Its time to Geek! It's Geek Week!!!

This has to be one of my absolute favorite times of year. Not only because mother nature begins to give us a glimpse of the joys of spring, but because its the time of year that I get to showcase my geek pride! Geek Week officailly begins today (February 18th) and goes until February 26th.  Some oppertunities you have this week include:

 Having a chance to compete against Chancellor Mark Mone in Trivia (Qualifiers are tonight (February 18th) in the Gasthaus at 8pm. The Final is on February 25th at noon in the Union Concourse.

A night full of video games on February 19th in the 8th note at 12pm to 8am

A cosplay masquerade happing on February 20th at 8pm with a DJ and a cosplay contest! It's all happening in the Union Wisconsin Room.

An anodizing workshop by the Arts and Crafts studio where you can perminatly dye metal! It's February 22nd at 12pm

And of course my all time favorite is doing the photo op on February 22nd at 2pm where you recieve your very own geek week bow tie in the Daniel M. Soref Learning Commons in the Library.

This is sure to be a week full of fun and adventure including Laser Tag, Lego Fest, and LeVar Burton. For a full list of events and details go to uwm.edu/geekweek.

I look forward to seeing everyone's geek week pride on campus!

-Tyler

April Showers Part II

Wow! Hard to believe we are almost to those May flowers. If your looking for something to do for the rest of the month there are many more awesome ways to get out there and support the arts and take a break from studying while saving money! Here are a list of events Peck School of the Arts is putting on for the rest of April. Hey look! No snow outside!


PECK SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
Kenilworth Open Studios
April 18th 11:00 am (Free)

ART & DESIGN
Placing the Golden Spike: Landscapes of the Anthropocene
Now through June (Free)
MA/MFA Exhibition II
Now through April 23rd (Free)
Metals! 15 Annual Juried Student Exhibition
April 16th through May 6th (Free)

DANCE
New Dancemakers: From the Known to the Unknown
April 28th through May 2nd (Reduced Price)


FILM
Tender Muscles: 5 Films by Charles Fairbanks
April 19th 7:00pm (Free)
Milwaukee Underground Film Fest
April 30th through May 3rd (Free)

MUSIC
UWM Guitar Program Student Recital: Finger-Style Guitar Solos
April 17th 7:30pm (Free)
Gospel Choir Concert
April 21st 7:30pm (Free)
University Band & Symphony Band Concert
April 24th 7:30pm (Free)
University Community Orchestra Concert
April 26th 5:00pm (Free)

THEATRE
Love's Labors Lost
April 15th through April 19th (Reduced Price)
Slightly Bigger Women: What Happens When Little Women Grow Up?
April 22nd through April 26th (Reduced Price)
The Crucible
April 29th through May 3rd (Reduced Price)


I'll see you next time my friends,

-Tyler

What to do During April Showers

I know what your thinking. April showers bring May flowers. Well, if it is showering (maybe snowing) and you want to do something that doesn't involved getting soaked, (nothing against running around in the rain wearing a swim suit) Peck school of the Arts has lots of free and/or reduced price entertainment for Panthers, by Panthers. There is so much going on this month that there will be a second post half way through of even more things to do as you prepare for finals. I hope to see you all around!

Awesome things to do:

PECK SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
Kenilworth Open Studios
April 18th 11:00 am (Free)

ART & DESIGN
Placing the Golden Spike: Landscapes of the Anthropocene
Now through June (Free)
First Year Program Exhibitions
April 1st through 10th (Free)

FILM
Jenni Olson's The Royal Road 
April 4th 7pm (Free)

MUSIC
MKE Unplugged: Woody Mann
April 2nd 7:30pm (Free)
UWM Symphony Orchestra Concert: Concerto Winners
April 3rd 7:30pm (Free)
Leonard Sorkin Institute of Chamber Music Spring Recital
April 7th 7:30pm (Free)
Wind Ensemble Concert
April 10th 7:30pm (Free)
Concert Chorale at Milwaukee Art Museum
April 11th 1:30pm (Free)
Antigoni Goni Classical Guitar Concert
April 14th 7:30pm (Reduced Price)

THEATRE
Love's Labors Lost
April 15th through April 19th (Reduced Price)

I'll see you next time my friends,

-Tyler

Happy Winter!!

Winter is my favorite season of the year because it's always so magical and breathtaking. I  just love sitting by a fire with a cup of hot coco and watching movies as the snow falls in the background. Milwaukee has amazing winter activities around the city to put you in the winter spirit and keep you busy during the remaining week of winter break! I have compiled a list of my top three winter activities in Milwaukee and I hope you all enjoy them as well!

