Takin' the Blog for a Walk
Join Waukesha resident Brien Lee and his blog, Sir Fido, as they explore the city and report on the interesting things they find.
Email Brien at howlinblog@yahoo.com.
Was the Fourth with you?
The weather finally turned drier and mild Saturday, though a few puddles remained on the soccer fields of Muskego High where we were setting up for a Special Olympics tournament early in the morning. ABB Company and thus my company, ODW Logistics, ABB's warehouse, sponsors the regional soccer tournament and helps supply volunteers. Today's Journal Sentinel reports that over 1800 athletes competed among all track and field events in Muskego. Am so glad Friday's rain didn't continue through Saturday!
saying a prayer for artists
We said a prayer petition for artists during mass today. It was unexpected and out of the ordinary, but totally appropriate considering yesterday's Art Crawl and all the other beautiful things I witnessed this weekend. We thanked God for artists brightening up our world and making it a better place. Understood to mean visual artists, but as everyone knows there's more to art than meets the eye.
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art and alzheimer's
I thought about doing yesterday's Walk to End Alzheimer's when I heard it was free, donations accepted. If nothing else it would probably raise my awareness of the disease plus be a great two mile walk under clear skies. Because there was no WPR booth at Waukesha's Art Fest this year for me to volunteer at I registered for the walk just a few minutes after it's start. Since I had the bike with me I was able to catch up to the crowd of walkers at the Rotary Building.
Festival of Creativity
Everything seemed so new and different. I don't recall ever visiting the Lakefront Festival of Arts before. I was blown away by the creativity.
day III
Saturday's weather was absolutely gorgeous after two days of cold and rain. I started by travelling to Prairie Home and the Les Paul memorial to talk to and hear from Rusty Paul, but he was called back East for some unknown reason. Sue Baker was there and I collected a first day of issue Les Paul card from her for which I'm appreciative.
day II
Made it down for Friday's unveiling and first Friday Night Live of the year. Almost all businesses were open and most were busy, which was good to see. The crowd wasn't nearly as large as the Harley anniversary event, but then again beer wasn't allowed in the streets. Just as well. The weather turned cool and wet, was 51 degrees by the time I left, and hot drinks were the preferred beverage.
not Les Paul's Les Paul
Three "Racing Gibbys," or whatever you want to call them, made the rounds during Monday's Memorial Day Parade. They were handing out fliers for this weekend's GuitarTown festivities and generating interest. I noticed the one most similar to a Les Paul Gibson is left-handed. Les was a righty.
Les than a week away
GuitarTown unveiling is this week. I'm still encountering lots of Waukesha citizens who know nothing, or next to nothing, about it even though it's been in the news for months. There's probably not too much that can be done about that now, if they don't follow Waukesha news... Maybe they'll see the sculptures around Downtown in the coming months, but it does reinforce my belief that at least one of the ten foot guitars should be placed closer to one of the main roads bypassing downtown, North Street or St. Paul, to draw interest and for more visibility.
Tom Noll says goodbye
I tagged along for the ride as Waukesha artist Tom Noll said goodbye to the baby he has fed and nurtured these last several months. "The Founder" has kept him awake many late nights, but it was time to turn him loose and trust you've raised him right.
SuperCincoSaturday
Not much going on to celebrate the Cinco-Sesqui, it's the 150th anniversary of the Mexican Army conquering French in the Battle of Puebla 5/5/1862, but lots going on here anyway.
the best GuitarTown video you'll see today
The Les Paul of Waukesha artists, Tom Noll, has condensed 200 painstaking hours of work into two minutes of sheer enjoyment. It's mysteriously coreographed to appear his pace picks up when the tempo speeds up. Perfect accompaniment for a perfect accomplishment.
musical masterpieces
As the photos emerge of GuitarTown playable guitars and sculptures I am in awe. I can't believe the quality, variety and creativity Waukesha is getting. My original fear was "what if we get some clunkers we'll have to look at for the next couple years, and all this effort wasted?" I clearly underestimated the talent of local artists and organizers for putting the best of them together.
perfect 10
Ten days to winter's end. Today's weather was a perfect 10. This post is about 10 ten things, and it's been 10 days since my last post.
