Around the Corner with John McGivern

>> I AM IN MILWAUKEE ON THE CORNER OF FAR WELL AND NORTH, WE'RE CALLING THIS EPISODE, EAST NORTH AVENUE. >> WE'RE AT THE AT THE WATER TOWER AT THE END OF NORTH AVENUE. THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES IN THE WHOLE WORLD, BECAUSE IT'S REMINISCENT OF MY CHILDHOOD. THIS REALLY WAS THE NEIGHBORHOOD I KNEW. HEY JOHN. >> HI JOHN. >> I LOVE THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. WHY IS IT NORTH AVENUE. >> REAL SIMPLE, WHEN MILWAUKEE BECAME A CITY IN 1846, THIS WAS THE NORTHERN LIMITS, TO NORTH AVENUE WAS A PRETTY EASY CHOICE AND BACK IN THE EARLY YEARS, THIS WAS PRETTY MUCH FARMLANDS WITH TWO EXCEPTIONS. ON THE CORNER OF NORTH AND PROSPECT WAS THE CITY POOR HOUSE, 1846, KIND OF IRONIC, GIVEN THE SIZE OF THE HOUSES THAT DEVELOPED AROUND HERE AND YOU ALSO HAD THE INSTITUTION STILL HERE, ST. MARY'S HOSPITAL, OPENED IN 1858, THE FIRST PUBLIC HOSPITAL IN THE ENTIRE STATE. IT ANCHORS THE COLOMBIA-ST. MARY'S CAMPUS. BUT WATER TOWER BUILT IN 1873, ALL THAT'S IN THERE IS A CAST IRON STAND PIPE, FOUR FEET IN DIAMETER AND THE STORY WAS CITY PUT A STAND PIPE IN, PUMPING THE UNTREATED WATER UP, THEY PUT THE STAND PIPE IN AT RIGHT ANGLES FROM THE WATER MAIN TO ABSORB THE SURGES AND LET THEM BACK INTO THE MAINS EQUALLY, A WAY TO EQUALIZE PRESSURE AND IT DIDN'T DO TO HAVE THE UGLY OLD PIPE STICKING UP OUT OF THE GROUNDS, SO MILWAUKEE SURROUNDED IT WITH A FAIRY TALE CASTLE AND THAT'S BEEN AMONG THE HASTY EAST SIDE'S MAJOR LANDMARKS. >> WHEN DID PEOPLE SHOW UP. >> 1800'S, YOU HAD THE WAVE REACHING NORTH ARCH, BUT EARLY ON IT BROKE INTO TWO DIFFERENT STREAMS ALONG THE LAKE BLUFF, YOU HAD THE NORTHPOINT NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH WAS AND IS AMONG THE CITY'S MOST AFFLUENT IN THE ENTIRE AREA, WITHIN A BLOCK OR TWO, WHERE WE'RE STANDING, JOHN, YOU HAD FALK AND PABST AND CUDAHY, OTHER WEALTHY FAMILIES. >> THAT'S WHERE THEY LIVED. >> ABSOLUTELY. AND LESS THAN A MILE AWAY ON THE RIVER, YOU HAD KNACK THE OTHER SIDE THAT MADE YARN AND PAPER BOARD BOXES AND THE HOUSES OF THE PEOPLE WHO KEPT THE PLANTS HUMMING, SO YOU HAD COTTAGES AND CASTLE. NORTH AVENUE DEVELOPED AS A REAL CORRIDOR OF CONTRAST. HERE ALONG THE LAKE, YOU HAVE PEOPLE LOSING REAL ESTATE, EVERY TIME THERE WAS A NORTHEAST STORM, SO THESE WEALTHY FAMILIES WERE QUITE WILLING TO GRANT EASEMENTS FOR A LAND NIL PROJECT THAT BECAME LINCOLN MEMORIAL DRIVE AND BRADFORD BEACH. THE DRIVE OPENED IN 1929, AND THAT IS STILL SOME OF THE MOST CHERISHED PUBLIC GREENSPACE IN THE ENTIRE MILWAUKEE AREA. NORTH HEAV ITSELF DEVELOPED AS A REALLY ECLECTIC COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR. SERVING A VERY DENSE AND A VERY DIVERSE POPULATION. YOU HAD ENTERTAINMENT VENUES LIKE THE ORIENTAL THEATER, STILL AN ICON, OPENED IN 1927. WIDE RANGE OF RESTAURANTS, SOME OF THE HOTTEST NIGHT SPOTS IN THE ENTIRE CITY AND THAT IS STILL NORTH HEAV. >> SURE IS. >> STILL A VIBRANT CORRIDOR THAT CONTAINS MANY SMALL WORLD SERIES IN ONE LARGE WORLD. >> POPULATION? >> HARD TO TELL. IT'S A LINE BETWEEN CENSUS TRACKS BUT THE NORTH AVENUE CORRIDOR