Lee Matz, Author at Milwaukee Independent

Jake’s Deli celebrates Irish pride with corned beef eating contest

Posted by Lee Matz | Mar 13, 2017 |

The 5th Annual Corned Beef Eating Contest, hosted by Jake’s Deli, kicked off Milwaukee’s St. Patrick’s Day parade festivities a day early on March 10. With a bit of rivalry from previous participants, contestants had to consume as many corned beef sandwiches as possible in 10 minutes. Held at the Shops of Grand Avenue, the event followed the 51st Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade Press Conference with Mayor Tom Barrett and executive director of the Westown Association, Stacie Callies. “This is one of my favorite days of the year. Just a couple weeks ago for Fat Tuesday I went...

Boys & Girls Club in Sherman Park reopens after renovations

Posted by Lee Matz | Mar 9, 2017 |

Community leaders hosted a reopening ceremony at the Mary Ryan Boys & Girls Club in Sherman Park on March 8. The facility had been closed to the public for renovations since the end of August 2016. The 25-year-old building was due for major updates even before unrest from the Sylville Smith incident overtook the area last year. “All of us were aware of what happened last summer. Some teens in our community were frustrated, so Boys & Girls Club asked ‘what we can do about that?’ What you see is this beautiful space,” said Vincent Lyles, president and CEO...

Photo Essay: Steampunk and trains at The Domes

Posted by Lee Matz | Mar 9, 2017 |

Historic Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory hosted the family friendly “Gardens and Gears Steampunk Faire” for its third year on March 4.

Photo Essay: Bucks Arena looks small as construction takes shape

Posted by Lee Matz | Mar 8, 2017 |

Despite an increase in square footage, the new Bucks Arena (a.k.a. Wisconsin Entertainment and Sports Center) will actually be 25 feet shorter than the BMO Harris Bradley Center.

Photo Essay: Defining the future of Milwaukee

Posted by Lee Matz | Mar 7, 2017 |

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett delivered his 2017 State of the City address on March 6 at the Harley-Davidson University to a crowd of hundreds.

Photo Essay: Panel on Repairing Milwaukee’s Racial Trauma

Posted by Lee Matz | Mar 3, 2017 |

“As a nation we have some ugly parts of our history. We can’t repair anything unless we are honest about what happened. We believe that it is time our nation opened up and started telling this truth about our history.” – Reggie Jackson “Let’s Face It: How Communities Remember and Repair Racial Trauma,” was the theme of the annual celebration for the legacy of America’s Black Holocaust Museum (ABHM) founder and lynching survivor, Dr. James Cameron on February 25. Held in Milwaukee Public Library’s downtown Centennial Hall, the event explored the issues of how our nation and local community...