falk) for help. What follows is an intense, brutal, sometimes funny, always unflinching character study and an absolute master class in acting from the two leading men. This isn’t exactly a romp – there’s some incredibly uncomfortable stuff and real nastiness at work here – but man, this movie was good and Falk is at his best.
5. Peep the Peeps Art Exhibition at the Racine Art Museum
EVAN MUSIL, ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR
Who would’ve thought a certain brand of brightly colored, sugary, sticky, chick-shaped candy could hold such an artful purpose? Not I, perhaps because I hardly do any thinking before I shove them in my mouth. When I first heard of the Racine Art Museum’s annual exhibition of Peeps-inspired artwork, I was charmed by the concept. I came for the candy, and stayed for the intoxicating creativity.
Anyone can submit work for the show, and while artists don’t need to use the actual candies, many do so anyway. The results range from classroom dioramas to figurative sculptures to Peep-ified recreations of historical masterpieces. If you can think of an artistic medium, someone has used to make a Peeps piece. The exhibition is inherently silly, but it’s that lack of seriousness and the imposed limits of a confectionary subject that lets artists of all kinds stretch their imaginations. It’s a fun time. Don’t let Easter’s end stop you from checking it out – the exhibition closes April 18.
