Parking Meters

I've covered the latest version of Milwaukee's parking meters, in an earlier post, but I recently found myself in a part of town where the change has not yet occurred. These meters take coins, and have a digital clock showing how much time is left. Does anyone know if the mechanical type still exist anywhere in Milwaukee?

Ducks Out Of Water

Apparently, these ducks had enough of the water, and were drying out on this pier down in the Third Ward.

Wye

This rail intersection is at the bridge where the tracks (used to?) cross over the Milwaukee River in the Third Ward, just off Erie Street. The rails are well-rusted, and the bridge doesn't appear to be operative.

Capone's Grotto

Tonight, we attended the Westown Association Spring Mixer at Capone's Grotto Restaurant on 3rd Street. The mixture of the 20's speakeasy and Rat Pack-era memorabilia make for an interesting location for dinner downtown.

Riverwalk - History

I got a chance to walk part of the Riverwalk in the Third Ward, and was surprised to see words etched in the boards. Upon closer inspection, there is a historical record engraved there. Starting with January 1832, each board has a month's worth of world, national, state and local items.

Stratiformis

Today's photo is a detail shot of Stratiformis, a sculpture by Jin Soo Kim, built with the assistance of the students at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. The sculpture sits near the MIAD campus in the Third Ward, and is made of pieces of manufacturing equipment from the Reliable Knitting company. Some people think that the piece is an eyesore, and does not belong in the area. To me, art is art, and no one loves everything.

Memorial Day Cookout

As is tradition with the unofficial start of Summer, many people get out the grill and fire it up to make their favorite picnic foods. I found this gentleman at Veterans Park, getting ready to grill out and have a delicious lunch. The large flag certainly made it known that he was celebrating his freedoms and remembering those who have served our country.

Kite Festival

With the (cool) breeze up and the skies sunny, it was a great day for the second half of the 22nd Family Kite Festival at Veterans Park on the lakefront. Kites of all kinds and sizes were on display, and there were areas for lessons and demonstrations. These huge kites were a hit with many of the kids in attendance.

(Re)Open For Business

It's opening day for season two at Bradford Beach, and although it was a cool, cloudy morning, the afternoon turned warm and sunny. This season will find volleyball, music, wine tastings, and more at the beach. Frankly, I can't wait to eat at the North Point snack bar!

Buffalo Herd

Another photo from our trip to the Milwaukee Public Museum. The museum has a number of life-size displays of various scenes, and this scene is one of the favorites. The looks on the faces of the buffalo are so realistic, and the size of the display is really impressive. In addition, there is a rattlesnake off to one side that has a remote control switch, and the kids (and grownups) that know about it like to set off the rattle.

Titanic

Tonight, we went to the Milwaukee Public Museum to see Titanic - The Artifact Exhibition. The special attraction is only at the Museum for a couple more days, so get out and see it if you can. The artificial iceberg that is part of the display was a surprise, and the entire program was very interesting.

Sailing Again...

With the temps in the 80's again, the sailboats are getting out on the lake more and more often. I grabbed this photo down at the Summerfest grounds, and my "art director" says the fence bars remind her of being stuck in the jail of work, while others get to play.

Duckling

I've posted about the story of Gertie the Duck before, but this is the first photo of any of the bronze sculptures of Gertie and her chicks on the Riverwalk. This one is one of the chicks, whose the name escapes me now.

St. Josephat's II

A trip to the movie theatre today left me feeling a little churchy, so here's today's photo. It's a detail shot of the front of St. Josephat's, which was also featured last September. I wonder if there are any hidden passages here... :)

Washington

Back in April, I posted a photo of a portion of the statue of George Washington on Wisconsin Avenue. Today's photo is the rest of that statue.

Maple

The streets of many of the residential areas of the city are lined with maple trees, which provide a large shade canopy in the summer. We have one in front of our house, and with the sun setting later every day, I appreciate the fact that it blocks the setting sun from our living room.

Field Worker

Today's photos is another entry from the series of the Man at Work collection at the Grohmann Museum on the campus of the Milwaukee School of Engineering. I believe this one is called "Field Worker". It's been kind of grey around here lately with a lot of rain, so I'm feeling in a black and white mood this week.

Under the Bridge

This railroad bridge over the top of Pittsburgh street shows its age; peeling, cracked layers of flat black paint reveal rust and decay accrued over time. Its structure still stands strong in defiance of the forces trying to bring it down.

Lilacs

The lilac bushes are beginning to bloom, filling the air with their sweet fragrance. It's a shame that they only last for a few weeks before disappearing until next spring.

Neighborhood Sign: Layton Boulevard

Bordered by Layton Boulevard on the east and 35th Street on the west, the Layton Park neighborhood is on the near southwest side of Milwaukee. Like many of the neighborhoods around town, there is a high percentage of bungalow-style homes in the area.

Narwhal

A month ago, I posted a photo of a small painting underneath a railroad bridge. Not far away was this piece as well, just a couple inches long on each side. Among all the flat black paint, these small patches of color really stood out and got your attention.

Downtown Renaissance

As with any large city, a cycle of growing, dying, and rebirth is constantly taking place in Milwaukee. In the area around Water Street and the abandoned Park East Corridor, rebirth is occurring. One of the newer buildings in the area is this one at the corner of Water and State Streets. In the foreground, a skywalk connects the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts with a parking structure.

Marian II

A return trip to the Marian Shrine is today's photo. I like the muted colors and deep shadows in this photo, and the arrangement of the sculptures makes for a symmetrical composition.

Romantic Fools

We were back at In Tandem Theatre this evening to catch their production of "Romantic Fools". The one-woman, one-man play focuses on the funny side of relationships, dating, and courtship. The show runs through the 17th, so there's still time to get downtown and see it!

Carnival Association

Today's photo is another sculpture from Wisconsin Avenue. This one is a stone column with decorative top, and the inscription on the base reads "Presented to the City of Milwaukee by the Carnival Association June 26 1900". Why the Carnival Association saw the need to award the city with this, I don't know, but it must have been a good reason.

Bird Dog

Last summer, the folks (and dogs) from Migratory Bird Management kept tabs on the seagulls at Bradford Beach. The Border Collies would chase the birds off, keeping the area clean (and safe) for visitors. I believe they will be back this year. The beach reopens for business on Friday, May 23rd.

Germania Building

Built in 1896 by George Braumder, the Germania Building on Wells Street originally housed a German language publishing business and newspaper. The building was designed by Schnetzky & Liebert, and is currently an office building. The copper-covered domes on the corners of the building resemble German war helmets, nicknamed Kaiser helmets. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Pottery Shop

This pottery shop on the corner of 7th and Lincoln caught my eye. The frosted glass panel inside the front window with a silhouette of Abraham Lincoln (due to the location, perhaps?) and the caption apparently refer to the building's previous life as a photo studio.

Dominoes in the Park

What a gorgeous weekend! With the weather we had, a lot more people are getting out and enjoying it. I shot this photo of two men playing dominoes in Kosciuszko Park on the south side.

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church

Today's photo is the steeple of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Bay View. I happened to be driving by the church in the late afternoon, and the opportunity presented itself. I love the light and shadow in this photo, and the clear blue sky provides a great backdrop.

May Theme Day - Shadows

The May 2009 Theme Day is Shadows

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

This bench sits on the Riverwalk, and was a perfect find for today's theme. When I was preparing the photo, I noticed a strange shadow underneath the bench, as though someone was sitting there. Can you figure out what it is?