Funding Fun: SoundBites, a first-time 88Nine Radio Milwaukee fund-raiser, was top-notch. At the sold-out event in the Iron Horse Hotel, radio fans were treated to gourmet fare from nine top Milwaukee restaurants, while station DJs paired music...

Peter Party: MIPs (Milwaukee's Important People) poured into Peter McAvoy's retirement party at La Fuente to celebrate his 17-year stint at the Sixteenth Street Community Health Center. The man of the hour just retired as the director of the...

Surprise, Surprise: Both Present Music and the Shepherd Express turned 30 this year with a blowout celebration at Turner Hall Ballroom. A one-of-a-kind Present Music performance resulted from the company's fans voting online for their favorite...

Musical Marvels: Express Yourself Milwaukee (EYM), a youth arts and mentoring program, celebrated its new studio space on Lisbon with an open house and afternoon of performances. Showcased were the talented singers Diamond Lewis...

Earning a Nod: Kochanski's Concertina Beer Hall was packed with awardees, awarders and others for the announcement of 15 finalists in the 13th annual Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation (MANDI). The awards are...

A Votre Sante: More than 200 Francophiles, oenophiles and fromage fans poured into the InterContinental Milwaukee for the Alliance Francaise de Milwaukee's Fete de Beaujolais Nouveau 2011. Georges Duboeuf wines flowed while guests munched...

Ever Hoping: The Sojourner Family Peace Center held its 17th annual Evening of Hope fundraiser in a Bradley Center atrium. Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm described the organization's mission of hope and breaking...

Baskets and More: The Eisenhower Center celebrated its annual fun-filled “Baskets of Hope” dinner and auction at its facility, a work-training program with rehab services for people with developmental challenges. Radio's Jane Matenaer hosted the silent auction of 54 fantastic...

Comic Uproar: Boris and Doris and 2,500 other adoring fans poured into the Riverside to see comic genius Jon Stewart. The deafening roar of the crowd and standing ovations give hope that there are still levelheaded Wisconsinites...

Sharing Awards: Community Shares celebrated “Champions of Change” at its 22nd annual Commitment to Justice Awards at Potawatomi Casino. The evening began with a stellar reception in the beautiful Tribal Room. Greeting guests were board...

Water, Water, Everywhere: Fiery Latin music by D'CalleSon brought out energized salsa fans to LIVE @ the Lakefront. Salsa-ers included Barbara Fedran, with a host of partners, including Tom Dienhart, owner of Marine Land Pet Supply...

History Lovers: Historic Milwaukee honored the winners of its Doors Open Milwaukee photography contest at a reception in the exquisite David Barnett Gallery. The showcased graphics consisted of extraordinary Milwaukee doors, with 10 images winnowed by public vote from...

Too Many Galleries: B&D rushed around on Gallery Night, first hitting the Grand Avenue Club gallery for Colleen Kassner's “The Portrait Project: Faces of Resilience.” The yearlong project, funded by a grant from the Mary L. Nohl Fund, resulted in 20 marvelous portraits of...

Let Them Eat Toast: The kickoff ceremony at the Bastille Days' 30th anniversary opening night boasted the “biggest French French toast in history,” led by WMSE's Tom Crawford, along with East Town Executive Director Kate Borders. Throughout the night, les bons temps were rolling...

Art Champions: Three of the city's outstanding art supporters were honored by Milwaukee Public Theatre and the Milwaukee Mask & Puppet Theatre at a Turner Hall blowout. Receiving the Champions of the Arts awards were Brad Bernard, an artist, Mount Mary assistant professor and Community Arts & Funk Festival director, introduced by artist...

Park 'n Perform: The Milwaukee County Parks' full platter of seasonal activities includes its always-popular, free “Summer's Best” concert series, held at some 20 parks around the area. At the Boerner Botanical Gardens, along with about 3,500 music lovers, B&D checked out the Milwaukee Symphony...

And They're Off: The Kentucky Derby was celebrated in grand style with a hat contest at the Iron Horse Hotel. Greeting guests at the lobby entrance and hungrily eyeing the fruity-themed hats was Shamus, an equine from Milwaukee Coach & Carriage, there with the company's head...

Promise Keeping: AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin (ARCW) held its annual Make a Promise Gala. This year's event, titled "Don't Stop Believing," had a "Glee" theme. About a thousand attendees were in a spending mood, with the event raising a record...

Prom Redux: Nonstop entertainment at the Milwaukee Ballet's annual blowout was appropriate for this year's theme, "PROM, The Ball." A record number of partiers poured into the Pfister Hotel, dressed from vintage garments to haute couture. Wearing a magnificent Lida Baday, Cindy Molloy was happy...

Cupcake Stampede: Some 2,000 cupcake lovers poured into MSOE’s Kern Center to eat their way through temptations by the 60 bakers participating in the IronCupcake: Milwaukee competition. Each entrant not only made 500 cupcakes, but also went to the nth degree with elaborate displays. Celebrity...

Helping the Homeless: A benefit for Milwaukee’s estimated 300 to 400 homeless vets was organized by Iraq War veteran Jason Moon, who performed hot guitar licks on a cold night from his latest disc, Trying to Find My Way Home. Moon shared the stage with Little Mischief and the Mambo Surfers at a...

Love in the Air: Holly Haebig (now Holly Wake) celebrated both her new CD, In Love We Trust, and her birthday at Shank Hall with a roomful of adoring fans. The evening showcased her beautiful originals with performances by many of the musicians featured on the disc. There was also a whole lotta...

Vox Populi: A packed house attended the New Year’s Eve musical theater revue at the Vox Box, featuring Status by composer Brian Myers in addition to selections directed and produced by Vox Box founder Lisa Golda. Myers’ show is a finalist in the upcoming Strawberry One-Act Festival in...

Glitz and Glitter: Jack Forbes Wilson sparkled in his role as Liberace in the Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s production about the iconic entertainer who grew up in West Milwaukee. Wilson channeled the charming Mr. Showmanship while playing an amazing repertoire from ragtime to Liszt and telling the poignant story of the entertainer’s life...

Bookies: Milwaukee authors are coming out in droves to celebrate their recently published tomes. At the Brico Fund’s headquarters, Spectrum Nonprofit Services’ Steve Zimmerman launched his new book, Nonprofit Sustainability: Making Strategic Decisions for Financial Viability, co-authored by....