1. Ice skating downtown! There is just something about ice skating in the heart of downtown Milwaukee that makes me so happy. Red Arrow Park is the perfect place to ice skate and they even have a Starbucks located right beside the ice rink! If you bring your own skates, it is completely free or for 8$ you can rent skates!

2. Cross-country skiing at Whitnall Park is an awesome way to get out and enjoy the snow! It's a nice little work out and you can rent all the equipment on site! 

Click the link below for more information on Whitnall Park and Cross-country skiing in Milwaukee!

http://county.milwaukee.gov/CrosscountrySkiing12361.htm

3. If you really hate the winter and need an escape from the cold, think about visiting the Mitchell Park Conservatory!! The domes is a great way to warm up during the winter months and surround yourself in a true desert like enviornment!! 

Click the link below for more information on admission and events! 

http://county.milwaukee.gov/MitchellParkConserva10116.htm

Enjoy the last week of break,
Haley

Winter on the Stage

So one of the great things about living in Milwaukee is the arts.  We have many theaters in the area putting on shows celebrating the Christmas season.  I know many of you are getting ready to head home for the holidays, but think about stopping in with your family at a show on your way out of town.

The Marcus Center currently has Milwaukee Ballet performing the Nutcracker until December 27.  Milwaukee Ballet's website describes the show as "...a dream...dancing flowers and snowflakes...Toys coming to life! 'The Nutcracker' is also a journey of familiar feelings and a sense of child wonder."  It's a show that brings life to a children's playground and wonder to a child's eyes while at the same time allowing the adults to take a step back in time and become a child all over again.  This magical show is perfect for all ages.  You can visit the Milwaukee Ballet website for more information, show times, ticket prices, and even a sneak peak from a behind the scenes rehearsal.












On the other hand if you are looking for a show with a few more words that will remind everyone to appreciate each other during this holiday season, "A Christmas Carol" is playing a Milwaukee Pabst Theater.  This show will keep you and your family laughing and remind you of the true meaning of the holidays.  The show is playing until the 24 of December and ticket prices and the detail whatnot's can be found on the Pabst  Theater website.

I can speak from self experience saying these are wonderful shows.  As a dance major at UWM I ca appreciate the performance on the stage.  But what is even better about this show, is even those unfamiliar with the performance world will have a smile placed on their face after the show.  Either way enjoy your Holidays!!

Give Back on Thanksgiving!

For anyone living far away from home the holidays have potential to be a great time to go back home and see all your friends and family, but for anyone unable to return home it can be an unfortunately sad and lonely time. I have news for you though; it doesn't have to be! If you're not going home to be with family this Thanksgiving I highly suggest checking out a volunteer opportunity somewhere close by. There are too many people who will be cold and hungry this Thanksgiving and volunteering is a great way to do something nice for someone else that will probably elevate your mood a bit as well! To make it easy for you to find a volunteer opportunity I found you this website with contact information for 5 great places to spend one day or start getting involved on a more consistent basis!

 The holidays are a time where we often reflect on how blessed and grateful we are for everything and everyone we are fortunate enough to have in our lives. Not everyone can relate to that feeling and a few hours of your day could mean the world to someone else. Who knows, you might even make a few new friends along the way!

For everyone traveling home this weekend , have a safe journey and enjoy the short break before finals come! I'd also like to remind everyone University Housing is currently in the middle of a food drive so bring some nonperishable food items back to school with you and for every 5 items you donate you'll get a coupon for FREE FOOD from Noodles & Co. The next day for the Noodles' coupons is December 3rd in Sandburg from 11:30AM - 1:00PM.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!

Eric

The Happest 5K on The Planet!

 Happy August New Panthers,

Yesterday, I was able to participate and complete my second Color Run!! This is one of my favorite 5ks since you get drenched in color dust throughout the event and each year it gets better. As you embark on the 5k, you pass through 4 different color zones. Each color zone has a different color of dust being thrown at you and the layers of colorful dust continue to pile up! By the end of the race, you are completely engulfed in color from head to toe. Each participant must wear a white tee shirt and most teams get pretty extravagant with costumes. I have seen everything from tutus to wedding dresses being worn during the run. After you complete the run, they have a giant finish line party which features hundreds of color packets being thrown in the air at the same time. They also have music playing and stations to get rid of some of that color before you depart home! This is always one of the highlights of my summer! In a couple weeks, I will also be running in the Electric Run and there is still time to sign up for it!

See you all in the near future,
Haley

E is for Emily and Elephant

Lions and Tigers and Bears…

OH MY!!   

