Life in Milwaukee, Wis.
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
Looking east down Wisconsin Ave. from the roof of the Wells Building
So very sad. Mahal, the five-year-old orangutan at the Milwaukee County Zoo, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday night. I generally try to visit the zoo at least once a month, and on every trip I make sure to stop by the primate house to visit Mahal. It will be weird to not see him at the zoo anymore. I feel for his surrogate mother, MJ. Here’s what the Zoo had to say on Mahal’s death:
“As many of you have learned by now, the Milwaukee County Zoo’s 5-year-old orangutan, Mahal, died unexpectedly Saturday morning (December 29). The Zoo’s veterinary personnel believe the cause of death was pneumonia. Mahal was one of the Zoo’s most popular animals. Anybody who encountered Mahal knows why. Attached is a photo of Mahal in 2008. If you like, please share your favorite memories of Mahal.”
Had fun at the Stone Creek Coffee Factory Grand Opening this morning. Congrats to the team at SCC! That team does well under pressure! That line was intense.
Wisconsin Beer update from Milwaukee Magazine
by Dan Murphy
“Wisconsin Wet Hops
Wet hopped beers, where freshly cut hops are added to the brew (as opposed to dried hops), are an increasingly popular (and tasty) variety. Some Wisconsin breweries hopped on the wet hop train in a cool, local way. Early in November, five Wisconsin breweries (Lakefront, Sprecher, Central Waters, South Shore and Bull Falls) released their takes on wet hopped beers using Wisconsin-grown hops. Look for Central Waters Harvest Ale, Lakefront Local Acre Wet Hop Lager and Sprecher Hopfuzion Fresh Hop Lager, which are all available locally, before the bottles are gone…
Quick Taps
Congrats to Lakefront and Central Waters for each taking home bronze medals at the Festival of Barrel Aged Beer. Lakefront was third in the Classic Porter/Stout category with a Rye Barrel Aged Fuel Coffee Stout. Central Waters took home third in the Barleywine/Wheatwine category with the Bourbon Barrel Barleywine.
The Black Friday Imperial IPA Black Ale one-day release at Lakefront was apparently a big hit. I’m already looking forward to next year. How about a release of that tasty sounding Barrel Aged Fuel?
On Black Friday, Uncle Mike’s Pub (6611 120th Ave., Kenosha) tapped the amazing Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout and Kentucky Breakfast Stout. I have to give Uncle Mike’s serious props for that kind of effort. It’s pretty clear that I need to make a trip to that place.
Events Brewing
Friday, Nov. 30: Stubby’s Gastrogrub & Beer Bar (2060 N. Humboldt Ave.) has put together quite a beer dinner. The feast features Boulder Beer and highlights include the delicious Nitro Mojo IPA paired with bone marrow bruleed lamb belly, and dessert that features a Cognac Barrel Aged Obovoid Stout and banana bread roulade. The tastiness begins at 7 p.m. and costs just $55 ($50 for Stub Club members). Call 763-6324 to reserve a spot.
Saturday, Dec. 1: Sample Thai beer when Singha comes to Discount Liquor Milwaukee (5031 W. Oklahoma Ave.) from 2-5 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 1: Romans’ Pub (3475 N. Kinnickinnic Ave.) hosts its 34th annual Christmas party starting at 7 p.m. It’s a pretty safe bet that Mike Romans will have some tasty (and likely hard-to-find) stuff on tap. “
excerpts pulled from the 11/26/12 article on MilwaukeeMag.com, Sunday Funday Thanks to the Map Room
Wrap your holiday gifts in this Milwaukee wrapping paper.
Samson 1950 - 1981
Downtown Milwaukee's new numbers
In this September 28th blog from Jeff Sherman of OnMilwaukee.com, Sherman cites the downtown area’s latest numbers and statistics of growth:
“It’s less than two square miles, but Downtown Milwaukee has more than 10 percent of the city’s tax base. It is the economic and entertainment heart of the city, not to mention the entire state. It’s also a growing residential neighborhood with more people living in greater Downtown than Shorewood and Whitefish Bay combined.
According to The Atlantic, Milwaukee’s not alone in this Downtown growth. As Nate Berg recently reported, “In all U.S. metro areas, 16.1 million people were living within two miles of City Hall by 2010, about six percent of the total metro area population of 258 million.”
How does Downtown truly add up? What are its new numbers? Milwaukee Downtown, the Business Improvement District that covers Downtown proper, has released new key economic indicators.
So, here they are, just the facts. Here are Downtown’s new numbers.
- More than $1.7 billion in development investment has taken place since 2005
- More than $400 million in additional projects are currently under construction
- Since 2000, population has increased by 25.5 percent
- More than 81,000 workers are employed within Downtown
- 31.5 percent of these workers have college or advanced degrees
- 60.4 percent of the study area employees live less than 10 miles from work
- Convention attendance grew by 80.2 percent between 2007 and 2011
- 3,123 criminal offenses were reported in 2011, down 21.8 percent from 2009
- 21 percent of Downtown workers are under the age of 29.
- More than half (51.5%) of Downtown Milwaukee’s workers are female, and the majority of employees fall within the age 30 to 54 cohort (60.6%).
- Downtown’s retail vacancy went from 16.9% to 16.0%, and lease rates declined from $19.71 to $18.79 between first quarters 2011 and 2012.
- Restaurant and bars (37.4%) and personal services (22.5%) are the top two retail categories in Downtown Milwaukee.
Those are numbers. They don’t lie.
What are your thoughts about Downtown? What does it need to continue its renaissance? Chime in via the talkbacks or Facebook.”
Milwaukee makes new "10 Incredible And Underrated Cities To Live In" list
From the article:
“Boasting cool neighborhoods, funky bars, a diverse dining and a great live music scene, this is one city that truly stands out. And it isn’t called the city of festivals for nothing! In the summer, it plays host to the world’s largest music festival, Summer Fest and other world renowned festivals such as Irish Fest, German Fest, Polish Fest and Festa Italiana. This city of friendly, fun locals is one you probably would have never guessed to be so cool.”
