Milwaukee's Best Kept Secret

Elaine Erickson Gallery (207 E. Buffalo St.) presents Collecting and Creating Prints, exhibiting works from 1850-2009.  Selected works from the collection of noted print collector Kevin Milaeger, “A Passion for Collecting.”  Works featured in this exhibition by Karel Appel, Sonia Delauney, Beverly Pepper, Wifredo Lam, Leonard Baskin, Theiphile Steinlen, Johnny Friedlander.  Contemporary artists Paula Schulze, Michael Kutzer, Rina Yoon, Jessica Meuninck-Ganger and Nathaniel Stern.  Call 414-221-0613 for more information.

Katie Gingrass Gallery (241 N. Broadway) presents Abstract Perspectives July through September. Interpretations of natural patterns, textures and forms rendered in a variety of media.  Featuring:  Trenton Baylor - furniture, John Mominee - monotypes, David Schaefer - oil painting, Suzanne Donazetti - metal sculpture, Leslie Emery - mixed media, Rusty Wolfe - mixed media, Jeffrey Kenney - sculptural photography, Twisp River Glass - glass sculpture, and Steve Immerman - glass sculpture.  Meet the artists on Gallery Night! Call 414.289.0855 or visit online for additional details.

Tory Folliard Gallery (233 N. Milwaukee St.) presents Jason Rohlf – Recent Paintings and Joe Hameister - New Still-Lifes. A Milwaukee native, Rohlf is known for his abstract, geometric paintings which are very musical in their play with rhythmic patterns. View images online. In the East Gallery, Milwaukee artist Joe Hameister paints exquisite little still-lifes to capture the essence of what he finds most beautiful or intriguing. View images online or call 414-271-7311 for additional information.  Exhibitions through July 11.

Milwaukee police will deploy extra bicycle and horse patrols for Summerfest but are asking festival-goers to be wise when it comes to leaving valuables inside their vehicles. Officer Mark Buetow suggests drivers lock not only valuables in their trunks but also power cords, power adapters and window or dash mounts that might suggest that there's something more valuable in the vehicle. Read the entire article from the Journal Sentinel.

The clang, clang of the trolleys can be heard around downtown during the summer months. The free service offers 20-minute headways, making the trolley an easy connector for grabbing a bite, heading to a show or doing a little shopping. The Milwaukee Trolley Loop operates 11 am to 10 pm, Wednesdays – Saturdays from June 3 through September 5, 2009.  Call 414.562.RIDE for more info or click here to download a schedule.

Click here for weekly updates and specials from Third Ward Merchant Members! The list is updated every Wednesday, so check back often.

The office space for architecture firm Engberg Anderson Design Partnership Inc. was recently awarded a LEED-Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. The certification certification honors those who have achieved a high level of sustainable, green building attributes. The firm moved to the fifth floor of the P.H. Dye House building at 320 E. Buffalo St. in 2007.

Presented by the East Town and Historic Third Ward associations, the 22-year-old Gallery Night and Day is the premier art event in Milwaukee for both the experienced art connoisseur and most beginning admirer. An evening of gallery hopping and art viewing begins Friday, July 24 and continues during the day on Saturday, July 25. This July, the quarterly event showcases 59 venues throughout the downtown Milwaukee area. Admission is free to all venues. View the list of participants here.

The Historic Third Ward Jazz Festival: Summer Sizzle has been cancelled for 2009, but organizers say it will return next year. Read more here.

Ever wonder how the Historic Third Ward Association, Business Improvement District No. 2 and the Architectural Review Board work together? Download a two-page pamphlet and read all about it. The guide contains the essential information about how the Third Ward became and continues to be the best place to live, work, play and shop.

Check out the 2008-9 Third Ward Shopping, Dining and Entertainment Guide here! With 140 listings, the Guide is sure you help you discover many of the great things the Historic Third Ward has to offer. You can also download a printable Third Ward Merchant Map.

Check out the latest information about the reconstruction and expansion of I-94 from the Mitchell Interchange in Milwaukee through Racine and Kenosha counties here.  Construction begins in March 2009 and runs through 2016. For more information, visit the Wisconsin Department of Transportation online or sign up for email notifications by sending an email to: dotsefreeways94nsc@dot.state.wi.us.