First Stage presents "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane"

Hearts open wide for a toy rabbit's quest for love

"If you have no intention of loving or being loved, then the whole journey is pointless," says an antique doll to the weary porcelain rabbit named Edward Tulane. Even on paper, Edward's story sounds enchanting: Can a toy rabbit, swept away on a decades-long journey of joy, loss, fear, and loneliness, truly come to know the miracle of love? First Stage delivers on that enchantment. 

Director John Maclay admits in his program notes that this is his favorite kind of play — one "with a tight company of six actors playing two dozen characters while also performing as musicians." The scene is simply set. A piano waits against a wood slat and shingled backdrop as a trio of musicians emerge. The Traveler (the marvelously multi-talented Kat Wodtke) strums her guitar and begins the storytelling. Though Wodtke glides through a handful of bit parts throughout the play, she is the narrator first and foremost.






She tells of 10-year-old Abeline (played by the bright, plucky Bryn Dresselhuys in the Cassiopeia Cast) who has just been gifted a fine, white, porcelain rabbit — handmade in Paris, and named Edward Tulane. "Edward" because he looks quite distinguished, and "Tulane" for the family name. The gift comes from Abeline's rather mysterious Grandmother Pellegrina (the delightful and versatile Karen Estrada), who seems to be able to read the rabbit's thoughts. 

Those thoughts manifest in the brilliant Matt Daniels, who dons a dapper suit and hat, follows toy Edward around the stage, and interjects the rabbit's many thoughts throughout the course of his journey. At the onset, though Abeline adores her porcelain friend, Edward is nothing short of a pompous pill — a part that Daniels plays with such insufferable, whiny flair, it's easy to dislike this toy for all his vanity and pride. 

But the journey slowly shifts Edward's tone. It starts when Edward is accidentally tossed overboard during an ocean voyage with Abeline. Face-down in the muck at the bottom of the sea for 290 days, Edward learns loneliness. He's rescued by Lawrence the fisherman (Brian Keys), who renames the rabbit "Susanna" and takes him home to wife Nellie (Estrada). Nellie confides in Edward that she and Lawrence once lost a young child to sickness. Edward listens and, as he begins to fill the void in Nellie's heart, learns to care for someone other than himself: "In his listening, his heart opened wide then wider still." Daniels' Edward gracefully navigates this growth.






Edward Tulane does indeed do a miraculous job of engaging a broad spectrum of emotion. Following Estrada's poignant Nellie, Edward finds himself in the hands of a wandering hobo (Keys) and his dog Lucy (Estrada). The canine puppet is an instant delight — a simple stuffed prop that, thanks to Estrada, brings a special kind of joy to the stage. But that joy isn't lasting, as Edward eventually lands in the home of Sarah Ruth, a sick little girl (Dresselhuys), and her brother Bryce (the young Bradley Nowacek). Hats off to these two young performers, who deliver an intimate, affecting scene.

Throughout the play, a large part of the magic lies in the execution. Every choice encourages the imagination, from the simple sets, to the hundred tiny lightbulbs as twinkling (sometimes-mocking) stars, to the playfulness of a small cast taking on role after role. After all, that's what play is for a child: Make-believing they're anyone or anything, stepping into the shoes of the Other, and gleaning something about those others along the way.

Further enhancing the experience, First Stage provides youngsters with educational materials, pre-show questions, and post-show talk-backs — invaluable supplementary tools that spur curiosity and conversation. It's a wholistic approach that nurtures not just a child's art appreciation, but their entire being — their critical thinking skills and even their emotional development and moral compass. Now that's a truly miraculous journey worth taking.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is playing now through February 11th at First Stage. Information and tickets at firststage.org. 

Galena at Christmastime

Night of Luminaria & Living Windows

It was always going to be the ultimate mother-daughter weekend — what we didn't know is that the stars would align to turn "ultimate" into something even better: unforgettable. My mom and I planned a two-night stay at the Queen Anne Guest House (a bed & breakfast) in Galena, Illinois, over the town's most festive weekend of the year.

Every December, Galena lights up with luminaria (small paper lanterns) for one night, and the town glows. Galena is set in a hillside along a river, so it's picturesque even without the extra dose of holiday cheer. Main Street really does look like one of those porcelain Christmas villages come to life. 

