Author: Editor

Margaret Rozga: Marches, Marriage, MCTS, and Memories of Father Groppi

At the center of Milwaukee’s Open Housing Marches fifty years ago was a Catholic Priest that history books remember as Father James Groppi. But for his friend, companion in activism, and the wife of his three children, Margaret Rozga remembers a different side of the Civil Rights leader from their private life together. Peggy has remained a force in the movement for social justice, continuing her late husband’s legacy that at times overshadowed her own decades of work. But her witness to the past stands as a reminder to what the Milwaukee community has forgotten, and the journey that...

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VA photography program brings healing to Milwaukee veterans with health disorders

Veterans who participated in “Exploring the Milwaukee Community through Photography” exhibit attended a meet-and-greet event on February 13, talking with members of the public about their images. The photos have been on display in the Freedom Gallery, a space in the lower level of the Milwaukee County War Memorial. The exhibit was the culmination of a project offered through the VA Medical Center. It was part of a recreation therapy program for veterans receiving treatment in the Housing Urban Development, Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing, and mental health programs. The photography program was developed last year by Courtney Zeller, a...

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Dinosaur Time Trek brings interactive Jurassic era experience to Milwaukee

The special attraction welcomed visitors with an opportunity to take a step back in time to an era when prehistoric creatures roamed the earth, on February 17 and 18 at the Wisconsin Center. The traveling exhibition, Dinosaur Time Trek, featured life-sized models of dinosaurs crafted in realistic detail, along with a number of educational programs for the whole family. Visitors were invited to journey inside a Time Lab, which instantly transported them back to a period when the creatures ruled the world. The lifelike and giant animatronic dinosaurs presented an imaginary experience for families with children too young to...

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Photo Essay: AMKE celebrates all things Japanese

These images are highlights from the 2018 Anime Milwaukee, known by its acronym AMKE, the three-day convention dedicated to the anime and gaming communities. Held from February 16 to 18 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Wisconsin Convention Center in downtown Milwaukee, the 11th annual event was expected to bring $3.8 million to the Downtown economy. With a focus on Japanese culture and art, the festivities featured programs and activities that ran 24 hours a day. Those included costume play – or Cosplay, combat chess, Masquerade Charity Ball, Manga graphic novel library, events for children, Maid Café, the Nocturnal...

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Photo Essay: The eye candy and edible snacks of Anime merchandising

One of the highlights of the Anime Milwaukee convention for 2018 was the shopping experience, as venders sold hard to find items from Japan and unique related products to hobbyists and collectors. In the old days of anime imported to America, circa 1980, fans had to know someone in Japan who could physicall ship over artwork, VHS tapes, video cartridges, or the peculiarly satisfying snacks. With the rise of the internet in the 1990s, online stores popped up and streaming services became popular in the years that followed. But even though so much is now available to be shipped...

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Photo Essay: DJs spin Anime tracks at Nocturnal Underground dance party

In a city where invisible barriers can often keep people isolated by their economic class, race, or gender identification, the Nocturnal Underground was one place where the dance party successfully mixed all kinds of people. Anime Milwaukee’s premier Rave experience lights up the night each year, as DJs from around the country spin the hardest beats to the hottest new jams. For the 2018 convention, TeddyLoid headlined Nocturnal Underground on February 17. The Japanese music producer was the most played artist on Spotify’s “Top 5 Abroad” in 2016. The four hour dance party included a DJ showdown between Liquid86...

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