Rhubarb Red and the power of music to heal
There's been no shortage of controversy to stir up emotion lately... recalls, street closure, mayoral antics... Interesting Sound Off in Thursday's Freeman. Makes me want to sound off myself.
more guitar for les
A couple days after Les died two and a half years ago I posted a photo of what I felt his monument should look like. It wasn't a suggestion he be laid to rest in Meier Festival Park where the photo was taken though.
"Museum Man" makes rare appearance at Waukesha County Museum
Thoroughly enjoyed Waukesha County Museum's Owen Gromme exhibit. I learned a lot from reading the labels at each painting and artifact. Some were funny stories behind the subject of the art or the reason for the painting, while others told how they were done or, like color studies, why they were done.
Another Apple Fest Has Fallen From The Tree
Retzer Nature Center's annual Apple Harvest Festival was last Saturday. I've previously always mentioned it ahead of time to let readers know about it but didn't this year. That's how busy I've been. Fourteen hours of overtime last week with a chance to work Saturday too, but I was previously committed.
untitled, part I
Titles are often the hardest part. It doesn't help when the one I want to use is taken. I was going to call this one blogstipation to reflect the two weeks I haven't written but someone had already thought of it first. I've been busy with work and play and regret not blogging more frequently, mainly because now there's almost too much to write about.
I am not house
I blogged about leaving my mark during the most recent Art Crawl, May 7th, on a blank white wall at Clinton Street Gallery. Almost didn't recognize the same wall last evening when out for Freeman Friday Night Live. It's been transformed into a thing of beauty.
you don't have to walk to crawl
The Mother of All Art Crawls seemed a huge success. I took advantage of free structure parking because all the street parking was taken. I stopped in by a couple of my favorite galleries to see the new art and meet new artists. I even left my mark at Clinton Street Gallery on Main: a blank white wall was free for all to use in any way they saw fit. Markers were provided.
Where to begin?
So much to blog about don't know where to start. Such a busy Saturday I had to write it down to keep track. Waukesha Farmers' Market opened at 8:00 and the bank at 8:30. Grand opening of the new St. Vincent store on Sunset at 9:00 and the Waukesha County Food Pantry where I was helping opens at 9:30. Worked till 11:30 at the Pantry and a birthday party for my young niece and nephew was at noon. Art Crawl started at 4:00 but I had time for a nap before heading down around 7:00.
Can I get a trompe l'œil tattoo?
The ribbon was cut for Waukesha's newest mural Saturday. The second mural added to downtown this year was completed just in time for winter and debuted during snow flurries. Artist Adam Nilson of Nilson Studio painted the illusionary mural and wielded the scissors to cut the ribbon. Mayor Scrima was there to say a few words as were George and Rachel Wang, Barry Jaeger and Rich Cseri of Waukesha Tattoo Company @ Galleria Edge.
I'm really scrooged now!
Had a rotten night tossing and turning. Nary a wink did I sleep thanks to visits by ghosts of Christmases past, present and future.
101 Parade Memories
The weather was great for Waukesha's 48th annual Christmas Parade. As a matter of fact everything was great. It was well worth missing a Packer / Viking game. It was only yesterday I signed up to wear a costume in the parade. Good thing too, may have chickened out if I had too much time to think it over.
Birch and Irving tonalpohualli
The last time I drove past this house at Birch and Irving I saw a huge blue-tarped half circle almost as large as the side of the house. Had no clue what it was covering.
Where Art Thou Art?
I saw many familiar faces while manning the WPR booth at Waukesha Art Fest yesterday. I greeted them at the booth or spotted them from a distance. The clouds parted, the sun came out, had as much fun as last year.
when the blog takes me for a walk
Funny thing about letting the blog do the leading; he doesn't always look both ways or use the crosswalk. Don't even talk to me about the shortest distance . . . apparently you've got to cover a lot of territory to pick up a story's scent trail.
left the blog in a hot car...
Gotta get motivated to write. This humid weather doesn't do much for me or the blog. All this warmth and rain is great for crops though. My corn is tasselling already!
Pure Color
Yesterday I had the pleasure of helping a friend set up her first ever gallery exhibit. Ryan Peters' Clinton Street Gallery on Waukesha's Main Street is in a prime spot.
Lucky, Mee
There were so many dogs during today's opening at the Waukesha County Museum of Mary Ludington's The Nature of Dogs photography exhibit. It was so unique and unusual to see, everyone having such a great time, that I felt I should have brought one too. Tried to borrow one of several HAWS had brought for adoption, but settled for their mascot, Lucky, instead.