We arrived on Friday evening, joined the other guests in the parlor of the Queen Anne for some refreshments (people sure love to talk!), then ventured out for some dinner. We settled on Fritz and Frites — a European bistro with a menu split between German and French food. It was heavenly. The ambience was wonderfully snug and set to the tune of Bing Crosby's crooning. Love.  

Then it was back to the Queen Anne to relax in our cozy little room. It really was a charming place to stay. We had an electric fireplace, a DVD player (good thing we packed Holiday Inn and White Christmas!), and a coffee and tea tray just outside our room. There was also a fluffy cat named Princess who made an occasional appearance for a belly rub. The owners were super nice — though, I'm sorry to say, the didn't serve my favorite breakfasts. Nicely presented, and parts were scrumptious (that bruléed oatmeal!), but overall... Just not my favorite. Still, certainly a nice place to stay.

On Saturday, the day of the Luminaria, my mom and I bummed around town, taking in the shops. Some of the stores are absolutely lovely — and others are a strange mix of nice-enough and super-tacky. We didn't get much Christmas shopping done. But we did stop at Devour Café for hot chocolate, and this place is definitely worth a trip if you're in Galena. The ambience is part antique coziness, part rock n' roll. We were enjoying our cocoa, sitting on two velvet chairs in this old, tin-ceiling café, next to a Grateful Dead poster. Amazing. 

At 3:00 on Saturday afternoon, the festivities started on Main Street. First up, it's the Living Windows. That's where some of the shops set up living displays in their front windows — in one, there was even a wedding! As we walked toward the wedding window, it started to snow. It was the kind of snow that falls softly — no blustery wind, just that perfect snow globe feeling.  

Anyway, we watched a happy couple say "I do" in a window, the ceremony broadcast over a speaker system in the street. The crowd cheered, the couple kissed and waved — it was unreal! Like something you'd expect in Stars Hollow, not a real-life town. But it actually happened! 

For the other Living Windows, there were magicians, cute kids dressed as Santa's helpers and toy soldiers, artists at work, and a whole rock band streaming Christmas jams into the streets. Eventually Mom and I stopped for dinner at Fried Green Tomatoes — huge place, pretty tasty, great service. But after being spoiled by the ambiance at Fritz and Frites the night before, we decided that we'd probably try to find an alternate spot to dine if we come back next year. 

When it was finally dark enough for the luminaria to glow, we walked up hill and down, over bridges and across train tracks. All the while, we followed the luminaria through the snow-globe snow. We couldn't believe our eyes — or our luck. If ever there was a Christmas card scene, this was it. We eventually ended up back at Fritz and Frites for coffee and cake to cap off the evening. 

As we were finishing up our sweets, just two other tables occupied in the place, a troop of about a dozen carolers burst through the door. They sang "Joy to the World" and "Winter Wonderland" and "Angels We Have Heard on High" with clear, harmonious voices. Then they left as quickly as they arrived, to the tune of "We Wish you a Merry Christmas." Mom and I beamed and sighed. Unforgettable indeed. 

Holiday greeting cards for 2016

From vintage-inspired to fresh illustrations

Truth bomb: Next month is Christmas. That's basically tomorrow. Which means we snail mail freaks needed to start shopping for Christmas cards yesterday. Last year, I stocked up on some choice cards while in New York, and like any sleuth with a greeting card obsession, I tracked down their makers by googling the info on the back of each card. Boom! The search paid off. Check out these goodies.

Driscoll Design
These charming cards from Driscoll Design with their retro flair are some of my favs. The brand is family owned, eco-conscious, and all products are made right in the USA. I think the About page on the Driscoll website best describes their vibe: "You know, feel good stuff." I have the Noel card; the falling snow is dotted with glitter and the envelope is a shiny gold. It's one of those cards I'm having trouble parting with — I might just frame it instead! 

Cavallini & Company
I have an antique-style reindeer card from Cavallini & Company waiting in my stash for a lucky someone. The card is trimmed with holly, ivy, and the perfect dash of sparkle — a nice heavy and textured stock, too. I've already blogged about Cavallini's flora & fauna postcards; you can find their holiday greetings at Paper Source. 

