West Side Stories

I don’t know if I’m unique, but I always thought of Swan Boulevard, south of Menomonee River Parkway, as a well-kept secret. Once I had figured out that it was the quickest way to Highways 45 and 94 and a way to avoid Mayfair Mall traffic when trying to get to Bluemound Road, I was hooked. I even started suggesting it as a route to our house when friends and family from Illinois came to visit. (Hey, we have to let them in the state once in a while. Think of the tourism revenue!) And, I hate to admit it, but I sometimes go a little faster than the posted speed limit, due somewhat to the light traffic there most of the day, except at around 5 pm weekdays. All in all, Swan Boulevard was a nifty solution for my daily travels.

Well, that’s about to end...and soon. Signs posted along Menomonee River Parkway announce that there will be construction on Swan Boulevard beginning in July. According to the MMSD (Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District) website , Swan will be reduced to one lane each way for at least one year. And, the posted speed limit will be 25 mph. Gulp. This is going to be a very busy area...and not a shortcut at all. Suffice it to say, we should all consider an alternate route.

If you’ve driven through this area in the past couple of weeks, you’ve noticed that it has been transformed. Once the MMSD put up their bright orange fencing, the landscape went from wild, open fields to a giant, barren space that looks even larger than it did before. The change is startling, much like the transformation of Hart Park, which seems to have increased in size, since the beginning of that project.

For the last few years, in the fields far back of the county grounds near Swan Boulevard, crews have been busy digging and blasting, late into the night. In fact, a couple of years ago, the blasting was such that every day at around 8:00 am, the sirens would blare and our house would shake a bit. My husband jokes that perhaps they were building an underground missile silo under cover of Wauwatosa. Talk about a well-kept secret! Now that the county grounds have been cleared of brush and trees, his clandestine theory doesn’t seem so far-fetched. Although I, for one, am not big on conspiracy theories.

In any case, this mammoth project will not only take millions of dollars, it will take a lot of our patience. Relax, people. This is going to take a while. All we can hope is that in the end, our secret will be restored.

I have a confession to make: I’ve named the runners and a few of the walkers in my neighborhood. It’s not a weird stalker kind of thing, but more of an expression of endearment. You see, I have a lovely bird’s-eye vantage point and the sidewalk in front of our house is a rather popular thoroughfare for dog-walkers, stroller-pushers and the aerobically inclined. About 4-1/2 years ago, I quit my job to be a full-time stay-at-home mom. One of the first things I noticed was my neighborhood during the day and how it was a little bit different than it was after work. Or, perhaps it was just that I had a little more time to smell and, well, see the flowers....and the people that took the time to get out and move!

First, let me say that I’m very impressed by their commitment, their dedication and their regularity...to running, for heaven’s sake! They are amazingly dependable and help put time stamps on my day. For instance, at around 4 pm every day, I look out my kitchen window for the “Tippy-Toe Runner.” She runs on the grass, I assume due to bad knees. Her pace is slow but she runs for miles and miles. I know because I’ve seen her running far away from where I live.

Then there’s the mid-day arrival of the “Serious Runner.” Right around noon when I’m sitting down to a hearty lunch, I see her, in bright apparel and with a very deliberate stride, running past my house. She never misses a day. Never.

After the school day begins, when I’m walking my dog on the parkway, I often see “The Happy Runner.” She looks too young to not be in school, but then, everyone looks pretty young to me these days. She runs with the most pleasant smile on her face, her head slanted a bit to one side. She never fails to make me smile myself.

My favorite is not a runner, but a walker. I see him many days of the week, but always early on Sundays. I’ve dubbed him “Lumbering Man.” He looks a few decades older than me and his gait tilts from one side to the other. He walks as if in a bit of pain. And yet, I’ve seen him, in every kind of weather, walking for miles and miles and miles. He never ceases to amaze me, the way he perseveres, no matter if it’s below zero, raining or sleeting.

I’ve never met any of these people. I suppose I could stop them, say hi and introduce myself, but I have a quiet respect for their commitment to personal fitness and I like to know that they’re around every day or every week. They’re a comfortable sight in the neighborhood.

Just east of the corner of 88th & North (Ludington & North if you’re coming from the south), there was a hustle and bustle this past weekend that hasn’t been seen since Sendik’s opened. This weekend it was the new City Market that took over the former home of Haasch Appliance. As you drove past on Saturday morning, you could see colorful groups of people sitting outside dining at tall cafe tables as the traffic crawled by so that drivers could gape at the newly opened restaurant. Yes, after a long, long wait, City Market on North Avenue has finally opened for business.

