#Milwaukee East Side

[mercerharlan]

I-94 EB (top) / Brady Street (bottom) - Milwaukee, WI

February 2011

Sony Cybershot DSC-W220

[killerchickadee]

Thing is, ok, I know fireworks are bad for the environment, and people with ptsd, and pets, etc. I know that. And I always feel bad when they go off and the birds in the area all fly off in a panic.

...But I do actually enjoy fireworks and me not walking two blocks to the lake to watch isn't going to stop them.

[mkeblr]

N Prospect Ave East Side

[razorsadness]

St. Hedwig’s Church and St. Hedwig’s Steeple by Jason Clor on Flickr

[selwyngrimm]

[tanagause]

[itgirlsam1717]

garbage day

[dominionproperties]

Tiny Space, Big Bash: How to Host a Party in a Small Space

Got a cozy apartment that's tight on space, but want to throw a gathering that's larger than life? Fear not! With a touch of creativity, resourcefulness and enthusiasm, you can transform your limited space into a party paradise. Here are several ideas on hosting a party in a small space.

Dance the “furniture foxtrot”

Do the foxtrot with your furniture to open up every square inch and uncover creative nooks for seating. Think foldable chairs, floor cushions and stacking stools. Your space will grow magically larger in just a few minutes.

Create a finger-friendly feast

Roll out a bite-sized spread for your guests. Opt for finger foods that are as delightful as they are easy to manage: veggie trays, mini sandwiches and tiny truffles. Big buffet table not required!

Strike a bright ambiance

Simple lighting can give your space a beautiful glow-up that makes it look bigger. Fairy lights and colorful LEDs create a warm, inviting glow. Your guests will feel welcome as soon as they step through the door.

Gather for group games

Who says you need a huge room for epic entertainment? Dive into the world of group video games, whip out board games or challenge your pals to trivia. It's a guaranteed blast of an apartment party without needing acres of space.

Host a fitness fiesta

Invite your workout friends over for stay-in-place bodyweight exercises. You'll burn calories without bumping into furniture. Throw in some yoga or Pilates for a “Zen meets fitness” get-together, all within a few square feet of your living room.

Tiny spaces, grand celebrations

Hosting a party in a small space might seem like a puzzle, but with the right attitude and a touch of ingenuity, your apartment can be the hottest party pad in town. Go ahead, invite your friends over for an apartment party and let the good times roll!

[414graffiti]

Upper East Side Milwaukee (Downer Stone Creek) - August 19, 2024

[uwmspeccoll]

Good Bye!

This is my last post as Special Collections Graduate Intern. I am now a Master of Fine Arts and I am using this post as an opportunity to share some of my own work.

My Dress, is an accordion-folded artists book printed from four hand carved linoleum blocks. Two blocks on each side of the single sheet, yellow and a deep navy. Conceived of in 2021, published in 2023 as a small boxed edition of 4. This copy will be a part of the UWM Libraries' Special Collections.

The book was a part of my thesis exhibition, In Here, Out There. My exhibition was about the work of 'becoming' queer, work typically done in safe interior spaces, like our homes where we can play and experiment with our how we perform gender. The work of 'becoming' queer involves orienting oneself towards objects that allow you to imagine new possibilities of being. In this book that object is my dress that I carefully select from my closet and pull on over my head, I then joyfully fly through the apartment and the book to the mirror in which I appreciate the work I have done.

I will be staying in Milwaukee; I love this city and have an amazing supportive community here. I will have a studio at the House of RAD and I will be teaching workshops at Anchor Press Paper and Print! Including one on creating a linocut accordion fold book, much like this one. So, keep a look out!

Also, come and see Boyfriend Material, an exhibition of Queer Milwaukee based artists, including myself, curated by artist and curator, LaNia Sproles. Open May 22 – July 15, 2023 at the Brooks Stevens Gallery, located at MIAD, 273 East Erie Street, Milwaukee.

Follow my work on Instagram @teddylepley, and on my website Teddylepley.com.

Read more posts by Teddy! Read more Fine Press Friday Posts!

Thanks for reading! Too-da-loo,

Teddy Dean Lepley III, M.F.A.

[railwayhistorical]

Rockford, Illinois, Part Two

A few posts ago we saw a movement along the north/south Milwaukee Road in Rockford; here I follow up with a meet along Illinois Central’s east/west line to Iowa. I believe the first shot is taken on the west side of the Rock River, at Corbin Street, while the meet happens at Buckbee Siding on the other side, at 8th Street.

In the final image we see numbers on the signal post that indicate we’re 85 miles west of Chicago. Also, there’s a switcher in the consist, but probably not running, as I think it’s to be delivered to the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway down the line.

Five photographs by Richard Koenig; taken November 27th 1976.

[crmsnmth]

September Sky Chapter One, Part 4

"Want to just meet here then?" I asked.

"Yeah. Sure. I get down with my last class around four, so quarter after?" She replied with that same perfect smile.

"Sounds great. I'll see you later then," I said. She gave me a small wave and headed back into the writhing mass of the crowd. I lost her almost instantly. As she walked away, she did turn back and look at me, so I think that's a good thing? I don't know. I was way out practice.

