I'm Sorry, You've Been Chopped...

Ted Allen was in Milwaukee last night. If you don't think he is kind of a big deal, check again. It was a super fun time at Next Chapter Books listening to stories from his days at Chicago and Esquire magazines, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Top Chef, Iron Chef and, of course, Chopped! Oh yeah, don't forget, he just won a couple of James Beard Awards. Also his birthday - today! Stories from behind the scenes of all of his shows, the magazine days, what might be next, life with his long time partner and a dash of politics for good measure.

 

It was a great time. I made him a Milwaukee Mystery Box, it seemed only fitting. Inside was Rehorst Vodka, Alterra Coffee, Rishi Tea, Indulgence Chocolate, Balzano Salami, Santori Cheese, Milwaukee Pickles and Penzey's Spices - oh, and an IronCupcake t-shirt and buttons - of course.

 

Another signing with no photo posing (i hate this trend) but at least I found the photo that my mom took of us in 2007 on a jump drive just a week ago. Photo above is from his Facebook page (can you see my head?). Photo in the middle is from my camera and photo below is from 2007 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.

FOO!!!!!!!!!!!

Get the TRUCK Out! NO!

Well Milwaukee, you have done it again. Take something totally awesome. Something that thrives in other cities and you poop on its awesome. According to WISN12:

Milwaukee officials banned food trucks from an area downtown because their popularity has been causing safety issues, according to the Department of Public Works.
A handful of food trucks have been congregating on Cathedral Square for lunch each Friday, but safety concerns brought up by Milwaukee police prompted the ban.
DPW officials said a pilot permit program will allow Milwaukee food trucks a permanent spot adjacent to Red Arrow Park.
The Food Truck Cookbook author John Edge said he has told many cities that they should look at Madison, Wis., as an example of how to deal with the growing industry.
"They wanted to build a United Nations of food, with the idea that food is a portal to culture," he said.
Fast Foodie owner Jackie Valentlucca said food trucks are very different than any brick and mortar restaurant.
"It's apples and oranges, quite honestly," Valentlucca said.

I feel that Food Trucks are just another way for America's small business owners to get their start. More than safety issues, I personally feel that the brick and mortar establishments are the real reason this has been banned. They are jealous of the business that a truck generates. But in reality, if I want to grab a quick bite, I am going to go to a truck, grab it and run. I wouldn't have wanted a sit down lunch. In that situation, I don't have the time to kill. Anyway...I am friends with Scott Baitinger, the owner of STREETZA PIZZA and he posted this to their Facebook page this morning...

We love the idea of moving to Red Arrow Park. Food Truck Friday has become a part of Milwaukee's vibrant downtown landscape, and the fact that it is moving a couple of blocks may give even more people the chance to come and experience all of Milwaukee's mobile food options.

We celebrated our 3rd anniversary yesterday - in those three years, we've served many customers and developed friendships with them. Thank you to everyone for that.

We've gotten more publicity for the city and Milwaukee's food culture than any brick and mortar restaurant - Last we counted, there have been over 700 articles written about us and the city. When Bloomberg Business Week named us the best food truck in the U.S. last year, there were hundreds of media outlets that shared not only our information, but told the world what a great place to live / work / and eat Milwaukee is.

It is short sighted to say that food trucks are a threat to public safety, or even a real threat to traditional brick and mortar restaurants. One of the things that we do very well, is bring people to areas they traditionally don't spend time in. Thousands of people came to Cathedral Square last year when we gathered there for the first time in years. And guess what... many of them returned on Thursdays for Jazz in the Park, Wednesdays for dinner and Friday nights for martinis.

We're looking forward to seeing some new faces and catching up with all of our friends from the Cathedral Square area again this year.

The good news is that if you have to walk 3 extra blocks to get to us, you'll burn off the extra calories if you choose to grab dessert from us too.

:) Love

Streetza Pizza

For the record, Streetza has been a loooong time supporter of IronCupcake and I am now working with Scott in my day-job at Verlo. But, I feel that his letter sums up the situation and I would hate to see Milwaukee make another mistake as creativity is just beginning to blossom. With or without wheels, the strongest businesses will survive. 

SIRIously?

CollegeHumor’s Favorite Funny Videos

Duran Duran Sails Back to ‘Rio’

The first line of this article makes me feel SO FREAKING OLD. But it's a great story none the less...

Exactly 30 years ago, Duran Duran, dressed in fluorescent suits, perched themselves at the bow of a fabulously elegant ketch named Eilean to make the music video for “Rio.” That video remains iconic, but its 70-foot star spent much of the past three decades in a sad state of disrepair — even sinking briefly, and then becoming fodder for termites. It took the chief executive of the fine watch company Panerai to restore the Eilean to its ’80s-pop glory. And late last month, the boat was finally reunited with the Duran Duran members Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes and Roger Taylor during the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, a gentlemanly racing event that brings together classic yachts from around the world. To read the entire article visit the New York Times website.

 Duran Duran Rio circa 1982

I am free to go. Yet, I remain.

You're Welcome

Tribute

WHITNEY HOUSTON

August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012

It has been several weeks now since Whitney Houston has passed.

Another icon, gone.

In the days that followed, we have seen a million sweaty pictures of her the night before she died. Hello, she was at a dance party. Lord knows, I would have been a big, hot, sweaty mess just THINKING about dancing; let alone at a pre-Grammy event. Girl was getting her groove on. Sheesh. Through the good and the bad, she still was an amazing talent. We have seen lots of tributes and renditions of her hits bouncing around the internet and such. But...THIS is my favorite, by far. I love the audience reaction when they realize what song it is. Way to rock it, Chris Cornell. Simply awesome.


thank you to Sara Santiago to posting this to FB, otherwise I would have never found it.

Apple Event: Meet the Chef

YOU ARE INVITED...

Love to bake? Bake to live? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be on the Food Network, Chopped, TLC, the Cooking Channel and more? Have you been tinkering on your Apple computer since the 2C, the Centris or on something as new as an iPad? Well, have I got the event for you!

 

You are all invited to the APPLE STORE in Lincoln Park on Tuesday, March 13th for their Meet the Chef series featuring Michelle Garcia of Bleeding Heart LLC. As luck would have it, I have been asked to be the moderator for this incredible event that brings two of my favorite things together: Apple and baking! Just picture it...me, as James Lipton to Michelle's Angelina Jolie. The night will consist of Q & A, memories, stories and live chat. For more information about this amazing FREE event, visit the Lincoln Park Apple Store web site now!

 

Apple Store, Lincoln Park

801 W. North Avenue  

Chicago, IL 60642   

(312) 777-4200

 

Then & Now...

Remember this fabulously androgynous creature from our high school years?

ADAM ANT, the punk rocker turned pop star of the early '80s. Oh Adam, you were so funny, sexy and charming. Flirting with the camera in your videos and oh, those icy blue eyes.

He is not exempt from the hands of time and we are all aging now. Not sure who remembers his assault charges in 2002 (above) or his epic meltdown in 2003.

Adam, now 58, has had a tough go of it for sure, and it shows. Having gone through marriage, divorce, marriage, child, divorce again. He has suffered from multiple stints in psychiatric treatment, been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder and is once again giving the public eye one more go.

Adam is resurfacing again and recently did an interview and private performance for The Guardian. I am not going to bother trying to rewrite this article for you. It's a long retrospective of his career and life, ups and downs. Read the article and check him out below, speaking of his 1981 hit Stand & Deliver.