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.
the Gig has landed
Summerfest's 45th year is in the history books. Was waiting until today to go when everyone could get in free between noon and three. The weather was great today, finally cooled off and was quite bearable. Never did make it though. Didn't see anyone playing I had to see. There's always another year.
summer fest
Last year I blogged about a facebook-arranged, informal high school reunion: The Unofficial, Unsanctioned Waukesha North Multi-Year Reunion. It was held at Crabby Joe's in Waukesha and included a visit to Friday Night Live to see fellow classmate Tim McNulty and hear his band, Barefoot 'N Bluejeans, outside Martha Merrell's.
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 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.
3 days in 3 minutes
I added many of my Janboree photos in a short video. I felt the weekend went great thanks to the many sponsors, volunteers, organizers, ice carvers. . . not to mention the cold and snow. Thankfully we had enough snow for sledding and snowshoeing and cold for skating, because everyone was really getting out and enjoying it.
Everyone's got a little Irish Fest in 'em
What a pleasure it is to visit Milwaukee's lakefront on a beautiful August morning for the largest outdoor mass in America followed by a day enjoying America's largest Irish music and culture festival.
Waterford Weekend
The weather wasn't perfect for the inaugural Waterford Hot Air Balloon Festival . . . but pretty darn close to it! Besides a little rain Saturday morning which kept most, but not all balloons grounded, the conditions were ideal.
Festival of Books
Before leaving for the Southeast WI Festival of Books last Saturday I loaded the Toyota to overflowing with old TVs, a radio, printer, computer and a couple monitors. (I wish people would quit leaving things here.) The free electronics recycling event at UWW coinciding with the book festival was very popular and at times there were lines of cars. Thank you to everyone helping and volunteering on this. Apologies and thanks to Barbara Reinhart who was there helping out, but who's photo in today's printed version of WaukeshaNOW was miscaptioned.
If You Love to Read, get rid of your TV
Thrilled to see Southeast Wisconsin Festival of Books return for a second year at UW-Waukesha. This free event was a huge success last year and I loved it. As before there's a huge variety of authors to meet and listen to, food, music, exhibits...
Janbrrrrree puts Win in Winter
In Pulse warmed things up at Waukesha North last night to kick off Waukesha Janboree. The concert featuring the Children's Choir of Waukesha was loved by all who filled the R. G. Hein Auditorium. Even though the price was right; free thanks to many generous sponsors, I was not sure adults were a target audience. The tickets were offered only at the Childrens Library...
the best way to stay warm
With wind chills in the double digits below zero today it may warm you to know that today is National Hugging Day. Being as it's also the start of Waukesha's Janboree with many events outdoors there should be lots of hugging going on. Maybe hugging could be added to the list of events whenever temps dip below zero.
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.
Apple Fest A Peeling
I thought the morning's rain and cooler temps may keep away more than just the wasps. After years of good weather for Retzer's Apple Harvest Festival I wondered if this would be the one time few would show up. Fortunately word has gotten around in the last 24 years of the festival and they came. They came before it officially opened. They came while it was still raining and, long after the parking field was muddy, they came. They brought cloth bags and picked up free recycling bins to carry their fresh apples home in.
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.
Craic
There was plenty of good craic going on last Sunday in the Cultural Tent at Irish Fest. It was the 30th anniversary of Irish Fest so I thought I'd help out for once. I volunteered four hours at the Shamrock Club's table signing up new members and selling Shamrock Club 50th Anniversary pins.
fair hot air
It's been several years since the last Spring City Skyfest at the Waukesha County Fair. That didn't stop three balloons from visiting the fair this evening. The chase was more like a slow stroll. Very calm night.
thewonderfulWaukeshaweekendweatherthatwas
If you were bored, then I really feel sorry for you. Seems the only things not going on this last weekend were an Art Crawl and the County Fair. Even the weather was interesting.
this is where it all began
This is a copy of the email I sent Ken Walter with WindDancer Balloon Promotions four years ago, Saturday, 6/17/2006.