I had enough time to walk to my place in Riverwest, shower, and change clothes quick. Yeah, I did miss the bus, and at this point it would be faster for me to walk than wait for the next bus. I just didn't enjoy the walk without my headphones, which I had forgotten when I left the apartment earlier that morning.

I headed out of the cafeteria as fast as I could go. With the adrenaline from asking someone out for the first time in years, I could move pretty fast. I made it out the door, and out into the late spring air.

I practically ran and crossed the bridge over the Milwaukee River. I had to stop for a few moments to catch my breath, and to cease the stabbing pain in my side. I was really out of shape, and the smoking probably didn't really help. I checked my phone for the time and found there was enough that I could maybe just walk like a normal person.

The bridge is basically what separates the East Side and Riverwest. It was strange, but for some reason, you could actually feel the change. In the air and in the noise. As the hippies that roamed the streets of Riverwest would sat, "it's in the energy, man."

Riverwest was basically a safe haven for misfits and outcasts. A neighborhood for artists and their muses. Everybody here is an outcast, and this tiny little splat in Milwaukee was the holy ground we prayed at. Everybody (who was a decent person) was welcome. No matter if you're a hardcore punk, or a knitted hat wearing hipster, or maybe even a witch who cares more about the style than the substance. They were all accepted with open arms.

I lived over on Booth street, with two room mates. One of them, Tom. had put an ad on Craigslist and I got lucky. I had the first months rent, and I'd be taking over someone's lease. I had no problem with that, and a week later I was moved in, trying again to start my life over.

Tom was an alright. He at least acknowledged my existence. We had even had a few conversations. I guess the best description of him that i can think of would be a jock hipster. Technically, he should be kicking his own ass. Somehow, though, he made it seem natural.

Dennis, on the hand, did not like me. Not one bit. This didn't bother me. I'm no hypocrite. I wasn't his biggest fan. He was a deep-seated conservative. Maybe even more than that even. I know he was deep into ROTC stuff. And he definitely looked the part, with the crew cut and the ever present smug of a soon to be military person. When he was at the apartment, his room was constant virtual gunfire war video games. And hey, I like to game just as much as anyone else, but I'd much rather be doing something.

The house was empty when I got there. I'm assuming they both had class or were to whatever it was that they did for jobs. For being room mates, it's kind of strange of just how little I knew of them. And they knew barely anything about me, other than what they saw at our place. And that wasn't much at all, considering most of my time home was spent locked away in my tiny room.

It looked smaller than it was, mainly because my walls were covered in posters for horror movies and punk bands. I had a small closet in one corner of the room that held most of my t-shirts. And I had a lot of them. Of course, they were all black, and usually with a horror movie's poster on them, or a punk bands logo. A TV stood on a stand with an Xbox that I used mainly has a DVD player. Across the room was my mattress, just a twin that sat on the floor. I tried keeping a sheet on it, but with the amount of movement I have in my sleep from nightmares, I ripped it up every night. So I stopped trying. Who did I have to show anyway? A small dresser sat against one wall, with a turntable and my stack of vinyl on top of it. Right next to it was a bookshelf filled with horror DVDs and a few books based on some form of anarchist ideology. I wasn't all that political, but I classified myself as an anarchist. It just kind of suited me, with the punk thing I had going on since I turned 13 and found a Descendents album at a Goodwill. My laptop lay on my mattress, plugged in to the wall behind the dresser. The wall above my bed was covered in red Christmas lights.

[killerchickadee]

So downtown Milwaukee is in the middle of a ~revitalization~ or whatever, and the east side is getting more and more gentrified. From what I've heard it's been going on a long time, but I've only been here for two years and even I can see the changes.

The thing is, we're right by Lake Michigan so all these people are building luxury high rise apartments with lake views etc. And every time they put in or even just propose a new building, some rich yahoo in the neighborhood groups trots out the old "building more housing keeps rent down" chestnut.

1. One of the "low income" apartment buildings is opening soon, and rent for a one bedroom starts around $1500. Which is really expensive for Milwaukee. To put it in perspective my studio is a little over $700 a month and even that's pricey by some people's standards. Milwaukee is (or was) a very affordable place to live, depending on the area.

So 2. Building luxury apartments and condos doesn't keep rent down. If nothing else it RAISES rent because as this becomes a more and more fashionable area to live in, property managers see that they can charge whatever they want and people will still want to live here. So they can charge xyz for an apartment? Cool we'll bring our prices up too! Or we'll just tear down the building and put in more luxury condos.

You know what keeps my rent low? The crack house across the street from me. The crime on Brady Street. The lack of parking. That kid (who's actually very nice) who runs around the streets high as a kite, screaming obscenities. The fucking POTHOLES.

[marxandangels]

Bruh why is every "wealthy friend" from Wisconsin!!!! My wealthy friend is from wisconsin, my cousin's wealthy friend is from WI, .... tell me, i know you guys have a lot of farms , are you growing rich kids?

