Every Friday, Off The Record looks to other Milwaukee publications (and beyond) for bits of news we missed throughout the week.
• Woo! What a week for Milwaukee! Where do we begin? How about…
• Aquaman! Yeah! Fucking Aquaman was in Milwaukee! Actor Jason Momoa—a.k.a. Aquaman—dropped by the Harley-Davidson Museum on Tuesday and posted some pictures on Instagram. Paying tribute to both Harley and Elvis Presley (Tuesday would have been the King’s 84th birthday), Momoa wrote: “First off. Happy birthday to the king love u Elvis. Secondly I love u @harleydavidson mahalo for the amazing tour. It was an honor to make the pilgrimage to the Mecca and third Milwaukee you are amazing. Wisconsin I’m so impressed. The future is exciting another check of my bucket list #findyourfreedom. #cheeseheads #happybirthdayking. #harleyforlife Aloha j.”
Momoa—who, again, is Aquaman—also visited the Harley-Davidson Powertrain Operations factory in Menomonee Falls, and posted a picture of himself wearing a cheesehead. [FOX6]
• Billy Joel! Yeah! Fucking Billy Joel is coming to Milwaukee! The Milwaukee Brewers announced Thursday that the Piano Man will play Miller Park on April 26. The show will be Joel’s first Milwaukee gig in 11 years, and his only Midwest stop of 2019. A reminder to Miller Park staff: STOP LIGHTING THE AUDIENCE! [TMJ4]
• The roof of the BMO Harris Bradley Center! Yeah! The roof of the BMO Harris Bradley Center is gonna get blown up on Sunday! But, um, it won’t be that exciting, apparently. The Milwaukee Bucks and the contractors supervising the operation are stressing that the only highlight for onlookers might be an “ambient dust cloud.” Because the charges will be detonated from inside the arena, folks won’t be able to hear much, either. Oh, and keep your drones at home. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
• Have you heard about this? The Improv is coming to…The Corners of Brookfield? The national comedy club chain announced it will begin construction of a three-stage, 13,049-square-foot space in The Corners this summer. The new Improv—Wisconsin’s first—is expected to open in 2020. [Milwaukee Business Journal]
• A real-time app for The Hop is coming “as quickly as possible.” In the meantime, you’ll have to wait all of 10 minutes until the next one comes around. [Urban Milwaukee]
• Last September, Madison-based Maurer’s Foods announced it would open an Urban Market grocery store in Northwestern Mutual’s 7Seventy7 apartment building this January. That opening has now been pushed back to spring. [Milwaukee Business Journal]
• Trapper Schoepp released a video for “What You Do To Her,” a track from his upcoming album Primetime Illusion. The song, which features Nicole Atkins, tackles the issues of sexual assault and domestic violence. The video was animated by Milwaukee artist Casey Hoaglund. [Billboard]
• XO Cocktail Parlor will open soon at 326 E. Mason St., a.k.a. the former 42 Lounge. According to owner Larry Taylor: “I’ve always had a vision to do something different in Milwaukee, and XO has been an idea that I’ve really refined over the years. I feel as if now is really the right time to capture the imaginations of the young professionals and millennials who are tired of the corner bars and nightclubs that we already have. My goal is really to bring some balance to the things that already exist in the area.” [OnMilwaukee]
• Whiskey Bar, 788 N. Jackson St., will close on February 2. According to owner Mike Vitucci: “We have been the only tenant in this building for 10 years and knew someday this building would be razed and there will be an incredible development opportunity which we hope to be part of in the upcoming year. Soon, that multi-story incredible project will be unveiled.” Also, OnMilwaukee had an “epic” Mad Men-themed staff party there 10 years ago! [OnMilwaukee]
• The Kil@Wat restaurant in the InterContinental Milwaukee hotel closed Tuesday. The restaurant will remain closed as the hotel transforms into Saint Kate, an “arts hotel” that will feature a “new theater, a gallery space, an artist-in-residence studio, event spaces, and new culinary concepts.” [Milwaukee Business Journal]
• That Bay View Subway joint at 2121 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. is closed. [Urban Milwaukee]
• That Bay View Subway joint at 2121 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. will be a poke place—the neighborhood’s first! [Urban Milwaukee]
• The Chicago Tribune mentioned Milwaukee. Great job, Milwaukee! [OnMilwaukee]
• Have a great weekend, Milwaukee!