http://www.expressmilwaukee.com/ http://www.expressmilwaukee.com/ http://www.expressmilwaukee.com/ http://www.expressmilwaukee.com/ http://www.expressmilwaukee.com/ http://www.expressmilwaukee.com/ The battle against HIV turns a new page Medical treatments for HIV and AIDS have advanced to the point where patients are now leading longer, healthier lives than ever before, with some patients living more than 25 years after being diagnosed. The flip side of that good news is that with AIDS out of the headlines, young, at-risk populations...]]> Milwaukee Symphony ventures into Bartok’s classic The subterranean quality of Bartok’s ominous score for Bluebeard’s Castle, the dark harmonic undercurrent of his only opera, may seem surprisingly tame for those familiar with the shock waves of dissonant sound outbursts characterizing the Hungarian composer’s later works, where music spills boldly across a broad limitless tapestry like the splatter of a black-and-white Pollock canvas. Unlike Pollock, Bartok usually...]]> Tonight @ The Milwaukee Repertory Theater, 8 p.m. Kevin Ramsey’s musical revue Soultime at the Apllo opens with a scene in the basement of the legendary Apollo Theater, the 75-year-old venue that has given countless African-American performers their start. Bricks adorn a long section of wall; at one end rests actor C.E. Smith...]]> An insightful history of recorded music Greg Milner’s Perfecting Sound Forever: An Aural History of Recorded Music (Faber & Faber) is a brilliantly researched and mindfully provoking text on the history of capturing sound. A genealogy of recorded music, it stimulates awareness of the evolution of recorded sound and how we have deployed it in our own lives. Perfecting Sound...]]> Tonight @ Boswell Book Co., 7 p.m. Saying Michael Bowen is a local mystery writer doesn’t quite do justice to just how local his books are. His latest novel, Service Dress Blues, is not only set in Milwaukee, but also includes many of the city’s landmarks in pivotal scenes, from Juneau Park...]]> Art Preview Cedarburg and surrounding areas will hum with activity when Ozaukee County Arts Weekend (Oct. 9-11) opens the studios of 50 local artists to the public. A countywide map of self-guided tours can be picked up at the Cedarburg Cultural Center (W62 N546 Washington Ave.), which will also be hosting its fall exhibition, “Bold and/or Red...]]> Sept. 30, 2009 ]]> Sept. 23, 2009 ]]> Love, poetry and tragedy for Keats and Brawne With autumn comes early rumors of Oscar nominations and, always among them, an early contender for Best Picture: Masterpiece Theatre Division. This season’s front-runner in that category, Bright Star, is based on the romance between 19th-century British poet John Keats and the woman who lived next door, Fanny Brawne... ]]> Warm service, hearty food in quiet setting Ilija’s Place is located in a quiet residential neighborhood away from the factories of Cudahy. It is easy to pass by this plain, red brick building with dark windows, though a neon sign and ornamental ironwork around the...]]> Impressive Mexican Menu One of the area’s most consistent Mexican restaurants is located just a short distance from the airport: Jalapeno Loco (5067 S. Howell Ave.). Everything is good, whether your preference is pork enchiladas or a fine Oaxacan mole. ]]> Candy-maker’s tour provides a bellyful of beans As All Hallows’ Eve draws near and the act of downing ungodly amounts of candy is considered socially acceptable, it’s time to find what lies at the center of the ubiquitous jelly bean. Just south of Milwaukee, in the village of...]]> Tonight @ UWM Union Theatre, 7 p.m. Heddy Honigmann paints a lively and endearing—but also somber—portrait of life in her native country Peru with her latest documentary, Oblivion. Honigmann profiles the average citizens of Lima, who are trying to make a living and enjoy life in the face of poverty. Many of her subjects...]]> Tonight @ Potawatomi Bingo Casino, 8 p.m. Given that they’re getting older and that they’re soft-spoken alums of 1960s television, it’s easy to write off The Smothers Brothers as a nostalgia act without remembering how boat-rocking the duo once was. While their bickering brothers routine was tame, their “Comedy Hour” program was anything but...]]> Detective novel filled with exquisite detail, explosive energy Are you sitting down? Thomas Pynchon—post-surreal political hippie/punk slinger of prose full of history, hilarity, piss, vinegar and exquisite, often distracting detail—has written an old-fashioned detective novel, Inherent Vice (Penguin), and it’s less than a thousand pages... ]]> As the Soviet Union dissolved and the Iron Curtain crumbled, many decided to leave their various homelands to seek opportunities elsewhere. Some came to Milwaukee, including a few musicians. One of them, Moldovan accordionist Stas Venglevski, probably had no idea that his new home was once the accordion capital of America...]]