Well I grew up in Madison which is a trendy ✨liberal✨ city which means it (and its suburbs) attracts well off libs and it’s also quite segregated. (esp between east and west sides of town). Both a lot of wealth and a lot of poverty. I’ve never spent much time in Milwaukee but I think it’s similar. A lot of Wisconsin is rural and very poor, tho.

Also to be clear my family is not wealthy lol

[guerrerense]

Milwaukee Road 32A Cologne Minnesota por Jeff Terry Por Flickr: The Gourmet Express, operated by the Friends of 261, ran over the tracks of the Twin Cities & Western (the former Milwaukee Road main line to the west coast) on October 3, 2021. No. 261 led the train west; E9 32A led the trip east. The train departed Chanhassen at 10:00 AM and stopped on the west side of Glencoe. It then reversed directions, and stopped in Glencoe for lunch and photo runbys.

[secondguessing-reality]

Manifested Wrong

Written privately some time in December 2022:

What really happened, as of summer 2023:

You’re here. You’re finally here on my side of the country, in my city where you always said you’d be. I’m here with you, not living together yet but I made it, and you did too. We’re dating, we’re together. We speak daily, see each other a few days a week unless we’re busy - which happens to be often but at least we get a few days.

This is cute. You moved in immediately, and not only do we spend time together every single day, we sleep together a few nights a week. We speak all the damn time! <3

Sometimes you come over just to watch me with housework while I sip wine and have music playing in the background. These nights we spend together end in us tangled up together. Sharing details about our day as you help me put away dishes and place a kiss on my neck.

Oh, my beloved. Things turned out so much better than I imagined. I come home from work and everything I have piled on my to-do list is done already, thanks to you. When we spend the evenings together there's nothing to be done EXCEPT become wrapped up in each other. When we're home, we get so absorbed in our love that we don't even have time to get through videos and craft projects like we said we would. We're just too into each other that anything else seems almost like a distraction from our endless conversations.

On the weekends we hang out with our friends, with my sister and her family, my fiancé, or just with each other. We go places, do activities, find new places to try, all the fun things we said we’d do together. We have dinner at the fancy restaurants I like, and we find new cafes constantly. I take you to Rise or Asa's and you brag that nothing is better than NY bagels. It makes both of us laugh.

We definitely spend more time with each other than with anyone else. I'm happy to report that everything else is true, except I haven't taken you to a bagel shop here, yet. Soon!

I show you all my favorite spots in the suburbs that I call my home, a place that always felt solid and familiar. Sometimes we go out to Milwaukee to visit my family, spend time with my aunts, uncles, and cousins. I’m not afraid of introducing you, especially to my mother's side. Seeing us in the dynamic doesn’t worry me as I thought it once would.

I've shown you many places that hold meaning to me. I feel lucky I've gotten to see similar places to you. The family that has met you has loved you.

Sometimes we go out East to visit your family, your friends. Sometimes it’s for cons, sometimes it's just back to the Island for little weekends, occasionally it's for the City. We watch sunsets, we walk by the beach, I make an excuse to touch seawater every single time I get near it, you tell me about historically significant buildings and landmarks we pass, we share street food, I point out wildlife. You take my hand as we walk through the villages telling me this is the best love you’ve ever had. 

We've been back twice so far. This prediction was surprisingly accurate! Look at it! Everything came true. Well, take me back to the city for another day of adventures.

We share our traditions, or culture, stories from our upbringing and what its like to be raised by parents raised by immigrants. Things I thought most people wouldn’t understand but you do. The good, the bad, the ugly, the dirty, and the beautiful parts.

In the nights we stay up talking, joking, having sex, watching Netflix, laying next to each other in blissful comfort. We trust each other. I never thought it was possible to trust someone this much, I thought it was a myth, that it was something I only read or see on TV but you make it real. The closeness, the vulnerability. I overcame aversions because I want to be with you more than I’m afraid of being vulnerable. We learned from each other. The lessons we knew we needed to learn. You helped me to rely on others, to be open with others, to ask for help and let people help me. With my fierce love and adoration, I hope I'm helping you learn how to see the greatness within yourself. We’ve grown with each other, becoming better, stronger for each other all with the intention to continue to grow with and for each other.

Wow, okay. All true. Plus a plethora of pets. We've been through so much else the last few months, but when you look at it from December's perspective, I had no idea the depth of our bond could take us this far, and almost too easily.

I open up to you in ways I haven’t opened up to people before. And the best part, you don’t look at me like I’m crazy, or that I’m from another planet. Even if you thought as such you never make me feel alien for it. I don’t need validation, and you know that, but you let me find comfort in you without the fear of feeling like I made a mistake.

I let you be the weak one when you need to be. You want to be strong for me because I AM strong for you and for myself, but you know when to put away the façade and take a break. We lay down on the couch, your head on my chest as I play with your hair. Your long, silver, cloud-soft hair that I love so much. You talk as if no one is listening, opening up about things you keep buried deep. I respect your boundaries and you respect mine but we ask each other questions and tell each other our concerns without having any worry.

And when we look at each other and into each others eyes, we know it, better than we’ve ever known. We’re in love, and we always will be.

This is what I imagined for us. Prayed for. Beseeched the old Gods to grant for us. And it's true, except...

It's so, so much better than I dreamed.