Every Friday, Off The Record looks to other Milwaukee publications (and beyond) for bits of news we missed throughout the week.
• Buckle the fuck up and prepare to either rejoice or use the word “boondoggle” a lot again—the first track of the Milwaukee Streetcar will be installed this April. “The initial segment built will be a double-tracked section running from the Milwaukee River to the Milwaukee Intermodal Station along W. St. Paul Ave.,” reports Urban Milwaukee. Construction of the Milwaukee Streetcar Maintenance Facility, which will be located under Interstate 794, is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Construction of the whole kit and caboodle is expected to wrap up in the second quarter of 2018. Debate over the value of the project is expected to last until the end of time. Or at least until they just build the damn thing and it does just fine. OH GOD THE STREETCAR! [Urban Milwaukee]
• State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers and Municipal Judge Valarie Hill were the big winners of Tuesday’s spring primary election. Approximately 8.67 percent of Milwaukee voters bothered to vote in the election, while approximately 100 percent are still pissing and moaning about politics on Facebook. [Urban Milwaukee]
• The scoreboard in the new Milwaukee Bucks area will apparently blow our fucking minds and/or kill us. Team president Peter Feigin says the four-sided, 25-by-29-foot board will have “a little bit of the ability to surprise and delight,” and that “we’re not able to fathom the ability of this board.” Holy shit! [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
• WebsterX released a towering, blistering new single, “Intuition,” and announced his long-awaited debut album, Daymares, will be out March 24. [Soundcloud]
• Taking a break from 24/7 Sheriff Clarke coverage (we can relate), Daniel Bice broke the news that Gov. Scott Walker’s planned “inspirational” Christian cruise to Alaska has been canceled. “Scheduling issues” have been blamed. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
• The ACLU of Wisconsin has filed suit against Milwaukee, claiming the Milwaukee Police Department performs thousands of illegal stop-and-frisks “motivated by race and ethnicity.” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
• NEWaukee announced the dates for its 2017 Night Market: June 14, July 12, August 16, and September 13. [OnMilwaukee]
• On March 8, Summerfest will unveil a huge 50th anniversary banner on the side of a Historic Third Ward building. Michael Horne got a look at the design, which Ald. Bob Bauman called “a horrible sign, a horrible sign.” [Urban Milwaukee]
• LUXI unveiled an intimate new video for her song “Next 2 U.” [YouTube]
• As you may have heard, sales of George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four have been soaring in the era of President Trump. In other news, Alderman Tony Zielinkski, already busy asking people about flags, is asking Bay View residents to pony up for more neighborhood security cameras. [TMJ4]
• Downtown’s Hyatt Regency hotel—the site where Theodore Roosevelt was totally shot that one time—is for sale. [Milwaukee Business Journal]
• A kitchen grease fire caused major damage to Ashley’s Que on National Avenue. The restaurant is now closed. (The Center Street location of Ashley’s Que was damaged by a fire back in October.) [OnMilwaukee]
• Milwaukee producer Altruist released a debut EP, Quicksand, on local electronic label Close Up Of The Serene. Listen now. You won’t regret it. [Bandcamp]
• Marsel’s Pizzeria is planning to open a second location in the former home of Dino’s Italian Restaurant. [Milwaukee Business Journal]
• Steinhafels is helping redesign the backstage of the Pabst Theater. (Take a peek at the current backstage here.) [Milwaukee Business Journal]
• Local marketing agency Hanson Dodge will redesign the Visit Milwaukee website. No word yet on the status of Milwaukee.com. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
• Evan Rytlewski rounded up a slew of new Milwaukee hip-hop, including tracks from Mic Kellogg, AR Wesley, and IshDARR. [Shepherd Express]
• Oconomowoc’s Crafty Cow will open a second location in the grocery and deli half of Bumstead Provisions. The burgers-and-beer joint is expected this April. [OnMilwaukee]
• Shorewood’s Ruckus is now open for dinner. [OnMilwaukee]
• Former Milwaukee Brewer Prince Fielder has a cooking show coming on Netflix and Hula called Fielder’s Choice and it looks goddamn delightful. [OnMilwaukee]
• Gizmodo said tearing down the Park East freeway “changed Milwaukee forever.” Great job, Milwaukee! [OnMilwaukee]
• “Milwaukee’s made yet another list.” Great job, Milwaukee! [OnMilwaukee]
• Have a great weekend, Milwaukee!