My daughter and I decided to try it out last Thursday for an early lunch. I’ve had coffee and muffins at their other Tosa location on Watertown Plank Road, but hadn’t yet had lunch there. The first thing I noticed is that there wasn’t a menu posted. The woman behind the counter asked if she could help me and I replied, “Yes, do you have a menu?” She handed me a paper menu, which appeared to be the only one on the premises. No doubt a posted menu will arrive shortly. The choices were many and varied.

I had the City Sampler with a half a turkey sandwich and a small bowl of their corn chowder. (The sandwich is of your choosing and the soup changes daily.) It was excellent and even came with a cookie! My daughter created her own ham and cheese sandwich and greatly enjoyed it. I didn't mind paying a little more for our meals since the ingredients were fresher than most casual restaurants. After ordering, we wandered around and gazed longingly at the baked goods, which looked very yummy!

Judging from the increasing crowd as we dined, I think City Market will be there a long, long time. It seems to fill the need for a moderately healthy, casual dining option. The fact that there is outdoor seating makes it all the more appealing. Even as the weather chills in the fall, I can just imagine moms gathering for a cup of coffee after dropping the kids off at school. The only challenge will be finding parking in an already busy area. Still, I think will be well worth the effort!

Outside of a few exceptions, Tosa is a community of sidewalks - sidewalks that are used a lot. If you have a short or crowded driveway, please don’t park your car so that it obstructs the sidewalk. It’s tough on walkers of all ages and abilities, not to mention young bike riders and parents pushing strollers. In fact, it’s really irritating and selfish too.

I love pedestrians. In fact, I often am a pedestrian. As drivers, we should definitely slow down for pedestrians and allow them the right of way and the time to get across the street. As pedestrians, shouldn’t we also hustle just a teeny bit when someone is waiting in a car or when a line of cars is waiting for you to cross? And no, I’m not talking about rushing the elderly or young children. I’m talking about healthy, able-bodied citizens that seem to pride themselves on taking....all....day.....to.....cross.....the.....street.

I sometimes wonder if Wauwatosa holds some kind of record for the number of dogs we have. If you visit Menomonee River parkway on a Saturday in good weather, you’ll see dozens of dogs being walked by owners. Some owners take it up a notch and jog with their dogs, sometimes off-leash. (I won’t get into the legalities of this.) For the most part, these dogs are well behaved and leave people alone. The issue I have is when the owner is running so fast, that he/she doesn’t notice that the dog has stopped to do its “business” which is then left for everyone to step in. Consequently, when I walk my dog, I get dirty looks, as if I were responsible. If you walk or run your dog, watch what it’s doing and pick up after it...for everyone’s sake. If you forget a bag, ask another dog walker or come back later and pick it up.

Wauwatosa is also a community of bikes. We have many trails and lovely tree-lined streets that make a bike ride an adventure and well worth the effort. Weekends on Menomonee River Parkway are often very busy with bicycle traffic, which is why we should all slow down. Conversely, if you’re riding with several bikers, may I suggest that you ride single-file and not side-by-side? There simply isn’t enough room for two-way auto traffic and bikers in groups...even if you’re wearing that cool Spandex biking outfit that makes you look oh so Lance Armstrong.

One of the most time-honored traditions in Wauwatosa is the Fourth of July Parade down North Avenue. One needs only to drive down that street on July Third to see how much this city loves its parade. The roped-together lawn chairs decorating all sides of the street are the way we display our civic pride. The question is, can businesses and the public enjoy the festivities without stepping on each other’s toes?

For more than 20 years, a friend of mine has been watching the Wauwatosa Fourth of July Parade from the same vantage point. She and her family have always sat in front of Sendiks (formerly Kohl’s) between Pasadena and 86th and enjoyed the sights and sounds of Independence Day, Wauwatosa-style. The roofline of the store provided protection from the rain and the deep window ledges were comfortable seats. As kids, they would run inside Kohl’s and purchase donuts and juice to enjoy while the parade rolled by.

Last year, that tradition came to a screeching halt. She and her family arrived in front of Sendik’s only to find that our newest gourmet grocery store had roped off the entire sidewalk in front of the store for employees and their families. Not only could you not sit in front of Sendik’s, but you could not even use the sidewalk directly in front of the store. To make matters a little worse, Sendik’s was not open for business, like Kohl’s used to be, except for employees and relatives to use their restroom.

There’s no easy solution to this situation. Sendik’s is a private business and has the right to take advantage of their unique location to treat employees and their families. They also have the right to close their store on a national holiday. The murky part is whether they should be able to close off the sidewalk in front of their business to the exclusion of the general public...many of whom, like my friend, are good customers. It would seem only fair that they consider resizing their private viewing area so that residents can use the sidewalk. And, if they could find it in their hearts to open their doors during the parade to sell a donut or two, well, I know a family that would be really happy. After all, it’s all in the name of civic pride.

