To keep Between the Bars – and you – up-to-date, this weekly post provides a compilation of both the amusing and the significant (mostly the amusing) local stories from the last few days that I've found by keeping a sharp eye on the local newswire. Enjoy the wealth of information, dear readers. You deserve it.
• Wisconsin was recently named the best state to vacation by AAA Midwest Traveler readers that voted in the annual Best of the Midwest survey. Results are published in the July/August issue. Who knew a state that's only known for beer, brats, cheese and Jeffrey Dahmer could score top honor?
• OnMilwaukee.com reported, former owner of Buddy Squirrel, Richard Koenings, is planning to open Red Elephant Chocolate in the Third Ward, 333 N. Broadway, in September. The business will also serve as a cafe, and smell like a zoo.
• This summer, Visit Milwaukee launched an advertising campaign in Chicago, plastering a series of ads on Chicago Transit Authority buses and “L” cars in hopes of luring Windy City residents to the north. So, how did the Milwaukee tourism group choose to advertise our city? The brains behind Visit Milwaukee went with two slogans: “Brat. Beer. If you had another hand, we’d go on” and “Milwaukee. Think of us as Chicago’s Upper, Upper North Side.” Nice job highlighting any number of unique things Milwaukee truly offers. Good Lord.
• According to the Journal Sentinel, a proposal for a 44-story tower, known as The Couture, that will overlook Lake Michigan and feature high-end apartments and a hotel would replace the underused Downtown Transit Center. I completely support this proposal and hope it's passed.
• There's a Pedal Tavern controversy going on in our city, says OnMilwaukee.com. A seemingly growing group of individuals have complained about the noise, litter, bad tipping and traffic congestion that they associate with the "16-person bicycle powered party on wheels". In fact, a Walker's Point resident actually created an "I Hate The Pedal Tavern" Facebook group, now with over 100 members. I dunno. I understand both sides, but these complaints are a little over-the-top. The Pedal Tavern operates on mostly commercial streets and their patrons are probably just as loud, just as bad of tippers, and just as inconsiderate as any other bar-goer. As for tying up traffic, considering the size of the streets in that area, that notion is just silly. Sometimes it’s best to look at the big picture. This just seems like a lot of wasted energy.
Original photo from Flickr.com (Creative Commons) by Michael Pereckas
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