The Buzz is flowing this March with Aqua, Rain, The Globe, music and more. Here's OnMilwaukee.com's monthly look inside the world that we know as Milwaukee.

AQUA TO FLOW AT PARK EAST
Aqua will be the name of a new "upscale lounge" that will take over the former Ten-Eleven restaurant space in the Park East Hotel.

MICKEY COMING TO MILWAUKEE RADIO
Milwaukee can't seem to lure an adult alternative radio station, but it has secured a new kids' preset on the AM dial. WKSH-AM 1640 will be the new home for the syndicated "Radio Disney" format. The station features Disney characters, music and stories during the day and clean, teen tunes at night. Basically, the station is cashing in on youngsters' love of pop music and cartoons. Get ready for more Aaron Carter, Justin Timberlake and the like.

NOT IN JEST, THE GLOBE IS CLOSING

The Globe East celebrates its 10th anniversary by announcing it's closing. The club's 10-year lease is up and according to Globe booking boss Marc Solheim, officials don't want to renew a live music license there. Meanwhile, Solheim and an undisclosed partner are scouting locations for opening a place of their own to help continue to bring quality bands to a city that will likely lack such shows in the absence of The Globe.

RAIN IN THE FORECAST
Milwaukee must not be wet enough, because "Rain" is the name of a new club opening April 3rd at 906 S. Barclay St. in the new warehouse district near Walker's Point. You heard it here first, again!

ONE DRUM, ONE DISC
The Milwaukee-based world music ensemble One Drum celebrates the release of its eponymous debut CD at Thai Joe's Fri., March 21 at 9:30 pm. The band will be joined by special guests David Wake from Recycled Future on keyboards and Jesse Sheehan of Moving Parts on horns. Friday also marks the Spring Solstice and the show will feature local vendors selling their wares in a "Conscious Marketplace." For more on the band, visit www.onedrum.net. {INSERT_RELATED}

NEW DOWNTOWN ARENA
On your next crawl along Water Street, look west to Broadway and you'll see signs of yet another new downtown development. MSOE's new, 210,000-sq. ft. arena and athletic complex is taking shape. The Kern Center will feature a 1,600-sq. ft. hockey arena and a 1,200-sq. ft hoops facility.

AN EARLIER READ
As the Buzz predicted, the downtown Border's is a huge success and has extended its hours. The café and bookshop is now open at 8 a.m. every day. By summer, once the outdoor café is finished, they may open ever earlier and stay open later, too.

BLUE DAWG BUYS MILWAUKEE COFFEE
The owners of the popular Blue Dawg Bagels on Farwell Ave. have bought Milwaukee Coffee on Vliet St. Watch for an expanded menu, and of course more bagel.

GOOD GREEN MATTERS
The Mayor's Landscape Awards will be held with Greening Milwaukee and the City of Milwaukee -- Forestry Department on March 23 at the Midwest Express Center.

 

BIG NAME BACK IN DOWNTOWN MIX
A big name restaurant guy has toured the vacant space next to Aladdin's in the Cawker Building at 108 W. Wells St. Stay tuned.

BEASTIES WILL BE BACK
Love them or hate them, Beastie Beat II is in the works. You heard it here first!

SUMMERFEST IS BEST
Home & Away magazine, the AAA's popular national travel publication, asked readers to name their favorites in a variety of categories such as art museums, national parks, weekend getaway cities and much more. The readers' poll named Summerfest the number one North American Festival, beating Mardi Gras and Taste of Chicago! The readers also named the Milwaukee Art Museum as the fourth best art museum in the world!

WE LOVE THE SWISH
The Milwaukee Bucks have added a new, very cool effect at their games -- tiny microphones on the back of the backboards that pick up sound from every shot. It helps fans better experience the action on the court.

PITTSBURGH TO BE NAMED POTAWATOMI STREET
The Forest County Potawatomi recently completed construction on Pittsburgh Avenue from 16th to 20th Street. Mayor Norquist accepted the street on behalf of the city, and plans are underway to rename the section Potawatomi Street.

WAMI
The Wisconsin Area Music Industry (WAMI) announced the host, house band, and entertainment for its 23rd Annual Awards Program on Mon., April 28, from 7-9 p.m. at the Northern Lights Theater in Potawatomi Bingo Casino. Greg Koch, Wisconsin-based guitarist on Steve Vai's Favored Nations Records, will host the show. Mrs. Fun will serve as house band with special guests joining the group to perform throughout the evening. Punto de Vista, Kopecky, Exit, Buzzhorn, The Tempters, The Other Side, The Bottom Line and The Pipe Circus will all perform.