RUNS FROM RIVER TO LAKE BETWEEN ROUGHLY BRAD IN ORDER AVENUE AND WINDSOR PLACE AND PROBABLY 3,000, 4,000 IN THE AREA AND THEY ARE JUST AS ECLECTIC AS THE HOUSING STOCK. >> SO THOSE WERE THE BOUNDARIES AS WELL. >> BASICALLY, YES. >> YOU BETTER BE OFF, YOU KNOW WHY, BECAUSE I'M BUSY READING, I AM READING THIS INCREDIBLE BOOK "MILWAUKEE CITY OF NEIGHBORHOODS" WRITTEN BY MY FRIEND JOHN GURDA, SO GO AWAY, I'M READING. >> EAST SIDE STARTS ON PAGE 301. >> YOU SHOULD BE SO PROUD. >> MAKES A GREAT GIFT. I'M GOING TO BUY ONE FOR MY MOM. THANKS, JOHN. >> SEE YOU, JOHN. >> YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT DOWN ON THE GROUND. >> SO IT'S ME. >> YES. >> IT WASN'T YOU. >> I'M THE PROFESSIONAL HERE.@ >> OK.

LAUGHTER

>> YOU ARE AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR, WHO HAS THIS BUSINESS, DOES EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE ONE OF YOU. >> NOT NOW. I WOULD LOVE FOR THIS TO BE THE MODEL AREA. >> WHAT HAPPENS IS THE BID, THE NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT HIRES YOU TO COME IN TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD TO MAKE SURE THIS LOOKS GREAT. >> SOMEBODY HAS TO DO IT. >> HOW OFTEN ARE YOU HERE? >> MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. >> I BET SATURDAY MORNINGS ARE THE ROUGHEST, BECAUSE FRIDAY NIGHT PEOPLE ARE OUT. >> I HAVE TO SAY MONDAY, BECAUSE FRIDAY I HAVE TO MAKE IT A POINT TO HAVE IT CLEAN, SO FOR THE PARTY-GOERS TO START THE DAY, YOU KNOW, THE WEEKEND OFF RIGHT, SO BETWEEN SATURDAY NIGHT TO MONDAY, OH, MAN, IT'S THE PRICE TO PAY. THIS DOES SOMETHING TO ME, WHEN YOU CAN LOOK -- >> LOOK AT THIS. THERE'S NOTHING. IT LOOKS GOOD, DOESN'T IT. >> RIGHT. >> YOU KNOW WHAT HENRY WANTS, NO POOP, GIRL. >> WE REMIND OUR OWNERS TO ALWAYS CARRY BAGS. >> DO YOU ALWAYS CARRY A BAG? >> OF COURSE. THIS IS DOZER IN THE FRONT AND LUCY TRAILING BEHIND. >> YOU HAVE A BUSINESS DOG WALKING. >> I ACTUALLY DO. >> HOW GREAT IS THAT? >> IT'S PRETTY GREAT. >> TALK ABOUT THE BILLS, HOW DID IT START? >> I WORKED CORPORATE FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS AND I WAS DOWN SIZED AND JUST -- I MEAN, THINGS JUST KIND ROLLED. IT'S ALMOST LIKE IT WAS MEANT TO BE AND I WALK HOUSEHOLDS.H >> SO IF THEY HAVE THREE AT THE HOME, YOU'LL WALK THEM TOGETHER. >> MY FAVORITE GROUPING WAS AN IRISH WOLF HOUND, A DOBERMAN AND A YORKIE, ALL LIVING IN THE SAME HOME. >> A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY. >> IT IS. >> HUGE. >> IT IS. THERE IS SOME PEOPLE WHO NEED ME, THEY'VE BEEN INJURED OR ELDERLY OR THEY JUST WANT THEIR DOG TO GET OUT DURING THE DAVE. >> ON ANY GIVEN DAY, HOW MANY DOGS DO YOU VISIT? >> PROBABLY SIX TO SEVEN. >> DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW FAR YOU WALK A DAY? >> ONE DAY I WALKED 14 MILES. >> THAT'S OK. >> NOW IT'S PROBABLY MORE LIKE FIVE OR SIX. I HAVE TO SAY, IT IS A PRETTY GOOD GIG. >> WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO TRY, HONEY. >> WHAT DOES EVERYBODY KNOW YOU FOR? >> WE HAVE A RANGE FROM SOUPS AND SALADS TO GRILLED CHEESE TO CHEESE STEAKS, THE STOP SELL IS PROBABLY THE WISCONSIN