Checking In: The reunion of the long-running Wisconsin Public Radio comedy/variety show “Hotel Milwaukee” filled the Turner Hall Ballroom with some 500 die-hard fans and newfound friends. After an eight-year hiatus, the show featured the original cast, including theShepherd’s own lovable curmudgeon, Art Kumbalek, Marcie Hoffman, Mike Neville, Bill Clifford, Jeana Stillman and Jonathan Wainwright, showing off his musical prowess.
The fund-raiser for City Year Milwaukee (CYM), a mentoring program under AmeriCorps’ aegis, was supported by the David and Julia Uihlein Charitable Foundation. Mayor Tom Barrett praised CYM and welcomed the program back to the airwaves. After the show’s taping, revelers danced to the 5 Card Studs.
CYM’s executive director, Jason Holton, welcomed the crowd, and the group’s external project leader, Lindsi Lara, spoke about the organization’s mission. Among those having a grand time were Lt. Gov. Barb Lawton and her husband, Charles, 4th Street Forum’s Deidre Martin and Dr. Art Derse, Shepherd Express publisher Louis Fortis, Nate Kraucunas, Lisa and Mick Hatch, and Phil Whitliff. Sally and Robb Marks were resplendent in the formalwear they wore at their actual wedding that took place on the show in 2001.
Gallery Night Get-go: Curiosity led B&D to their first stop during the latest Gallery Night: The Tool Shed, an erotic boutique on Murray. Eye-popping gizmos and interesting doodads overflowing the shelves were enhanced by drawings and paintings by Michele Parliament,Steve Somers and Bankky, along with photographs by self-described “imaginary sailor” Balthazar. The show’s curator, Nico Bennet, also showed off her insightful artwork.
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Hosting was Laura Anne Stuart, Tool Shed owner and sexuality educator, who teaches at the store with partner/manager Hudson Nummerdor. “Strap-on Sex 101,” “Intro to Kink,” burlesque dance lessons and private parties enliven the Shed’s offerings.
Also perusing the wares were Balthazar model Sonia Kubica, sculptor Roy Staab, 1522’s concierge extraordinaire Jean-Louis Bolar and model Malaysia Leung, photographer Tom Julio, and Chris Wilde, a Tool Shed employee, stopping by with pals Jason Babbie from New York and Milo Miller.
Next, having worked up a thirst and lucking into a prime parking spot, B&D scampered into the reopened Von Trier. Retaining its Old World Teutonic charm, the place sparkles with new taps and a renovated infrastructure. Bar manager Jory Hanson was ably assisted by kinesiology student Katie Metzelaars and Holly Lesmeister.
Enjoying beverages after an Oriental Theatre movie fix were photographer Joan Kappes and Cheri Talajkowski. Meanwhile, in the back room, NML’s Terri Brunner celebrated her Big-49 with co-workers and friends, including Grant Grothman and his wife, Laurie, Nance Sarver, Laura Zanella and Chris Kelly. Brunner has been a Von Trier habitué for 23 years.
Another Stop: The Firestarter Films Event #7 took place at the hip/happening Live Artists Studio on First Street. Firestarter co-founders Shawn Monaghan and Phil Koch ran the show, which finally wound down at 1:30 a.m. with eight films yet to be viewed. Monaghan’s mom, Mary, manned the door, while Victor and Sue Reynolds monitored the organization’s Web site.
A highlight of the evening was Brookfield, a spoof that parodied the monster classic Cloverfield. The film featured a mysterious Lake Michigan creature that destroys Downtown Milwaukee, even ripping out the Di Suvero sculpture at the east end of Wisconsin Avenue. The collaboration between five groups of filmmakers included Jon Richter of Supermassive Studios, who provided the majority of visual effects, while Keith Michaels related his encounter with the monster during a pickup basketball game. Others in the film were Mary Ann Clermont; Koch with his sons, Michael and Adam; and Patrik Beck and his son Christian.
UW-Milwaukee film professor Dick Blau brought his daughter's clay-animation film, The Conqueror Worm, which he had narrated. Others on hand were Movie Beat’s Rex Sikes; Chalice in the Palace’s reggae maestros Steve Watkins and Max Knowlton-Sachner; marketing wiz Catherine Jones; and UWM’s Cole Quamme, Ryan Reeves and Quinn Hester. Live Artists Studio owners Clive Promhows and Kris Fronteras hosted the more than 175 attendees.
Even More: After the VP Gallery opening reception of “Time,” photographer David Burnett’s iconic photos of Bob Marley, B&D joined attorney Tom Herman and Burnett and his wife, Iris, at Coquette for a late-night repast. Milwaukeean Herman, now of Boston, was heading to Cuba the next day to negotiate the future of writer Ernest Hemingway’s house there.
Art Award: Arts Wisconsin honored Greater Milwaukee Committee head Julia Taylor with the “Arts in the Community” award for her support of the state’s creative world. A reception in the Marcus Center included an award presentation with glowing tributes to Taylor by Lt. Gov. Lawton, Mayor Barrett and Waukesha Mayor Larry Nelson. Among those applauding were MAM’s Dan Keegan, Fran and Steve Richman, Christine Harris, Dean Amhaus, Randy Bryant, Mario and Cathy Costantini, UWM’s Steve Percy,Mark Sabljak, Evelyn Terry and YWCA’s Paula Penebaker.
If you have any tips for Boris and Doris, contact them at borisanddorisott@aol.com. Their next column will appear in the Feb. 11 issue of the Shepherd.