MILWAUKEE VIDEO PROJECT SHINES
Greg Ryan's (eCommandos) amazing Milwaukee Video Project is nearly complete. OMC is a proud partner. It showcases Milwaukee very well. Check it out at www.milwaukee-video.com

FARWELL COFFEE RETURNS

The Farwell Coffee Bar near Farwell & Lafayette has reopened. It's a great little spot a bit off the beaten path with a unique atmosphere/ambience, friendly staff, and coffees from around the world. Two sisters bought the place and renamed it The Green Dragon. There will also be live entertainment soon.

MAM TO CELEBRATE MILWAUKEEAN STEVENS
The Milwaukee Art Museum will feature the exhibition Industrial Strength Design: How Brooks Stevens Shaped Your World, June 7-September 7.  The exhibition, organized by the Milwaukee Art Museum, highlights one of the most influential industrial designers of the 20th century and one of the most significant artistic personalities ever to work in Milwaukee.  Virtually all Americans have been affected by Stevens' creations, ranging from the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile and the Miller Brewing logo to the wide-mouthed peanut butter jar.

MOLLY FOR EVERYONE
The Milwaukee Brewers will kick off Paul Molitor's run for the Baseball Hall of Fame on August 10 with a special Bobblehead Day for all fans sponsored by Pepsi and Pick 'N Save. Everyone attending the Brewers against the Florida Marlins will receive a commemorative Paul Molitor bobblehead. This is the first time that the Brewers have extended a bobblehead promotion to all fans in attendance.

MILWAUKEE'S MEAT
Coerper's 5 O'clock Steakhouse made a recent Money Magazine list of the top eight steakhouses in the United States. Read the article here,
http://money.cnn.com/2003/02/11/pf/saving/travel/steakhouses/index.htm

MILWAUKEE'S MONEY
Two of Milwaukee's CEOs, Manpower's Jeff Joerres and Northwestern Mutual's Ed Zore, were included in a story, "Vision, invulnerability and vavoom at the top" that appeared in the February 24 U.S. edition of The Financial Times and online at FT.com. The story takes a look at what it takes to be a corporate CEO. Last Friday, the FT also had a big story about Miller Brewing.

FIRST STAGE TAKES FIRST PLACE
First Stage Children's Theater's Education Director Steve McCormick has been awarded a 2003 Observership Award by the International Association of Theater for Children and Young People (ASSITEJ/USA). The non-profit corporation dedicated to the development of professional theater for young audiences and international exchange awarded 20 Observership Awards nationwide to "future leaders" in the field.

FIVE AND DIME
That beautiful empty cream city brick building on Water Street between Humbolt and Trocadero used to house the infamous Five and Dime. The gentleman that owns the place is looking for a bar or restaurant owner to lease the property from him. He would prefer a restaurant over a bar. Sorry, that's all we know.

MORE LU LU, MORE EATS ON KK?
The Buzz hears that Cafe Lulu may be expanding into the storefront next door and that KK may be getting another new restaurant soon.

STARSHIP FLIES AWAY
Starship has been gone for a few weeks from KK and Warp Drive is closing its storefront on KK to concentrate on Internet sales.

ALTERRA IS ALL GQ
Alterra on the Lake was used for an advertising photo shoot for Florsheim Shoes. One ad can be seen in the March issue of GQ.

CANDY IS GOOD FOOD
Easter is Sunday April 20, and Quality Candy has scheduled its annual open house for April 6. The open house is the perfect way to see how Milwaukee's original whipped cream eggs are made.

FROM RIBS TO RUBS
Brew City Bar-B-Q on Friday and Saturday nights has been transforming itself into a dance club. The dining room table and chairs are removed and a DJ spins beginning at 10:30 p.m..

SHOCK THE MONKEY
Peter Gabriel, the Neville Brothers and Buddy Guy are all expected to make stops in Milwaukee this summer.

ONE WAY TO TWO WAY?
The City of Milwaukee is exploring changing portions of Wells Street in downtown from one-way to two.

SOCCER BUZZ
The career of another University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer player will continue on at the pro ranks as the Minnesota Thunder of the A League signed UWM defender Evan Richardson to a contract recently. Richardson joins fellow senior defender Chad Dombrowski (Chicago Fire) as 2002 Panthers who will play professionally next season. Richardson, a St. Paul-native, will return to his roots to play for the hometown Thunder.

VALLEY CONTINUES TO RENEW
Milwaukee Transportation Partners is inviting you to a public meeting at Miller Park on March 26 from 4-7 p.m. Roadway options, environmental issues, public transportation connections and a project schedule will all be discussed.

FIRST TOSS OF SPRING
Bob Uecker, the newest member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Milwaukee Brewers home opener against the defending National League champion San Francisco Giants at 1:05 p.m. on Fri., April 4 at Miller Park.