Every Friday, Stuff We Missed (formerly Off The Record, which is now the name of our print-only Colectivo publication) looks to other Milwaukee publications (and beyond) for, well, stuff we missed throughout the week.
• The Milwaukee streetcar—a.k.a. The Hop—launched in November 2018. Seems like a million years ago, doesn’t it? Since the service’s “Grand Hop-ening” there’s been no shortage of drama. But there’s one thing that’s hard to deny about the 2.1-mile streetcar system: people are riding it.
Need proof? Well, The Hop recently posted its biggest ridership day ever. Thanks, no doubt, to Bastille Days, 8,968 riders hopped on the thing this past Saturday. That number crushes the previous high of 7,798 set during The Hop’s opening week. Furthermore, from June 26 through July 14, The Hop averaged 3,821 riders per day. That’s more than twice the pre-launch projected daily ridership of 1,850.
BUT NOT SO FAST. Because the streetcar remains a contentious issue, some folks will still figure out how to complain about it (again). Some examples:
• “Yeah, but check back when the novelty wears off!”
• “Yeah, but check back when it isn’t free!”
• “Yeah, but check back when it’s 30 below for six straight months!”
• [that meme of Mayor Barrett saying “A trolley will fix this”]
To be sure, there are plenty of iffy things about the streetcar: its in-limbo extension and funding plans, its projected ridership drop if/when it isn’t free, and the fact that no one other than Potawatomi has stepped up to sponsor the thing. But again: people are riding it! For now! [FOX6]
• 88Nine Radio Milwaukee launched a six-part podcast called Backspin. What’s Backspin all about?
So, who exactly recorded Milwaukee’s first hip-hop song? How did Milwaukee create a hip-hop scene? In 88Nine’s new long-form podcast series, hip-hop expert and DJ Tyrone Miller (DJ Bizzon) teams up with 88Nine’s Music Director Justin Barney on a quest to definitively answer those questions.
All six episodes are available now wherever you listen to podcasts. [88Nine Radio Milwaukee]
• A new music festival is coming to the public plaza outside Fiserv Forum. The Chords & Curds Festival will feature local musicians (TBA), artists, and food trucks on Saturday, August 24. [BizTimes]
• The 3rd Street Market Hall—a.k.a. the new food hall coming to the first floor of the former Shops of Grand Avenue—plans to open next spring. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
• Red Letter Media made a prediction video for Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker and goddammit, they’re probably right. It’s gonna involve time travel. [Red Letter Media]
• Soul singer Bettye LaVette will headline Black Arts Fest MKE on Saturday, August 3 at Henry Maier Festival Park. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
• Milwaukee Art Museum is doing maintenance work on its Burke Brise Soleil, and will keep the “wings” closed until September. [Twitter]
• A Pokémon pop-up bar is coming to Milwaukee! Sometime next year! Somewhere! [OnMilwaukee]
• A new cocktail bar, The Sofie, is coming to the former Dino’s Taverna at 777 N. Jefferson St. [OnMilwaukee]
• A new piano bar, the Ivory Room Piano Bar, may be coming to1 60 W. Wisconsin Ave. [OnMilwaukee]
• Good City Brewing Company has launched two new brews: Home Lager and Spare Time Hazy IPA. [Milwaukee Business Journal]
• One year removed from the big 2020 Democratic National Convention, Milwaukee has released a Milwaukee hype video that hypes Milwaukee. [YouTube]
• In “the city” news, the city knocked down parts of the former Humboldt Gardens Schlitz tavern—a.k.a. that long-empty building on the corner of Humboldt and North. The work was done in advance of two developers taking over the site in order to turn it into three condos. [Urban Milwaukee]
• In more “the city” news, the city ordered a South Side church to remove a banner “featuring the leader of a Mexico-based megachurch who was arrested and charged last month with child rape, human trafficking and other crimes.” Why? Because it’s too big. [Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service]
• In even more “the city” news, the city still plans to demolish Northridge Mall, even though the owners say they still want to do something with the long-neglected site. [Milwaukee Business Journal]
• Festa Italiana is this weekend! And it has new food! [OnMilwaukee]
• Menomonee Valley Bingo is a new game that exists! [OnMilwaukee]
• Have a great weekend, Milwaukee!