Paper Party: The Shepherd Express team hosted a fun blowout at Kasana in the Third Ward, celebrating the newspaper’s new ShepherdExpress.com website and thanking advertisers. Publisher Louis Fortis presented an optimistic overview of the Shepherd’s expanding multiplatform media offerings and the future of alternative newspapers.
He gave a shout-out to Kasana owner Ana Docta, who put up a deliciously creative Brazilian spread, and to Eric Engelbart, the Shepherd’s digital operations director for his behind-the-scenes website creation. Sales manager Alissa Weber thanked fellow account executives Mark Krueger, Donna Wagner and Chuck Hill as well as Stephanie Schroeter with Express Creative marketing and design. Alliance Tax’s Arthur Lee described his successes from advertising with the Shepherd.
Circulating were Arts and Entertainment Editor Dave Luhrssen and Assistant Editor John Schneider; Mike Kasun, manager of the amazing Tiger Lily Floral on Forest Home; attorneys Israel Ramon and Yvonne Ochilo; MATC digital specialist Kevin Rutkowski; Lora Nigro, 11th Story Media creative director; John Reiss, MATC culinary arts instructor; Alisa Malavenda, chef/instructor at the International Culinary School at the Art Institute of Wisconsin; film producer Mark Borchardt; and Mark Wilson and Mike Mentecki from Pipe Dreams Smoke Shop.
Pink’s Perfection: Ballet lovers packed the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts for the four-day run of Cinderella, the Milwaukee Ballet season finale. The critically acclaimed performance garnered standing ovations. Artistic Director Michael Pink offered welcomes, thanking sponsors Donna and Donald Baumgartner.
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The opening-night crowd included Milwaukee Ballet Board President Kathy Crocker and her husband, Randy Crocker; Jayne Pink and her daughter Georgina; and board members Amy Schmidt Jones from Michael Best & Friedrich, Sarah Damsgaard and her husband, Peter, and Molly McDonald. Also present were Milwaukee Ballet’s business manager Shawn Selk and new director of marketing and communications Anne Metcalfe, whose son Jasper played the role of the cobbler.
Mid-show, the crowd flocked to the mezzanine for intermission libations. In the ballet’s market, the troupe launched a new line of wearable art inspired by artist Schomer Lichtner and sponsored by Ellen Checota and Katie Heil.
Ho-Ho Mormon: The over-the-top The Book of Mormon, winner of nine Tony awards and sometimes referred to as the “best musical of this century,” was sold out for its opening night with few tickets left for the 10-show run at the Marcus Center. The often ribald, contagiously humorous musical, with many irreverent moments, including a reference to killer Jeffrey Dahmer, made for a wild ride. On hand were Marcus Center President and CEO Paul F. Mathews and his wife, Colleen Fitzgerald, reviewer Harry Cherkinian and his brother, Michael Cherkinian, from New York, Matt and Mary Flynn and Milwaukee Common Council President Michael Murphy and his wife, Terry Tuttle, on a rare “date night.”
Wedding Bells and WhiskeyBelles: Kiko DeLorenzo and John Molitor of Milwaukee exchanged vows to an intimate crowd at Bacchus. Judge John DiMotto officiated with readings by Kiko’s brother, musician Malachi DeLorenzo, serving as groomsman, and Erin Ganser, John’s cousin from Denver. Janet Schiff of Nineteen Thirteen and violinist Jonathan Landis added musical elegance. Also in the wedding party were bridesmaid Peri DeLorenzo and groomsmen William Huntsinger and Patrick Flanagan.
Friends and family gathered afterwards for a sparkling reception at Cuvée. The DeLorenzo clan included Kiko’s father, noted drummer Victor DeLorenzo, and mother Karen Keene of INVIVO Wellness, plus grandma Phyllis Keene. John’s parents William and Bev danced until music by The WhiskeyBelles and records by DJ Dan Toninato ended. Friends from Kiko’s New York days, John’s softball comrades and pals from as far as Istanbul came for the festivities. Milwaukeeans included Beans & Barley co-owner Lynn Sbonik, Cynthia Stoll, who designed the wedding ring, and her husband, Dr. James Stoll, and musician Paul Defiglia and his wife, dancer Mickela Mallozzi. John is a real estate agent at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage and Kiko is Islands of Brilliance’s program manager.
More Wedding Chimes: Marla Fabishak and Jon Habert exchanged vows and gifts on the Milwaukee Athletic Club rooftop party space, serenaded by rhythms from a nearby Cuban street festival below. Erin McMahon from Minneapolis officiated. In the wedding party were Marla’s sister, maid of honor Mia Fabishak, just back from volunteering with WWOOF Hawaii, groomsman Miles Fabishak and best man Matt Habert, plus the wedding “dog of honor,” Drake Fabishak, snuffling down the aisle with Dustin Wolk. Attendees then strolled or bused to The Box Milwaukee event space on Wisconsin Avenue, where guitarist Matt Hendricks performed and Midwest Sound DJ Entertainment spun records. The Smoke House presented a delicious spread while revelers danced the night away. The bride’s parents, Pilates guru Kathie Spencer and Mike Fabishak, CEO of the Associated General Contractors of Greater Milwaukee, and the groom’s parents, Cindy and Wayne Habert from Appleton, hosted.
Among family and friends were 88Nine Radio Milwaukee’s Mary Louise Mussoline and Dr. Jim Cope and their daughters Madeline and Margaret, the latter with boyfriend Dan O’Connell, a new Milwaukee policeman; Mary Jo and Randy Radowicz and their daughters Ariana and Alex; Lisa Bruce and Dan Lanzdorf; Lisa Burton; and Lyle and John Greivell. The couple lives in Boston, where Marla works for Harvard University, and Jon is with Brown Brothers Harriman.
If you have any tips for Boris and Doris, contact them at borisanddorisott@aol.com. Their next column will appear in the June 11 issue of the Shepherd.