Carolyn Suzuki Goods 
I feel like some of the holiday cards by Carolyn Suzuki are hit or miss — but the hits are home runs. I'm really loving these gnome and yeti cards, the gnome which I bought in New York last year. It's blank inside, comes with a craft paper envelope, and is just the right size to write a nice little note. The artwork also extends the grey sky and snowy scene to the back of the card. It's all about the details! 

If you're in the Milwaukee area, here are some more ideas on where to shop locally for holiday cards: Soaps & Scents, Beans & Barley, and Broadway Paper. Though it's a chain, I'd also recommend checking out Paper Source at Bayshore, as they carry a lot of cards from various artists. Happy snail mailing! 

3 Vintage & resale clothing shops in Milwaukee

Where Halloween costumes are born

Welcome to October, where Halloween costume panic is about to set in! Every year I tell myself I'll get an early jump on things, and every year I'm pretty much still scrambling. So in the spirit of not scrambling, I'm sharing three Milwaukee shops where you just might find the perfect costume waiting for you. 

#1 Walker's Point Antique Center // Dime a Dance
In this nondescript, blink-and-you'll-miss-it building on 1st Street, you'll find some hidden treasures. The first level is Walker's Point Antique Center — all records, books, and VHS tapes. But upstairs is Dime a Dance, stacked floor-to-ceiling with clothing galore. I can personally attest that Halloween costumes are born there, since this is where I picked up my Effie Trinket dress last year. Success! 

#2 Luv Unlimited
I admittedly have hardly thumbed through the racks of men's and women's clothing at Luv Unlimited in Bay View, but I can tell you there's a plenty-big selection — shoes and accessories, too. The jewelry is especially worth a peek for anyone in search of vintage baubles to complete their Halloween costume. But Luv Unlimited's lineup of sunglasses is my absolute favorite thing — a fact that could come in handy whether you're costume shopping or not.

#3 Purple Velvet Vintage // MAC Costume Services
Purple Velvet and MAC Costume are a two-for-one find in Walker's Point. Located in the same building, Purple Velvet hosts a small but curated collection of vintage clothing and accessories, catered to ladies (sorry guys!). While the selection isn't huge, what they have is quality. Then — bonus! — there's MAC Costume Services, attached to Purple Velvet. There you'll find legit costumes for rent — everything from C-3PO to courtly ladies. Prices: $50–$100.

Or, if all this sounds like too much work, my genius friend Rachelle over at Stuff Roach Knows can tell you how to be a lamp for Halloween. All you need is one gold bodysuit and a lampshade. You're welcome. 

Taylor's People's Park

Rooftop dining in downtown Waukesha

Though I went to high school in Waukesha and my parents now live there, I still get lost in the maze of streets. Thank heavens for GPS, or I'd never remember the best route to Main Street, which is where you'll find the the small town cute-ness of Waukesha and Taylor's People's Park, our favorite spot to dine.

The interior of the restaurant is bustling and fun — definitely recommended. But if you have a warm summer night, be sure to brave the hour-long wait and snag a table on the roof. It's so wonderful! The bar area, with its colorful string lights and lanterns, gives off a festive feel, and the summery open air ambiance can't be beat.

We went on a Friday night, when downtown Waukesha hosts Friday Night Live. There's live music and local shops are open late — it's the perfect way to kill time while you're waiting for your table on the roof. My family and I actually waited almost two hours, but didn't mind as we browsed Main Street's galleries and antique shops. These shops won't blow your mind or make your Top 10 list, but it's enough to entertain while you work up an appetite. 

For dinner, since it was Friday, most of the people in our little party ordered the fish fry. Strangely I wasn't one of them — what alternate universe is this?! But my mom was kind enough to share some of hers with me, and it gets my stamp of approval. I would order that super-delicious fish fry for myself in a heartbeat! 

But that night I went for the Frankie's Garden salad with romaine, cucumber, walnuts, goat cheese, dried cranberries, and avocado, all topped with grilled salmon. Absolutely delicious! I love that People's Park offers healthy options for their sandwiches too. You can get fries on the side of course, or sub a fresh cucumber, tomato, onion, mozzarella, and olive salad at no extra charge. No extra charge for healthy? What a concept! Wish we saw more of that. Not that it would stop me from ordering fries, but you know.

Anyway, if you're making the winding journey to the heart of Waukesha, let Taylor's People's Park be the light at the end of the tunnel. It's worth getting lost for. Or just use GPS like a normal person — this is 2016. P.S. A special shout out to Erin Gosch for capturing the above mother-daughter moment! It's like she majored in photography or something...

