Gallery: FruitFest 2012

Posted on June 16, 2012 by TheEastSider

Fruit Fest, Madison’s LGBTQI Summer Music Festival, was held on June 16, 2012 in the parking lot of the Plan B night club in the 900 block of Williamson Street. The Marquette Neighborhood and its surroundings boast a large number of LGBTQA residents which just adds to the fun, eclectic, and diverse pedigree of the area.

This year’s music was headlined by Cazwell, but also featured folk musicians, punk bands, DJs and of course, drag queens. The festival has grown in the recent years it has been around and now includes a 5K run called the Fruit Loop, Star Fruit Idol Karaoke contest, and the 1st Annual Summer Camp Bingo AIDS fundraiser.

Orton Turtle Sculpture Leaving Fast

Posted on June 16, 2012 by TheEastSider

Courtesy: Caffeinated Politics

A metal turtle sculpture that has graced the Spaight Street entrance to Orton Park for the past few months may be leaving soon (June 21) unless the City of Madison purchases the piece of art. The artist was commissioned to make the sculpture through grants from two city entities and Orton was the first place artist Tim Sprenglemeyer had in mind for the work due to the natural beauty of the park.

Read more at the Caffeinated Politics Blog

Dandelion Dash Gives Waterfront Fest A Fast Start

Posted on June 9, 2012 by TheEastSider

Little Dandelions get ready for the 2012 Dandelion Dash at the Marquette Waterfront Festival at Yahara Place Park, June 9, 2012

The annual Dandelion Dash, part of the Marquette Neighborhood Association’s Marquette Waterfront Festival was held at Yahara Place Park in Madison, WI on June 9, 2012. The 5K walk/run featured approximately 50 participants with the winning time clocked in under 17 minutes.

While the 5K Run for is for everyone, the “Dash” is just for the kids and is one of the more exciting events to watch. The Dash portion is now run in two heats as the participation by the little Dandelions has grown. Video cameras on phones were not available when the race began 17 years ago as a fundraiser for the Greater Williamson Area Business Association. I was remarking to a fellow spectator that now with mobile technology it’s much easier to describe and share how delightful the “Dash” is for both kids, parents, and spectators.

Continue reading →

Waterfront Fest Opens ‘Big Four’ Festival Season

Posted on June 6, 2012 by TheEastSider

Courtesy: David Michael Miller

Summer in the meteorological sense may have started a month ago, but the summer festival season here on the near-east side of Madison is about to get underway. The Marquette Waterfront Festival at Yahara Place Park is this Saturday and Sunday (June 9-10), the first of four major festivals in the neighborhood that are the toast of the city. Continue reading →

Drunk Driver Causes Mayhem on Willy Street

Posted on June 6, 2012 by TheEastSider

A drunk driver fleeing Madison Police damaged two buildings and cars on Williamson Street early Wednesday morning.

A drunk driver fleeing police crashed into an apartment building, bakery, and at least two cars in the 1500 block of Williamson Street shortly after 1 a.m. Wednesday (June 6). The driver, Christoper M. Brunetto, 29, of Fairfield, Connecticut was injured but no one else in the buildings were hurt.

Brunetto was involved in a hit-and-run minutes earlier near the Echo Bar on Bedford Street which led to the chase and crash 20 blocks later on Willy Street. Brunetto, according to a police news release will be charged with his fourth drunk driving offense. Madison.com reports that Brunetto may be a hockey goalie; related equipment was found in his car. Continue reading →

Solidarity Sing-Along Fills Recall Enthusiasm Gap

Posted on June 5, 2012 by TheEastSider

Solidarity Sing-Along at the Capitol Square on Recall Day, June 5, 2012

The Solidarity Sing-Along started March 11, 2011 with a simple mission: “…a strong commitment to effecting change through peaceful action and purely non-violent means.” It has been a moving, poetic response to the brusque, machiavellian way in which Scott Walker and the Republicans have governed this state. Over a year later the enthusiasm in some ways has carried this revolt on its shoulders, and it was stronger than ever on Tuesday (June 5) at the Capitol. Continue reading →

I Guess The Recall Can Start…The Media is Here

Posted on June 4, 2012 by TheEastSider

Speaking truth to Ailes in front of the Fox News set on the Capitol Square in Madison on June 4. 2012.

It must be time for the Recall as the television news organizations have come to town, not long after the DNC finally did. Glad they both finally noticed. I was strolling around the square today after being singing a few stanzas with the Solidarity Sing-A-Long in their usual spot at the foot of the Capitol’s State Street steps. Continue reading →

Willy Street Park says ‘Thank You!’

Posted on June 3, 2012 by TheEastSider

The Willy Street Park has been a green refuge just off the street for over 30 years.

Over 30 years ago the owner of a small parcel of land on the corner of Williamson and Brearly Streets started building a Taco Johns restaurant. Horrified by the prospect of a nondescript fast food establishment clashing with the fabric of the neighborhood the local community organized against it and the building was never completed. In its place grew the Willy Street Park, a welcome patch of green space along Williamson that has been operated by an all-volunteer corporation; tending to the gardens, flower beds, and trees while making constant improvements. Continue reading →

Overpass Light Brigade Epitomizes Recall Spirit

Posted on June 3, 2012 by TheEastSider

The Overpass Light Brigade pose with all the signs they brought to an overpass near Miller Park Saturday June 2, 2012. The various permutations were displayed to passing motorists. Photo by: Jenna Pope

Since Scott Walker and his allies picked a fight with the good citizens of Wisconsin, they have hit back with an immense avalanche of creative and innovative retorts and actions to register their displeasure with his policies. One such group is the Overpass Light Brigade whose activities have crescendoed in the last few weeks and may just be one of the differences in this election.

Enter Lane Hall, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and his wife Lisa Moline who are not necessarily activists but could not bear to sit on the sidelines for this fight. They started with simple letters using battery-powered LEDs that spelled out “Recall Walker” and made regular appearances on the Lincoln Drive overpass to the Milwaukee Art Museum along the lakefront. Continue reading →

Why We Should Stand With Mahlon Mitchell

Posted on June 2, 2012 by TheEastSider

Mahlon Mitchell, candidate for Lieutenant Governor

It was a year ago today (June 3, 2011) that I attended the Democratic State Convention in Milwaukee. It had been an historic spring and now there were Senate Recalls to plan for and how to sustain momentum for a Gubernatorial Recall drive later in the year. It’s good to look back because I found some video I shot that is foreshadowing of the election only three days from now.

On the main floor I heard many great speeches and even sat next to Senator Fred Risser, one of the Wisconsin 14. Risser has been my Senator off and on since I was born. Retired US Representative David Obey gave the best speech of the night when he inveighed against the Tea Party, and their in-state standard bearer Senator Sunspot himself, Ron Johnson. Continue reading →