Dates for Milwaukee Downtown Dining Week announced
The Milwaukee Downtown business improvement district has announced that the sixth annual Downtown Dining week will be held June 2 through June 9. The eight day event highlights nearly 50 destination eating spots throughout downtown that will feature $10 lunch menus and $20 or $30 dinner menus.
“Downtown Dining Week is a great way to kick off the summer,” said Beth Nicols, executive director of Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21. “It gives many restaurants an opportunity to showcase outdoor dining spaces or simply remind guests to continue patronizing them between all the summer happenings.”
The event is designed to allow residents to more thouroughly enjoy the downtown dining experience. In 2010 more than 50,000 diners participated in the weeklong event.
Menus and participating restaurants will be announced in April.
Last year’s participants included: Benihana, Bistro 333, Buca di Beppo, Butch’s Old Casino Steakhouse, Café Calatrava, Café at The Pfister, The Capital Grille, Charro, Club Charlies, Coquette Café, Eagan’s on Water, Indulge, Joey Buona’s Restaurant, Karl Ratzsch’s, Kil@wat, The Knick, Libiamo, Louise’s, Mader’s, Mason Street Grill, Mi•keys, Milwaukee ChopHouse, Molly Cool’s Seafood Tavern, Osteria del Mondo, Palms Bistro & Bar, The Red Accordion, RipTide Seafood Bar & Grill, Riverfront Pizzeria Bar & Grill, Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery, Sabor, Sake Tumi, Swig, Third Ward Caffè, Tulip Restaurant, Umami Moto, Ward’s House of Prime, Water Buffalo and Zarletti.
Harley launches series of motorcycle camps
The Harley Davidson Museum in Milwaukee recently announced the launch of Camp H-D, three week-long camp experiences for motorcycle enthusiasts. The camps give participants the chance to enjoy the ultimate insider experience.
“Camp H-D is the ultimate experience for all motorcyclists,” said Bill Davidson, vice president of the Harley-Davidson Museum. “Last year we held our first Fantasy Camp and it was extremely successful. For 2011 we are excited to launch Camp H-D, which expands on last year’s experience to include two additional camps for our enthusiasts. Each camp will provide a unique experience, including exclusive opportunities to go behind the scenes and to interact with me and other leaders at Harley-Davidson.”
Registration for the camps opens on Feb. 15 and each camp will be limited to 20 participants.
While at camp, participants will be immersed in Harley-Davidson culture, Davidson said.
Biker Boot camp for Women will be held May 9 though May 14: Harley-Davidson Fantasy Camp will be held June 27 through July 1 and Speed Camp will be held July 6 through July 11. All camps include hotel, transportation to all camp destinations, food, admissions and access to planned activities. For a full list of details, visit www.h-dmuseum.com or call 414-287-2824. Registration begins February 15, 2011.
NARI home improvement show to host national speakers
The 49th annual Milwaukee/NARI Home Improvement Show will kick off today and run through Sunday, Feb. 13 at the Wisconsin Exposition Center at State Fair Park. More than 700 booth spaces will feature providers of home improvement products and services and nationally renowned speakers and media celebrities will be present.
Shari Hiller & Matt Fox of Around the House with Matt and Shari on PBS and formerly of HGTV will present as well as Josh Foss of HGTV’s Design Star, Melinday Myers and Mr. Fix-It, Tom Feiza.
The Cooking Demonstration Stage will feature area chefs and national cooking celebrities, including Chef Bonnie Muirhead, runner up on FOX’s “Hell’s Kitchen” and Chef Darren McGrady, formerly the private chef for Princess Diana.
For tickets and more information, visit www.milwaukeenari.org
Waukesha Rotary to host poster design contest for BluesFest
The Waukesha Rotary Club will present its fifth annual Waukesha BluesFest, An American Music & Art Festival on Friday, Aug. 12 and Saturday, Aug. 13, and the club is offering local artists the chance to design a commemorative poster for the event.
The poster will be printed and available for sale as the official poster of the 2011 Waukesha BluesFest. First place winner will receive a $100 prize and four weekend passes to the festival, second place will receive four weekend passes and third place will receive two weekend passes.
National and area musicians will be present and a high end art show will also be featured. The event will be held at Naga-Waukee Park on Highway 83 just north of I-94 in Delafield. All artists are eligible, entries must be received by May 15 to be considered. Rules and guidelines for the poster design contest are available at www.waukeshabluesfest.com.
Waukesha County Business Alliance launches CEO roundtable program
The Waukesha County Business Alliance announced the launch of Owners, Partners, and Entrepreneurs Network (OPEN), a CEO Forum.
The program’s purpose is to provide business owners a network of non-competing companies and access to education, training and networking under the guidance of a trained facilitator.
OPEN, a CEO Forum, will focus on the improvement of various day-to-day operations within members’ businesses, including human relations, processes, systems and information, sales and marketing.
The program is designed for CEOs or owners of for-profit companies with 10 or more employees. The program is exclusive to members of the Waukesha County Business Alliance. Each group is made up of 8 to 12 professionals, and allows for the exchange of ideas between leaders of companies in a confidential environment.
Regular monthly meetings will be scheduled at a time and location convenient to the group members, and individual groups will be facilitated by an independent professional.
OPEN participants will act as each member’s “board of advisors.” This confidential platform will provide each group member the chance to ask questions about difficult day-to-day issues and get real world solutions from others who have had similar experiences.
“As a participant in an OPEN group, I have had the firsthand experience of the CEO forum – it is excellent and worthwhile,” said Bill Fuchs, president of Total Team Construction LLC. “It gives business owners and CEOs an opportunity to confidentially discuss and brainstorm critical issues that you may not be able to talk to your employees or others about. The confidential nature of the CEO forum is similar to having a private board of directors.”
For more information about OPEN, a CEO Forum, visit www.waukesha.org.
Kleefisch to speak on small business issues at chamber breakfast
Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch will be the keynote speaker at the Oconomowoc Chamber Business Breakfast series on Thursday, Feb. 10 at the Olympia Resort, 1350 Royal Mile Road.
Kleefisch will present on how the Walker administration plans to improve the business climate in Wisconsin.
"Part of the goal is communicating with the rest of the country what Wisconsin already knows,” Kleefisch said. “Wisconsin is Open for Business and we offer a highly skilled workforce with modern manufacturing capabilities.
Kleefisch serves as Walker’s ambassador on small business issues.