Who doesn’t love a trip to the Milwaukee County Zoo?  I went a couple of weeks ago to see the stingray exhibit.  They actually let you pet and fed the stingrays.  They feel like squishy velvet and the sharks have rough grainy skin.  Here are some photos from my trip with my cousins.  You are never too old to act like a kid again, and the Milwaukee Zoo is a great opportunity.  The stingray exhibit will be here until September 2. 

Even if you don’t get a chance to pet a stingray, you can’t still visit the peacocks and take a camel ride.  The Milwaukee County Zoo is free on November 2 and December 7 this year.  Otherwise you can look on the zoo website for pricing.

This is Emily and the Elephants saying, "Go visit the zoo!!"

Roaring with the Cows at State Fair

Where can you enjoy a delicious cream puff, try 5 different flavors of milk, pet a cow, AND display your Panther Pride!?  At Wisconsin State Fair of course.  On August 4 UW-Milwaukee will be displaying their Panther Pride through out the day.  There will be prizes to win, a contest you can show off your roar in, and a performance from PECK school of the arts.  Oh, and even Pounce will be there taking photos and signing autographs.  All of these great activities are located at the Fair’s Central Mall, across from the original cream puff pavilion.  There are so many great activities all offered on August 4, so grab your Panther paw prints and head on out to eat a cream puff with Pounce at the State Fair!

Make sure you check out this article on the UWM page for more information on State Fair events and the State Fair page so you know all about UWM events and the rest of excitement at State Fair.

No One Mourns The WICKED

We’re off to see the Wizard…The wonderful wizard of OZ… But what happened Before the wizard got there.  

Wicked, an amazing musical claiming more than 35 awards, is in Milwaukee tells the story… “Long before that girl from Kansas arrives in Munchkinland, two girls meet in the land of Oz. One - born with emerald green skin - is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. How these two grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good makes for.”  Wicked is an amazing and fun musical for all ages.  I watched a performance on Sunday and was stunned by the magnificence.  This great show is selling tickets fast so don’t wait to get your tickets!  You can also look into the lottery system for a cheaper way to see the show.

Comet Cafe

Happy Monday!

Comet Café is nestled at 1947 N Farwell Ave in Milwaukee! It’s a small place that houses some of the friendliest and happiest Milwaukeeans (right behind UWM Housing)! It’s best to go early because it fills up quickly and with Comet’s slow food motto tables tend to be occupied for an extended amount of time. If you are waiting to be seated, mosey over to the display case filled with cupcakes and pies from a local shop called Honeypie. These will not disappoint, as each dessert is made completely from scratch daily with vegan options. I would suggest asking an employee to box up your dessert prior to being seated at a table, as these tend to sell out quickly on a busy night!
            After pondering my own cupcake choice, I chose a malted milk ball cupcake (it was phenomenal). I was seated and without even opening my menu I asked the waitress Comet’s special. She suggested the meatloaf with beer gravy or the AJ’s compact turkey dinner. AJ’s compact turkey dinner is turkey, stuffing, and cheesy mashed potatoes rolled into a ball. It is then beer battered, fried and served with country gravy and the vegetable of the day. They had me at fried! I wasn’t really sure what to expect but the great part about Comet Café is your food is made from scratch and Comet uses as much locally own products and ingredients as possible. Due to your food being made from scratch, it made the amount of time waiting on food longer than a typical restaurant but it was well worth the wait.

My AJ’s compact turkey dinner was AMAZING! It was a perfect home cooked meal that reminded me of Thanksgiving at home. Moving away to school, I craved my mom’s homemade meals and Comet Café was the next best thing. This has become one of my favorite restaurants in Milwaukee and one of my favorite meals. When you all come to Milwaukee, if you are ever looking for a local, unique restaurant I highly recommend Comet Café!! Comet Café was also featured on The Food Network in the show Diners, Drive-In, and Dives! Overall, I left Comet Café with a very full, happy stomach and can’t wait to go back again!

 

Until next time,

Haley Williams

Listening to Summer

One of the great things about Milwaukee is all of the music and festivals.  Many people know about Summerfest, but you don’t have to wait until Summerfest to groove to your favorite tunes.  There was a concert just last night through an event called Chill on the Hill.  Chill on the Hill is an outdoor, summer local music concert series that takes place on Tuesday nights at Humboldt Park.  This year's dates are June 4th through August 27th.  I am most excited to see the music towards the end of the summer accompanied by dancers!

If you are looking for a sweeter melody, you should check out Jazz in the Park.  Jazz in the Park started in 1991 and about 8000 people attend every week.  This music can be heard in Cathedral Square Park
Downtown Milwaukee every Thursday.

There is also a festival this weekend June 9th on Locust St.  Locust Street Festival  provides a variety of music, so there will be something everyone likes! 

These events are ongoing and a great way to get a taste of Milwaukee!!

