http://www.expressmilwaukee.com/blogs-1-1-1-28.html  It's hard to believe that three days of German Fest have gone by. It must be all of the munching on rollbraten, sipping on beer and wine, and live entertainment that's made the time fly.  Still, have no fear, the party is still on.  In fact, German Fest has saved the best for last and is going out with a "bang".  The German Fest organizers are packing three times the "boom" into one spectacular evening of pyrotechnics toni]]> It's race day!  I can barely steady my paws to write this blog, I'm so excited.  Arguably, the dogs take center "stage" at German Fest this afternoon, with the Doxie costume contest at 1 p.m. and the wiener dog races at 3:15 p.m.  The competition will be fierce this year, with all 50 entries were filled, but I am keeping my eye on the prize. Since I had the honor of winning last year's races, I will be ca]]> Frankie, here, with tonight's entertainment news from German Fest.  Last night, the barrel was rolled out with some great German and Milwaukee music acts and we are ready to keep it rollin' tonight.  Go ahead and print out a stage schedule for tonight's hefty lineup of live music.  Also, keep these additional "must-do" and "must-see" events in mind while you're at the Fest tonight. A German Mardi Gras celebration will entertain g]]> Tonight’s the night, folks.  It’s the first day of German Fest 2008 and it’s Usinger’s Family Free Night.  That’s right, free admission for all from 5 to 10 p.m. plus food deals, true-blue German entertainment, and two great Milwaukee bands.  Also, the 620 WTMJ’s Bill Michaels 5K Run/Walk for the Hungry happens tonight at 7 p.m. To get a schedule for tonight’s music lineup, visit German ]]>     The best thing to pair with a little dog such as myself is a little kid.  They love to play, get messy, and eat foods that stick to their face, and so do I.  That’s why I’m excited that German Fest is featuring a lineup of kid-friendly attractions and activities for the 2008 Fest.  Here’s a run-down of the kiddie-fun that has my tail wagging:     All Weekend Long: German Fest&r]]>   Get on your thinking caps, grab a deck of cards, and head to the sheepshead match to “trump” all others. Following tradition, German Fest is hosting hourly sheepshead sessions each day of the Fest. There is a new location this year, so look for the card tourney on the north end of the grounds across from the Potawatomi Bingo Tent. Anyway, if you need a refresher course in sheepshead, I found a pretty helpful link for you t]]>         You can save your “dough” and eat more strudel at German Fest this year by taking a few tips from me and checking for great admission deals each day of the Fest.  The first thing to know is that everyone is a V.I.P. on Thursday July, 24 with free admission and food deals compliments of Usinger’s Family Night.  So, enjoy $1 brats, hot dogs and ice cream on Thursday, then come bac]]>                 The wait for German Fest is a little shorter this year.  We’re kicking the Fest off adding a new night of great entertainment and free admission on Thursday, July 24. So, I’m calling it an extended weekend and starting the party on Thursday with Usinger’s Family Night from 5 to 10 p.m.  What’s better?  I can still aff]]> You know what I love more than kibbles, more than table scraps even? The food at all of the bars and restaurants on the German Fest grounds, of course. I’ve got my eye on some new menu items, including a smoked beef sausage called the landjäger, and a giant Oktoberfest pretzel imported from the Fatherland in Bavaria. The combination of a nice salty, smoked landjäger and a warm pretzel is “the bomb”. Speaking of bombs]]> There are a lot of reasons I run. Sometimes I run for practice before the big race, sometimes I run to fetch a tennis ball, sometimes I run because chasing my tail gets boring after a while. While my four-legged friends and I will be racing on the German Fest grounds on Saturday July, 26, you and your two-legged friends can join in for 620 WTMJ’s Bill Michaels 5K Run/Walk for the Hungry, benefitting St. Ben’s Meal Program, on Thursda]]>   Want to get in free to German Fest? Who doesn’t, right? Well, now you can get your 80’s rock fix and a fair share of strudel all in one night. Everyone going to the Police concert, featuring special guest Elvis Costello & the Imposters, on Friday, July 25 gets a “Go straight to German Fest Free” card. Before or after the concert, you are free to enjoy the festivities and food at the Fest. Just don’t]]>   Frankie, here, with more news about German Fest. One of the things that gets me all fired up about racing is knowing that at the finish line, there’s always a treat waiting for me. Plain and simple, I love food. Despite the family resemblance, hot dogs, brats and sausages are among my favorites eats. “Naschen,” that’s German for eating, is one of the biggest reasons people come to German Fest. Over the cours]]> Wiener dog races, Wisconsin, German Fest. The three go together like hot dogs, buns and mustard. Dachshunds originate from Germany and the name actually means “Badger Dog” in German. German “Badger Dogs” racing in the Badger state at a German festival is, well, a natural. Dachshunds were originally bred to hunt, not race. Our small size and short legs made it easy for us to dig and chase animals out of their dens.]]>   Despite my mach speeds on the race course, I try not to brag about my fame and fortune. After all, I wasn’t always a star. That got me thinking, who else is out there with celebrity status and German heritage? Today, I put my paws to the keyboard and googled a few of my favorite celebs who turned their German looks, brains, and talents to fame. Here’s my top 5, but feel free to add onto my list. 1) Leonardo Dicaprio&md]]>   Calling all Foxy Doxies!My name’s Frankie, winner of last year’s Wiener Dog Races at German Fest.Here’s a topic near and dear to my heart.Registration is now open for the 2nd annual Wiener Dog Races on Saturday, July 26.We need 50 racers and 50 Doxies in dra…uh, costumes.The picture you see, that’s Skip, winner of last year’s costume contest.He’s a real hot dog.If you want to sign up, go to www.]]> Hey folks.My name’s Frankie, winner of last year’s Wiener Dog Races at German Fest.You might say I come from humble beginnings.My folks, Wendy and Joe, found me at the Midwest Dachshund Rescue in August 2004. Before that, I’d been wandering the streets of Chicago.They think I’m about 5 years old.All I know is racing is in my blood.I love chasing rabbits and squirrels and going for walks. That’s why I’m so hard ]]>