There’s a gem of a place nestled on North Avenue between 85th and 86th streets, on the north side of the street. You’ve probably driven by it dozens of times. Perhaps you noticed the quirky clock on the front of this lannon stone Cape Cod that says “Time to Buy” displaying, ironically, the incorrect time. Or maybe you have seen the other sign, permanently planted in the front yard, that says “Holiday Clock Sale,” even in mid-summer, with no holiday in sight. Nevertheless, you should park the car and step inside Homestead Clocks and Accents, a one-of-a-kind blast from the past with more clocks per square inch than you can imagine. Shepherded by Clifford Gensch, a gangly, elderly gentleman with a caricature comb-over and more stories than you have time for, Homestead Clocks is a treasure trove in Wauwatosa.

I first stumbled upon the store when I had decided to buy my husband a mantel clock for our 15th wedding anniversary. I’m not typically a fan of out of the way places, but I knew my husband would appreciate knowing that his gift was purchased at that funny little store that we had passed for years. I stepped inside and was overwhelmed by clocks from floor to ceiling. There’s practically no place to stand inside the “store,” which is essentially just a tiny house packed with product, but I waited my turn as Cliff assisted another customer. When that person left, he looked at me and brightly asked: “How can I help you, young lady?!” I was immediately taken in by his charm and his warmth. He not only helped me choose a beautiful Sligh mantel clock, but he gave me a history of the manufacturer, the value of the clock and few fascinating stories to go with my purchase.

Since then, I’ve been back several times, to buy more clocks and accents or for a clock repair. (Cliff does repairs for many large retailers.) Every time, I’m treated like a long-lost friend and given a wealth of stories and anecdotes that are so fun to hear. In fact, I often bring my teenage daughter in with me because storekeepers such as Cliff are a dying breed that her generation will rarely see. In this age of employee turnover and chain store monopolies, a trip to Homestead Clocks will take longer than you want, but it’s always so worth the time. Go visit Cliff and tell him that the “young lady” sent you. You can thank me later.

Hi. My name is Karen and I’m an unabashed Tosa enthusiast. No, the City Council did not pay me to say that. I wear many hats, but this is what popped into my head when I sat down to write the first entry for my new Community Voices blog, “West Side Stories.”

First a confession: I’m not a native Tosan. Actually, and don’t hate me for saying this, I grew up on the north side of Chicago. (Don’t worry, a prenuptial agreement required me to pledge my allegiance to the Packers.) The neighborhood in which I grew up, Edgebrook, is practically a mirror-image of Wauwatosa, with its tree-lined streets and quaint shops. Our Drew’s Variety was called Value-Ville. Our Sendik’s was Peterson’s. Our “Village” was called “Uptown.” Our Gilles was called Superdog. The fact that I transplanted myself into a northern version of Edgebrook is probably not an accident.

My husband and I have lived in Wauwatosa for 15 years, but I really think of it as more like 20. We used to gaze longingly at Tosa across Center Street and save our pennies for the day when we could claim a Wauwatosa address. Once we made the leap, we never looked back.

Yes, I’m sure that the people in Whitefish Bay or Shorewood or Bay View feel the same, but I’ll admit it, I’m a Tosa Snob because I think everything’s better here on the West Side.

I’m a Tosa Snob because I love the quirky little places you won’t find in those other communities. I love sitting on the patio outside John’s Sandwich Shop, drinking a milk shake. I love wandering through the packed aisles at Drew’s, finding items for my kids’ school projects. I love walking into The Rosebud Theatre, snuggling into a loveseat and promising myself not to fall asleep because I’m so comfortable. I love browsing through The Little Read Book, trying to narrow down my choices to 5 or 6 titles. I love stopping in Swan Drugs and letting the kids get a pack of candy cigarettes. (Oh, stop it – it’s nostalgia!)

I love steering a cart through Wisconsin Garden and Pet and buying way too many flowers that I will eventually curse when I have to keep them watered. I love walking into Homestead Clocks, finding the strangest timepiece imaginable and then staying way too long to listen to Cliff Gensch share a story or two. I love standing in the middle of Balistreri’s, waiting for a table, while diners all around me eat pizza served on gigantic cafeteria trays. For me, it all feels like home and running into neighbors and friends simply seals the deal for me virtually every day.

What you won’t read about in “West Side Stories” are politics and issues. I steer far clear of such topics, and I’m sure my fellow Community Voices bloggers will be far more adept at that than I would be.

First and foremost, I’m a mom...of the stay-at-home variety. I have been a working mom, so I know a bit about those challenges as well. My view of the world, or Wauwatosa, is generally more fluff than fact, with a little bit of crankiness mixed in, covered (hopefully) with a layer of humor. I try not to take any of it too seriously because, really, there are more qualified people to do that for us.

Thanks for reading. I hope you’ll come back and feel free to contact me. All I ask is that you be polite, because that’s what your mother would have wanted you to do, right?