Let's go shoppping!

Milwaukee is Wisconsin's biggest city, so it's only fitting that we have HUGE shopping malls.  Let me highlight two of my favorite...

Bayshore Town Center 

Bayshore is located  approximately five miles north of Sandburg.  Bayshore is a large outdoor shopping venue boasting many unique restaurants and stoes.  They have everything from Kohl's, to Board Game Barrister, to bebe.  Bayshore also hosts many different events in the square, like tango lessons, Chalk Art Festival, and others throughout the year.  Bayshore is also a great place to grab an awesome dinner.  Some of my favorite restaurants there are The Cheesecake Factory, BD's Mongolian Grill, and California Pizza Kitchen.  Take the Green line to explore all that Greendale, a Milwaukee suburb has to offer! Not to mention, there is a ton of other businesses surrounding the mall.

Mayfair

Right up North Avenue is Mayfair Mall.  Mayfair Mall is home to my favorite stores. 
If you want to have a large group of friends go out for family style  dining, I suggest Maggiano's.  Maggiano's serves large, have-to-share-it, portions of your favorite Italian dish.  You are sure to have left overs for quite a while.  Another favorite of mine at Mayfair is the AMC movie theater.  It even has an IMAX RealD 3D theater!  Not to mention, on Thursdays you can get a special student discount when you present your student ID.  Mayfair is also home to many fun stores like Build-a-Bear Workshop, Godiva, and Teavana.  Mayfair is a sure place to have a good time.  Just hop on the 21.

There is so much more than I've mentioned.  I guess you will just have to explore yourself.  ;)

Let's All Go To the Movies!

From my other post you may have learned that I am a film major here at UWM, which means one of my favorite past times is going to the movies! If you like the movies, then Milwaukee is the place for you! We have some great historical theatres right in our area that lets you indulge in the art and culture of cinema. Not to mention, countless film festivals are held in the area as well! That means you have the opportunity to see movies by up and coming artists, UWM community members, and some reinvented classics.

Landmark Oriental

Landmark Oriental

The Oriental Theatre is located a mile north of downtown, a mile south of our main campus, and 1-3 blocks from some of our Residence Halls.  It is at the heart of Milwaukee's alternative East side. It's home to 3 premiere screens.  Every Friday and Saturday before the 7pm show in the main theatre, the lush sounds of the Kimball Theatre Pipe Organ introduce the film, reminiscing the glory days of the theatres.

One of my favorite memories is my first year going to the Rocky Horror Picture Show. The Oriental Theatre is the U.S. record holder for a current and continuing film engagement. The Rocky Horror Picture Show has played as a midnight film since January, 1978. Rocky Horror now shows every second Saturday of the month. It was a great time getting to interact with the cast shadow preforming the movie. We went on one of their themed nights and it was a sight to see.

Downer

Downer Theatre

Just a few blocks North East of the Oriental you can find the two screen theatre located on  Downer Avenue in Milwaukee's upper East side. Downer Theatre is the oldest operating movie theatre in Milwaukee and embraces screening some of the finest in independent film and foreign language cinema.

Fox Bay Cinema Grill

Fox Bay Cinema Grill 

This place is great! It takes dinner and a movie to a whole new level. It is one of the first of its kind in the Milwaukee area. The theatre itself has been around since 1951.  In  2000, it was restored, introducing the new grill menu. What is nice about this place is you get the large screen but not as many people. They have a select number of seating in their theatres to give their guest the room to dine. With a much more classic cinema experience this theatre runs more of the main stream films including 3D flicks!  

UWM Union Theatre

Union Theatre

One of the great things about UWM is that we have our very own theatre on campus! It is home to several different genres of films and film festivals. The best part is that its free to UWM Students with your student ID. It screens films across the board; from UWM student and faculty work to main stream films.  Its located on the Union 2nd Floor on the east side. Its a great place to take advantage of while you are a UWM student!  So be sure to check out their list of special events and festivals they have here!

Flicks

If you are looking to check out something even closer than the Union Theatre, you can always check out Flicks. It is located in the lobby of Sanburg is FREE to all our residents and their guest! It offers our students movies that are fresh out of the theatres just before they hit DVD. They often have the movies running Thursday through Sunday with multiple times each night! I highly suggest checking it out!

Check out their facebook page and such here.

Don't forget about the Milwaukee Film Festivals!

Milwaukee is home to some great film festivals that is a rare opportunity to be apart of! I suggest when the time comes get involved by volunteering or just going to the movies! Some great ones to look into are the Milwaukee Film Festival and the LGBTQ Film Festival which is sponsored and run by the UWM Film Department!

So, UWM students, can't wait to see you at the movies!