Lakefront Festival of Art: Artists I loved

Some of my faves from Milwaukee's LFOA 2016

There's so much to love about the Lakefront Festival of Art. It's held on the grounds of the Milwaukee Art Museum each year, typically on a hot summery weekend. 2016 was no different. The sun was beating down on festival-goers, but luckily most of the artwork is housed inside white tents that remain surprisingly cool. 

This is just a sampling of some of the artists who really caught my eye this year. Some were repeats (I remember seeing them last year, too) and others were new to me. Of course there are many more worthy creatives I could blog about, but these arty folks actually post or sell their work online. I didn't want to share any work that I couldn't include a direct link to. Now let's get to it!

#1 Kenneth Kudulis
This was the first booth that caught my eye, and not surprisingly once you check out the artist's website. That is some large-scale, vibrant, pop art eye candy! Here's a statement from Kenneth's site: "Kenneth often uses found imagery from the past two decades as source material for his work. He deconstructs and simplifies these found images down to their outline. Thus, creating a new life for an image that had become lost and forgotten."

#2 Gena Ollendieck
I remember Gena's work from last year and was so excited to see it again. I love the dimension of her pieces — the way she layers odds and ends in shadowboxes or memory albums. In one of her largest works, there's a mirrored ship's porthole in the middle that you can lift up to reveal even more treasures hidden beneath. 

She says "I have always found inspiration in old discarded objects, nature, and vintage black and white family snap shots. The beauty and mystery inherent in old and forgotten objects offers me the opportunity to transform the ordinary into something new."

#3 Clare Malloy
Don't take this the wrong way, but I'm surprised at how much I love Clare's work. Her technique is beautiful — the strong lines, the crisp colors — but I'd never peg myself as a lover of a simple farmhouse. When you walk past her booth though, you're drawn in. I could stare into these landscapes for much longer than a moment. They offer a lovely sense of stillness and calm. 

#4 Mick Whitcomb, Artifacts by Nomad
Oh my god this booth. Imagine a hundred Edison bulbs crammed into one tiny booth — that's what beckoned. What kept me marveling was that the bulbs were all affixed to various antique artifacts: fans, cameras, typewriters, movie reels, sewing machines, and the list goes on. Mick's work is utterly mesmerizing. Though he and his wife don't sell the light fixtures online (inventory is ever-changing and pieces are one-of-a-kind), you can email him to inquire.

#5 Andrew Kosten, Gum Pal Press
There's almost always something a little bizarre about Andrew's work — that's what makes it so great! I'll let Andrew use his appropriate big words to tell you a bit more: "The idiosyncratic nature of the individual has always been a fixation of mine and I seek to encapsulate that with the characters I create. My work exhibits a satirical fascination with the comically bizarre and often dabbles in sociopolitical and historical contexts." Whew! Just check out Andrew's stuff on his site or on Etsy — it's such fun.

#6 Mark & Carol Reynolds, Kaleidovisions 
Imagine you're at the Lakefront Festival of Art in a sea of works rendered in more traditional ways — when suddenly you stumble upon hand-made kaleidoscopes. I mean really, these bring out the childlike wonder in all of us. "Let me look!" "I have to try them all!" And let me tell you — each one made me say "Oooh!" 

#7 Jeff Condon
I was about to say "I don't know what it is about Jeff Condon's work..." — but I do know. It's the sheer size the pieces, the colors and color-blocking, the sort-of primitive style. See his work in person and you can't look away. The colors are too vibrant and varied, the lines so curious that you just have to sit, stare, and figure them out. Jeff's work gives me all kinds of heart eyes.

Farm Girl Art & Antiques

A south side shop for shabby-chic country décor 

A friend of mine said that Farm Girl Art & Antiques was too "country" for her. While country isn't my style, it can sometimes be synonymous with shabby-chic, which I do like. I figured it was worth a gander, so I stopped at the National Ave antique shop this past weekend.

It certainly is more than a little bit country. Most items look rather worn, with weathered paint and a lived-in feel. You'll definitely want to venture into Farm Girl with a discerning eye. If you take the time to really look, you'll discover bookcases of mason jars, gilded mirrors, retro kitchen goodies, and some charming furniture.

