Milwaukee's Best Kept Secret

Tory Folliard Gallery (233 N. Milwaukee St.) presents at Flora Langlois – Matters of Nature and Dennis Wojtkiewicz – Ripe and Illuminated opening Friday, November 21 with an Artists’ Reception from 5 to 7:30pm.  Exhibition dates: November 21 through December 27.  Matters of Nature is a celebration of the natural world. Flora Langlois infuses her paintings with a joyous energy and a distinct vision that echoes her love for her native land of Costa Rica. In these works, her concern for the state of the environment is evident, reminding us all that nature matters. Ripe and Illuminated explores the sensitive nature of time in Dennis Wojtkiewicz’s oversized oil paintings of fruit. Light and translucence make these paintings glow while nature's perfect patterning gives each work a meditative quality. The works are portraits of fragile, perfect moments in time highlighted with stunning light and color.  Call 414-273-7311 or visit www.toryfolliard.com for more information

Elaine Erickson Gallery (207 E. Buffalo St., Suite 120) presents Katie Musolff.  Ms. Musolff will be showing a wide array of drawings she's completed over the last year. It was a process of getting back to basics, exploring mixed media and observing everything around her. The exhibit will also feature new paintings that have been influenced by this exercise. In addition, Katie will be executing a painting in the gallery over the length of the exhibit and viewers will have a weekly opportunity to see the process in person. Exhibition through November 22. For more information, call 414.221.0613 or visit www.eericksongallery.com.

Italian Community Center (631 E. Chicago St.) hosts the photographic exhibition "Sicilia: Immaginario Barocco e Feste Religiose" (Sicily: The Baroque Imagination and Religious Celebration) by photographer Giuseppe Leone, now through November 29.  Described as "Sicily's storyteller; narrator of its monuments, festivals and customs," photographer Giuseppe Leone has captured Sicily, its people and its culture in more than 80 black-and-white and color images of Sicily taken from the 1970s to the present.  In this exhibition, Leone surveys the baroque palaces, churches, and piazzas of the Noto Valley of southeastern Sicily in the triangle formed by Catania, Siracusa and Ragusa.  He also documents one full year of Sicilian religious festivals from Christmas to Easter to the many saints' days (San Giuseppe, Santa Rosalia, Sant'Agata, San Sebastiano).  Giuseppe Leone was born in Ragusa, where he continues to live and work.  For additional information, call Robert Ruggieri at 414-355-6625

Next Act Theatre  (342 N. Water St., 2nd Floor) presents Murderers by Jeffrey Hatcher at the Off-Broadway Theatre. The story: Gerald marries his girlfriend's mom; Minka is out to avenge wrongdoing; and Lucille tries to protect her foolish husband from the heat of an old flame. Three very different people with something in common - murder. Jeff Hatcher's delightfully dark humor and flair for the unexpected will keep you guessing and laughing till the bitter end.  Now through December 14. Tickets range from $26 to $32 and can be purchased at Next Act's Off-Broadway Theatre Box Office or by telephone at 414-278-0765. More information available at www.nextact.org.

Milwaukee Chamber Theatre (158 N. Broadway) presents a new musical based on a true Milwaukee story, The Daly News, now through December 14.  Jonathan Gillard Daly, well-known Milwaukee actor and playwright, takes us back to 1940s Milwaukee for a humorous and touching musical memoir about his family's WWII experience. Tickets can be purchased at the Broadway Theatre Center Box Office, by phone 414-291-7800 or online at www.milwaukeechambertheatre.com

The Skylight (158 N. Broadway) proudly presents the Midwest regional premier of Mel Brooks’ Tony-award winning musical The Producers November 28 through January 4, 2009. Washed-up Broadway producer Max Bialystock seems unable to produce anything but complete flops. So with the harebrained scheme of neurotic accountant Leo Bloom to pocket the surplus raised for another guaranteed flop, he sets out to produce “Springtime for Hitler,” a singing love letter to Adolf Hitler, starring a loopy Swedish bombshell and directed by an off-the-wall director. Surely, this could not be a recipe for success… but then again, there is no accounting for taste.  Filled with outrageous physical comedy, zany costumes, hysterical musical numbers and a fantastic cast of Milwaukee favorites, The Producers is a wild ride – an enjoyable outing this holiday season. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Broadway Theatre Center Box Office at 158 N. Broadway, or by telephone at 414-291-7800. Tickets can also be purchased online 24/7 at skylightopera.com

The Katie Gingrass Gallery invites you to view David Schaefer: Oil Paintings on Paper & Canvas on display at Coquette Café (316 N. Milwaukee St.) through December 30. Throughout his career, Schaefer has been intrigued with light and dimensional space.  His belief is that seeing and producing an effect of nature is not a matter of intellect, but of feeling. He first records subject matter through photography, then studies the patterns of light and dark to begin the process of transforming three dimensional subject matter into rich, highly textured paintings. Preview images at www.gingrassgallery.com or call 414-289-0855 for more information.

