Every Friday, Off The Record looks to other Milwaukee publications (and beyond) for bits of news we missed throughout the week.
• Milwaukee is a city of contrasts. One one hand, it has world-class amenities and events; on the other hand, it’s one of the most segregated cities in America. On one hand, according to the Milwaukee Business Journal, the city has added just 11,000 private-sector jobs since the Great Recession, “well shy of the 32 major metros that have seen double-digit employment growth over the same period;” on the other hand, well, we’re finally getting one of those places where you can drink wine and hang out with cats.
Yes, Milwaukee will soon be home to Sip & Purr, “a cafe where patrons can enjoy a few beverages while also cozying up to a few kitties.” The brainchild of Whitefish Bay resident Katy McHugh, Drink & Hiss Sip & Purr will feature dozens of adoptable cats; plenty of ingestible beer, wine, and food; and events like yoga with cats. It will follow in the adorable paw prints of Cat Cafe Mad, which opened last year in Madison, and, well, was kind of depressing. Slug & Spit Sip & Purr is expected to open (in a to-be-determined location) in early 2018. [Milwaukee Business Journal]
• The Milwaukee Bucks announced the date of their 50th-anniversary “Return to the MECCA” game. The Bucks will take on the Boston Celtics October 26 at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. [OnMilwaukee]
• Speaking of the Bucks, construction on nearly $3 million worth of “sidewalks, curbs, landscaping and security features” outside their new arena is expected to begin by mid-September. [Milwaukee Business Journal]
• Milwaukee’s Nineteen Thirteen—a.k.a. Victor DeLorenzo and Janet Schiff—released two new songs, “Trick Zipper” and “Hot Garbage.” They’re both really, really good. [The Vinyl District]
• The 2017 Milwaukee Film Festival is now less than one month away. How does Milwaukee Film make it all happen? $301,000 in funding and in-kind support from 30 new sponsors, not to mention more than $170,000 from 106 returning sponsors, certainly doesn’t hurt. [BizTimes]
• Ride-sharing service Lyft introduced its “black car” luxury service to Milwaukee this week. According to the Milwaukee Business Journal, “Lyft Lux and Lyft Lux SUV allow riders to travel to formal or business-related events in a high-end vehicle.” [Milwaukee Business Journal]
• Not fancy enough for a fancy Lyft? Well, you can use your bus pass to check out one of those Bublr bikes now. [Urban Milwaukee]
• Speaking of the bus, On The Bus—a new Milwaukee Public Market venue made out of a 1971 Volkswagen Bus and specializing in plant-based food—is now open. Smoothies, date shakes, vegan rueben sandwiches, tofu egg salad sandwiches, and much more are on the menu. [OnMilwaukee]
• Birch + Butcher, “a mashup of a butcher shop, retail store, and restaurant,” is coming to The North End apartment complex. [Milwaukee Business Journal]
• Pete’s Fruit Market, 2303 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Dr. in Milwaukee’s Bronzeville neighborhood, will open its doors September 14. [Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service]
• Downtown watering hole Jim’s Time Out is getting a remodel and a new name. The new name is The Joint. #SavedYouAClick [OnMilwaukee]
• Have a great Labor Day weekend, Milwaukee!