Hi
Don't know if you got email I sent using my Roadrunner account because I have such bad luck using it but I'm interested in helping out July 21st - 23rd. I heard about the need for a flight crew in Waukesha This Week! and I'm available if needed. Let me know.
thanks
Brien Lee
Waukesha
Festival of Books
The second and last day of the first Southeast Wisconsin Festival Of Books is today. Just blocks from home at the UW Waukesha campus, I made a couple trips yesterday by bike, got only mildly wet when the storm came through.
sensory overload
The 40th annual Earth Day is Thursday, a good time to spend a couple seconds thinking about the environment we share.
"I LUV U"
It's not that I don't love each one of you, it's just that I wouldn't come right out and say it like this. By using quotation marks in the title I'm able to avoid any emotional connection.
i Had Fun
The name of one of the many great bands at JanBoree Jam said it all. I loved i Had Fun, but Colour, On My Way and Lifeline Called Comet all earned my applause. High Five Heroes earned more than a high five... I ordered one of their soon to be released CDs. Nine bands for eight bucks? What a deal! I really can't say enough about the talent and energy we experienced at North H.S. Saturday night.
sweet weekends (are made of this)
And I thought last weekend was sweet. Just one summer weekend to go and it keeps getting better and better.
Fair's fare fair
Spent one dollar for a great time opening day Wednesday at the fair. Spent another five after parking on the street Sunday. The discount ticket got me in for the truck pulls and I came back later for REO Speedwagon.
couple cups short of a pot
Got more miles per cup of coffee this weekend, but not exactly by choice.
third year's a charm
It's been three years since the beginning of WaukeshaNOW and this blog. There's still plenty going on to share. The enjoyment I get from writing hasn't receeded, and as long the computer is working, and I still have the time, I'd like to continue.
a golden delicious Saturday for Retzer's festival
The weather was Prima. Thousands of happy people came to Retzer Nature Center to celebrate the apple harvest with a Royal Gala... or a Honey Crisp, Cortland or Molly's Delicious.
apple pie anyone?
I'll be selling apple pie slices from 9:00 to noon next Saturday the 20th at Retzer Nature Center's 22nd Annual Apple Harvest Festival, and you're invited to buy some. Keep me busy.
the fuzzy line between form and function
The Nineteenth Annual Waukesha Art Fest couldn't have had a better weekend. The weather was as gorgeous as some of the works. With cool temps and a breeze it was perfect bike riding weather, so Schwinn and I swerved our way past multiple potholes to see what was going on in Cutler Park yesterday.
weekend hogservations
The Cutler Park stage is really great. The bands are drawing huge crowds yet there's still room to move without feeling crowded. It's unreal how dark the park gets on moonless nights - and it doesn't help that everyone is wearing black.
I get the blues when it rains
This weekend could be an instant replay of the same weekend a year ago: Balloon rally in Hartford, Arab World Fest in Milwaukee, last weekend for State Fair in West Allis, car show in Waukesha, Bluesfest in Delafield. Heck, it even rained on Saturday afternoon, same as last year! Guess you have to stick with what works.
fish are not to scale
Spent several hours at Pewaukee Lake yesterday. With the no wake law still in force it's unusually quiet, and if my canoe didn't still have gaping holes in it... So we fish from shore. Very peaceful watching the regatta of around 50 sailboats. Later in the day was Taste of Lake Country and fireworks, but that's another story.
Bring it on. Milw. Iron meets Spring City.
I'm 100% in favor of opening downtown to bikes by closing streets to cars. Of course I'd probably feel different if I lived downtown or if I hated loud music or bikes. But while listening to last night's Common Council meeting, all my questions were answered and I actually let my mind imagine what a wonderful thing this party could be. The alderpeople asked a lot of difficult questions and I always heard good responses. I could feel the enthusiasm from here. The only person to vote against it was Ald. Payne, who incorrectly thought he wouldn't have a voice in determining street closures.
the thrill on the hill
Within the last week and a half I walked, drove, rode a bike and chased a hot air balloon to the University of Wisconsin Waukesha.