Katie Gingrass Gallery (241 N. Broadway) presents Contemporary Signatures now through December 31. This show features the abstract work of several local and national artists. The artists' unique ability to transform their medium into a signature look is key. Featured artists working in various media include Linda Leviton, Scott Hefti, John Mominee, Leslie Nolan, David Schaefer, Leslie Emery, James Zwadlo, and Keith Nelson. Free and open to the public. Visit www.gingrassgallery.com or call 414-289-0855 for additional information.

Eisner Museum (208 N. Water St.) presents Fossil 'Vintage-Ology.' This exhibit showcases Fossil's iconic designs represented through a variety of products and packaging. From Fossil, "Our vintage is showing. And that's fine with us. In fact that's what we're all about. Vintage inspiration with a modern twist. We call the term, Modern Vintage and you'll find it in everything we do. From our award winning design to every product we make. See the evolution of our brand, our lineage, our DNA, our Vintage-ology."  Exhibit through December 31.  Call 414-847-3290 or visit online for more information.

Click here for weekly updates and specials from Third Ward Merchant Members! The list is updated every Wednesday, so check back often.

Exciting changes are happening at the Milwaukee Public Market (400 N. Water St.) that you won’t want to miss!  Two new vendors are scheduled to open this week.  Milwaukee-area favorite since 1927, Rupena's Fine Foods will offer select cuts of your favorite high-quality meats including 100% Angus beef, fresh lamb, delicious pork and poultry at reasonable prices.  Home-made deli products and specialty sandwiches will also be available.  And just diagonal to the Market at the Milwaukee Public Market Annex (346 N. Broadway), Good Harvest Market will open an old-fashioned style grocery store providing 6,000 square feet of organic and local groceries, and environmentally-friendly products including household cleaning supplies and health and beauty products.  Please note a slight change in Market hours – on Sundays, the new hours for the Market and its new vendors will be 10am to 6pm.  Visit the Web site for more on these exciting additions, grand opening promotions, cooking classes, upcoming holiday events and more.  See you at the Market!

Skip the mall and Shop the Ward!  It’s the Historic Third Ward Black Friday Shopping Spree, Friday, November 28.  Black Friday - the day after Thanksgiving - is a day for shopping, shopping and more shopping! Make your list and check it twice, then visit the Historic Third Ward for your best shopping adventure ever!  Find great savings, fun boutiques and unique gifts.  And... to make the holidays very bright, enter for a chance to win a gift certificate from one of over 25 Third Ward retailers. Click here for additional information.

Check out the 2008 Third Ward Shopping, Dining and Entertainment Guide here! With 140 listings, the Guide is sure you help you discover many of the great things the Historic Third Ward has to offer.

Congratulations to Third Ward business tenant Eppstein Uhen Architects which was ranked as the 29th best architectural firm to work for in the United States by Natick, Massachusetts-based ZweigWhite & Associates, a consulting firm for architecture, engineering and consulting firms.

Did you get to enjoy some hot jazz in a cool neighborhood the first weekend of August? The 10th Annual Summer Sizzle Jazz Festival was a great success. Check out great pictures of Steve Cole and Terence Blanchard by Jazzreview.com's Morrice Blackwell.

Did you miss getting a Summer Sizzle t-shirt last year? Do you need a snazzy polo to look good in? Visit the Historic Third Ward office during regular business hours (M-F 8am-5pm) and check out our Third Ward Gear! Shirts, hats and magnets are available for purchase.
Summer Sizzle T-shirt (2008-green) - $10
Past years' Summer Sizzle T-shirts
(2007-purple, 2006-red, 2005-blue) - $5
Historic Third Ward Polo Shirt (green) - $10
Historic Third Ward Hat - $15
Historic Third Ward Tote Bag - $12
HTWA Picture Frame Magnet - $5
Cash and checks welcome!

The Historic Third Ward Association and City of Milwaukee Business Improvement District No. 2 are proud to announce that the Historic Third Ward Riverwalk project received a 2007 American Institute of Architects (AIA) Honor Award for Regional and Urban Design. The Riverwalk also earned Special Recognition in 2006 from the AIA as well as a Special Achievement Award for Public Space from the International Downtown Association (IDA), the honor of Top Project from Wisconsin Builder Magazine and an Award of Excellence at the Sustainability & Energy Efficiency Leadership Awards. In 2005, project won an Honor Award from The Waterfront Center. The Historic Third Ward Riverwalk was designed by Engberg Anderson, a business tenant member of the Historic Third Ward. Learn about the project here.