> It’s not a particularly extraordinary story, but it’s been repeated so many times it has taken on the air of a myth: a heartbroken Justin Vernon retreated for the winter to his father’s northern Wisconsin cabin to lick his wounds, emerging from his three-month exile with a self-recorded album. The same way Blood on the Tracks owes nearly...]]> Oct. 4, 2009 ]]> Tonight @ The Borg Ward Collective, 7 p.m. Touring in support of Resisting the Viral Self, their first complete studio album after a plethora of live bootlegs and scattered other recordings, the Cincinnati ensemble Realicide re-envisions hardcore for the 21st century, pairing it with caustic, industrial...]]> Milwaukee-native Diana Laurence is a published novelist who transverses genres with a unique and broad repertoire of work, including the award-winning Soulful Sex anthology and vampire fiction like Bloodchained and Looking on Darkness.]]> Theater Review Clarence Darrow was called America’s “sophisticated country lawyer,” an agnostic who passionately believed in helping the underdog and strongly supported the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Boulevard Theatre opened Clarence Darrow last weekend...]]> Jack White’s Summit with Jimmy Page, The Edge Rock guitar gods were a product of the 1960s and Jimmy Page, who went on to reign over much of the ‘70s with Led Zeppelin, was an original member of the pantheon. By the time the Edge gained acclaim, punk rock had already questioned the efficacy of guitar gods. But if the ‘80s had a presiding spirit of guitar grandeur, the Edge defined it with U2. When Jack White...]]> Keep an Eye on the Sky (Rhino) Their name couldn’t have been more optimistic or revealing. Big Star wasn’t conceived as an art project or an alternative to anything, but as a band following the pop-rock line first drawn by the Beatles and other great ‘60s groups. But the star they were born under in the early ‘70s was not a sign of success, at least when measured in sales and airplay...]]> Smooth Summer Shorewood’s Cafe Nation Smoothie Nation (1926 E. Capitol Drive) is a small, unique place to grab a cup of coffee or a dessert smoothie. The latter comes in many flavors. One favorite is the orange dreamsicle, so sweet and creamy that your taste buds will jump with pleasure. Also, try their super fruit smoothie...]]> Grilled Lobster Special Everybody likes a good deal. How about a Maine lobster dinner for $12.95? This is the Wednesday evening special at Karen Jean’s Oyster Bar and Grill, which is located in the Milwaukee Public Market next to the St. Paul Fish Co. Seating is casual—just a stainless steel counter with a few seats.]]> Fueling the Hogs With the 105th anniversary of Harley-Davidson barreling down on Milwaukee this summer, plus the opening of the motor company’s museum, thirsty minds turn to thoughts of the best beverage for the season. ]]> Grilled Lobster Special Everybody likes a good deal. How about a Maine lobster dinner for $12.95? This is the Wednesday evening special at Karen Jean’s Oyster Bar and Grill, which is located in the Milwaukee Public Market next to the St. Paul Fish Co. Seating is casual—just a stainless steel counter with a few seats.]]> Afternoon Tea Whether you trace its roots to the opulent courts of the Sun King or the corseted interiors of Victorian England, there’s no doubt tea-drinking ought to be rated among mankind’s most pleasant pursuits. The tearoom that sits above George Watts & Son’s china and crystal shop, with its unhurried atmosphere... ]]> Natural Makeover The outdoor tables at the Hi Hat Lounge (1701 N. Arlington Place) are some of the East Side’s most coveted spots for casual dining. The lounge’s neighboring facility, The Garage, has now added a weekday lunch menu that will allow more time to sit in the sun or eat indoors.]]> Fiendish Food One of my favorite Mexican foods is camarones a la diabla—the devil’s shrimp. In theory means shrimp in a fiendishly spicy red pepper sauce, but even in Mexico the level of spicing varies considerably. A simple beachside restaurant at Zihuatanejo served camarones lived up to this fiery reputation. ]]> Lunch on the RiverWalk When we reviewed Yaffa (106 W. Wells St.) in January, the Mediterranean restaurant was only open for dinner. Now that summer has arrived, weekday lunches have returned. Yaffa’s outdoor deck, located directly on the RiverWalk, provides a pleasant lunchtime setting in the heart of downtown Milwaukee. ]]>