Overall, Farm Girl probably won't be a regular stop on my Milwaukee antique hunts — the majority was just too shabby or cutesy-country for my tastes. But it's absolutely worth checking out so you can decide for yourself. There's certainly no shortage of nooks and crannies to explore, and who knows — you just might find a hidden gem! 

Antiques on Pierce

Formerly Antiques on Second

Once upon a time, there was a three-storey antique shop in Walker's Point, Milwaukee. Antiques on Second was a maze of goodies — and some baddies (but let's turn a blind eye on the creepy dolls, shall we?).

Somewhat recently, the shop moved from Second Street to Pierce Street — just a stone's throw away, really. Adam and I finally made it over to the new digs this past weekend. I especially loved the welcoming street signage, complete with a patchwork packing-tape job.

If you're in search of old favs, it's mostly all there. Even that freaky wood carving of a mustachioed man wearing a real fur hat ((shivers)). Other gems from this trip: a carousel of plastic ponies, bright nesting dolls, and a trio of Oscar Mayer weenie whistles.

Adam says he prefers the old location on Second Street to the new Pierce Street shop, but I told him he probably just needs to get used to it and learn where everything is — as do we all. Either way, Antiques on Pierce is certainly well worth getting lost in for an hour or two. The store is open daily from 10:00 to 5:00. Happy antiquing! 

Twirly Birds, Wauwatosa

Vintage finds from quirky to glam

Yesterday we went to Cattywampus; today we're walking a stone's through down North Ave to Twirly Birds. While Cattywampus is more old-made-new, Twirly Birds is decidedly antique/vintage. Some of the vintage pieces have been reappointed (as you'll see with my retro Christmas finds below), but the overall vibe is much more antique-y.




The front room has a lot of antiqued brass, gold, and crystal pieces including wall sconces and chandeliers. I love the glamorous finds in this room, and though they're glam, the prices are plenty reasonable. There's also a hallway decked with gold-framed mirrors.

There are still other rooms to explore at Twirly Birds, each filled with a rather random assortment of things. Some charming vignettes are set here and there, but mostly it's like a game of I Spy.

The back-most room is piled with stuff. Fun stuff. Again, try playing I Spy to weed through. Luckily, I spied a couple pieces of Christmas awesomeness from the holiday clearance table. They were so weirdly whimsical (and half-off!) that I just had to have them.

So for the vintage lovers of MKE, venture to Tosa and check out this little shop! It's a total delight. I plan to head back soon — more mirrors, chandeliers, and nifty retro must-haves, please! 

Information and hours at twirlybirdsdecor.com. 

Color Story app

New photo-editing app for color lovers

One of my favorite blogs to check in with is A Beautiful Mess. The site is so colorful and cheerful, and the girls who run it have just released a new photo-editing app called A Color Story. The goal of the app is to allow for color enhancements and whiter whites without entirely altering the photo. Sort of like pumping up a picture's natural beauty instead of masking it. There are examples on A Beautiful Mess of how it works. Their pictures are (not surprisingly) way more perfect and beautiful than mine — but I wanted to keep it real and show how the app works on your average iPhone photo. 

Let's get to it. With the Color Story app, you can light objects in the foreground. I loved the mountains in this Swiss pic, but was bummed that I could barely see Adam. With the Color Story app, I made him the focus instead of the scenery. Too bad he's not smiling!

This Colectivo mural is a bright spot in downtown Milwaukee, but my photo didn't capture just how pop-y it is in real life. A little editing with A Color Story served to brighten up the picture. 

Back to Switzerland, these cheerful houses didn't exactly translate in the quick pic I snapped on my iPhone  but A Color Story helped them look every bit as bright and whimsical as I remember them. 

Adam and I keep these colorful cacti on a window sill, so getting a good picture of them isn't easy — they're always backlit in the worst way! But A Color Story let me bring the color out of the shadows. 

A rainbow of antique dishes is always so striking — and even more so once A Color Story brightens up the shelving to be crisp and white.

I'm not saying this app is perfect for all pics, nor that my execution is perfect. There are a ton of filters to wade through and it's going to take some time to feel it out. But at least you've enjoyed a taste of what's possible with A Color Story. If you take a lot of pictures and want colors that pop, I highly recommend it!