West Side Stories

Pssst. Hey - yeah, you. Wanna buy a can of bug spray?

Remember last winter? Who doesn’t?! That endless icy blast of Mother Nature that coated our sidewalks and front steps with potential lawsuits. Back then, the toughest find in Tosa was salt (or ice melter.) No matter who you talked to, conversations always came around to: “So, do you know where I can buy some salt?” Neighbors would call each other with hot tips on a bag or two of calcium chloride.

Fast forward to today and there appear to be a couple of items that are really tough finds here in Tosa. One is weather-related and one is not.

Thanks to the torrential rains of June, our alternate state bird, the mosquito, has overtaken Wisconsin. I’ve been to two outdoor parties recently and the most common activity at both was the slap dance. You know the one where you jump around and hit yourself while trying to have a social conversation? It’s fun…and annoying!

Well, if you haven’t already stocked up, mosquito repellant is virtually impossible to find. Target on 124^th and Capitol was completely out. Not a can to be found. Walgreens was down to its last two cans – seriously. You’re going to have to score one in a back alley somewhere…or find a friend who will share.

Another hard-to-find item is the newest game for the Nintendo Wii – Wii Fit. This hot new exercise game is getting rave reviews for combining fun and fitness. I love fun, but I’m not so big on fitness, so anything that will combine the two is a winner in my book.

The problem is, there isn’t a Wii Fit to be found. Ask at any local electronics retailer and you’ll get an eye roll and a shake of the head. This morning, Target was advertising the game in its Sunday paper insert. My husband and I arrived at 9:00 am. “Sorry, we’ve been sold out since 8:10.” Oh well.

So, I’ve been checking Craig’s List and bidding on eBay, but it doesn’t look like we’ll be Wii Fitting anytime soon.

As far as the bug spray, well, my daughter just returned from her trip to Appalachia with a couple of extra cans. Hmmm….think I can put those up for sale on Craig’s List?

Teens these days. They’re so, so, so…willing to sacrifice their time and comfort and….gasp...even their cell phones to do something for other people.

Wait…what?! Right now you’re wondering if I’m serious, right? Believe it or not, I am.

Saturday morning, at the crack of dawn, more than 50 teens and 15 adult leaders from three Wauwatosa churches gathered in the drizzle at St. Pius XI parish. They loaded gear into a fleet of full-size vans and prepared to drive to Kentucky where they will build and repair homes for some of the poorest people living in the Appalachian Mountains. (Later this summer, other groups will venture to South Dakota and Milwaukee’s inner city to do similar work.)

I have heard about The Appalachian Service Project (ASP) for many years. It seems that every teen or adult that has ever gone on this trip has had nothing but great things to say about the experience. This year, my daughter joined the group, as did WauwatosaNOW’s own blogger, Maddie McLennon.

I find it pretty impressive that so many teens would give up an entire week of their hard-earned summer to work really hard for someone they don’t know and then sleep on an air mattress in an un-air-conditioned facility. Talk about going outside your comfort zone!

Thinking back on my own teen summers, I’m embarrassed to admit that they were largely self-serving, unless my mom finally guilted me into doing something worthwhile. Suffice it to say that I never did anything remotely resembling service to others. I’m pretty proud that my daughter didn’t follow in my footsteps.

As a parent, it seems very strange to be out of touch with my daughter for an entire week. (Cell phones are not allowed on the trip, nor would they likely get reception in such a remote area.) Today, we usually have instant access to our kids wherever they go. The idea that I can’t check in on my daughter is a little unnerving…but also somewhat liberating.

Maybe this experience changes parents as well as teens. Maybe it was time for us to let go a little and see just exactly what our children are capable of doing on their own.

I can’t wait to hear my daughter’s stories and hope that Maddie will also share some with all of us in her next blogpost. If you think of it, say a prayer for safe travels and a meaningful experience for all involved.

I recently visited the brand spanking-new “Intermodal” (i.e. Amtrak/Greyhound) Station in downtown Milwaukee. I was pretty excited when I heard about the renovation because the old station was, um, a dump. I have to say, the remodeling was a success. The place looks gorgeous, with its floor to ceiling windows.

So today, I read this story about how the city is fighting to get a decent restaurant next door, but thus far, the only takers are a couple of fast-food joints. Even Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said “we can do better.”

I agree with Mayor Barrett…sort of.

I think they should look for something better than Dunkin’ Donuts and subs. But, before they look at adding fine dining, they might want to do one simple thing: Look up.

In my opinion, there’s a huge problem developing at the Intermodal Station that gives a worse impression than the smell of fried food. The flocks of circling birds are using the gigantic windows for, shall we say, target practice. That’s right, the first thing you notice about the beautiful new station is the windows and the next thing you notice is that they’re covered in bird poop. In fact, they look like....you-know-what.

And so I ask: Somewhere in that $15.8 million renovation, did anybody put in a few dollars for window washing? Because I don’t know about you, but the sight of bird-droppings doesn’t make me hungry for anything.

Sometimes, you’re just in the right place at the right time. That is exactly how I’m feeling  about summer in Tosa. Look around you and there are some awesome dining experiences just waiting to make summer in our town better than ever.

We’ll start out west. There’s Locker’s Pointe on 92^nd and North, where you can sit on chairs reminiscent of the UW patio and sip Alterra coffee or grab a scoop of Locker's gelato. Up the street, there’s City Market where the patio is packed on a typical Saturday or Sunday morning.

Down in the village, things are really getting fun. Of course there’s Vino 100 where you can sit outside on one of the most charming patios around, sipping wine and, on Thursday nights, listening to live music.

Around the corner, you can try outdoor dining at Bartolotta’s, which is decidedly casual and great for people-watching. (Oh and the food’s not bad either!)

Now, for something new: Pizzeria Piccola is about to open Piccola al Fresco – a picture-perfect spot for eating their delicious wood-fired pizza outside under the stars. Have you seen it? If not, take a peek, it’s quaint and inviting and will likely be packed on a warm summer night.

Last but not least, there’s La Reve, the brand new patisserie and café that looks absolutely adorable! Despite the recent closing of Drew’s (a moment of silence, please), Harwood Avenue has been poised to become the destination gem of the village. The one-of-a-kind shops like Jilly and George, Urban Laundry and Oro di Oliva have been waiting for their moment in the sun. I think La Reve will bring that day from the moment that it opens. (Not sure when that is, but it looks like soon!) The two-story dining establishment has the look of a real winner and the opportunity to lure diners and shoppers from all over Milwaukee.

With gas prices well over $4 per gallon, there’s no better time than now to plan your summer days out right here in our fair village. For those of us within walking distance of these great new places, summer just got a little bit better.