CHEESE STEAK. EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT A PHILLY CHEESE STEAK, OF COURSE, WE'RE WISCONSIN AND THIS IS WISCONSIN CHEESE, SO WE ALWAYS OFFER PROVOLONE, SWISS, PEPPER JACK. THERE'S 10 OR 12 CHEESES ON THE TRUCK. THIS IS THE NEW ONE WE HAD THIS SUMMER. >> LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW THIS HAPPENED. >> WELL, THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED, BECAUSE WHAT WE WANTED TO DO WAS TO SLOW DOWN IN LIFE. WE ACTUALLY, WERE HOPING, TO JUST KIND OF ENJOY OUR SUMMERS, MAYBE SOMEWHERE WARM IN THE WINTER TIME. THANK IT EASY. IT HIT THE GROUND RUNNING IN WISCONSIN AND IT HAS ESCALATED EVERY YEAR SINCE THEN. WE'VE BEEN BLESSED WITH GREAT CUSTOMERS, GREAT CORPORATIONS, GREAT FESTIVALS. >> GREAT VIEWS. >> IT'S MILWAUKEE. COME ON, WHAT A WONDERFUL PLACE. IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING EXCITING GOING ON. THE ONE THING WE TOLD EACH OTHER, IS THE DAY IT STOPPED BEING FUN WAS THE DAY WE WOULD TRY TO FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DO. >> THEY TOLD ME TO GIVE THIS TO THE NEXT PERSON IN LINE, BUT GUESS WHAT -- >> IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS, EVERY DAY, WE HAVE MORE ENJOYMENT OUT OF IT. YOU ARE ALWAYS INVITED SOMEWHERE WHERE EVERYBODY IS HAVING A GOOD TIME. >> YEAH. >> SO HOW CAN YOU NOT JUST HAVE A GOOD TIME. >> THAT WELCOME IS SO NICE, BUT WHAT'S EVEN BETTER, LOOK, YEP. BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING TO EAT. >> HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN ADENITIS? >> ABOUT 30 YEARS. >> 30 YEARS. DO YOU LOVE THIS NEIGHBORHOOD TO PRACTICE IN? >> WHEN I WANTED A PRIVATE PRACTICE, I WANTED MORE RELATIONSHIP TYPE OF DELIVERY OF DENTAL SERVICE AND I'VE ALWAYS LIKED THE EAST SIDE. IT'S THE MOST INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL TO PEOPLE AND YOU HAVE TO REALLY FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON. AND THERE'S SOME ANXIETY -- YOU KNOW, THERE'S ANXIETY. I'M ANXIOUS WHETHER I SEE I -- WHEN I SEE MY DENTIST. >> I THINK EVERYBODY HAS A LITTLE BIT OF A FEAR. >> I AGREE. AND THAT'S WHY WE TRY TO MAKE IT AS COMFORTABLE HERE AS POSSIBLE. >> RIGHT. RIGHT. >> EVERYTHING IS GEARED TOWARDS THAT. WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON THE WHOLE BODY, NOT JUST THE TEETH, THEY'RE CONNECTED AND ATTACHED TO OTHER PARTS OF THE BODY, SO WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON EVERYTHING. >> WAS THAT ALL IN YOUR MIND WHEN YOU BUILT THIS, WERE YOU LIKE, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT? >> YES E. AND IT'S REALLY BECOME A COMMUNITY CENTER, WHERE PEOPLE COME HERE, SOMETIMES JUST FOR A CUP OF COFFEE. >> IS THAT RIGHT? >> YES. OR READ THE MAGAZINES, OR WE HAVE A COMPUTER TO CHECK THE EMAILS. >> I LOVE THE FACT THAT THERE'S HALL OF THIS -- ALL OF THIS STUFF HERE THAT YOU CAN DO, HERE AND TV AND I CAN BE LIKE THIS YOU CAN TAKE A BREAK IF YOU YOU WOULD LIKE. >> IN THE OLD DAYS, THERE WAS AN ASHTRAY HERE. >> STARTED IN 1870. WHAT DID YOU STORE IN 1870? YOUR BUTTER CHURN? >> PEOPLE ARE LIKE, UWM TECH SCHOOL OF THE ARTS AND THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT BEING ON NORTH AVENUE. LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW DID THIS BUILDING HAPPEN? >> BECAUSE AT THE TECH SCHOOL YARD, THE ART BUILDING IS THE MAIN BUILDING THERE THAT HOUSES ALL THE ARTS IS OUTGROWN. >> THEY'RE A LITTLE LAND LOCKED OVER THERE. >> VERY LAND LOCKED. >> NOW WE HAVE THIS BUILDING FOR THE GRADUATE STUDENTS AND THE FILM STUDENTS, ART STUDENTS, DANCE STUDENTS AND ART STUDENTS. >> THEY'RE HALL IN THIS BUILDING. >> ON THE NORTH HEAV CORRIDOR. >> YES. WE HAVE SO MANY TALENTED ARTISTS IN MILWAUKEE. >> AND THIS BUILDING -- >> TOTALLY CONDUCIVE TO WHAT WE DO. YOU HAVE A PLACE TO COME, TO CREATE THEIR ART. THEY'RE NOT CREATING THEIR HART IN THEIR STUDIO KITCHEN OR THEIR APARTMENT. >> GOLDEN DOODLE. MORE GOLDEN THAN DOODLE THAT LIKES LOBSTER. >> HOW MANY COME OUT OF THE PROGRAM. >> OUT OF THE ANIMATION PROGRAM AT UWM, WE PROBABLY HAVE 10 TO 15 KIDS THAT GRADUATE. >> 10 TO 15. >> CARTOONS ARE AN AMAZING MEDIUM. I CAN GO TO ANY COUNTRY AND DRAW A CARTOON AND GET WHAT I WANT. I CAN DRAW AGRIA DRINKING A CUP OF COFFEE -- A GUY DRINKING A CUP OF COFFEE, IT'S A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE. WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN. >> MILWAUKEE'S EAST SIDE, CULTURAL AND TRENDSETTING CENTER OF THE CITY SINCE THE 1960'S. ANYBODY WHO LIVES HERE WILL SAY, THEY'RE RIGHT. TRENDY. IT'S A GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD. CAN WE TALK ABOUT ADVANTAGES OF LIVING IN THIS -- WHAT WE'RE CALLING EAST NORTH AVENUE? >> WE'RE STEPS AWAY FROM THE EAST BANK OF THE MILWAUKEE LIVER, -- MILWAUKEE RIVER, BUT WE'RE ALSO STUCK TO THE MILWAUKEE LAKEFRONT AND THIS IS A PLACE WHERE RENTERS BECOME FIRST-TIME HOMEOWNERS. PEOPLE WANTING TO LIVE IN SMALLER PLACES AND WALK TO EVERYTHING. >> WE CAN WALK DOWN TO THE ORIENTAL TO GO BOWLING, WE CAN WALK DOWN TO PHIL'S FOR MINI DOUGHNUTS AND WE BIKE DOWN TO THE LAKE, WE'RE ON THE RIVER ALMOST EVERY NIGHT, WHICH IS REALLY FANTASTIC. >> LOOK AT THIS KID.@ >> THEY'VE REALLY DONE A NICE JOB OF CONNECTING THE RIVER AND THE LAKE AND THERE ARE NEW BIKE RAMPS GOING FROM HERE TO THE LAKEFRONT FROM HERE TO THE MILWAUKEE RIVER AND JUST IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THEY MADE IT INTO THIS WONDERFUL GREENSPACE, WITH THE BIKE TRAILS THAT GO ON FOR MILES AND MILES. RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY, IT'S AMAZING, CAN YOU GO FISHING FOR TROUT, I MEAN, TWO BLOCKS FROM HERE. IT'S AMAZING. >> THIS IS SUCH A DENSE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE TALK ABOUT THE TRAFFIC NOISE, YOU ALMOST FORGET THAT YOU REALLY ARE JUST STEPS IN BETWEEN A RIVER, ABSOLUTELY QUIET OR TO@ THE LAKEFRONT.@ >> IT'S THE BEST PLACE TO RAISE A KID. >> THIS IS WHAT HE'S GOING TO THINK OF WHEN HE THINKS OF GROWING UP. >> YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING THE EAST SIDE, NORTH AVENUE EAST SIDE AND I LOVE THE FACT THAT YOU LIVE ON BARTLETT AVENUE. YOU'RE IN PRETTY DEEP. IF SOMEBODY ASKED WHY WOULD YOU LIVE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THEM? >> WHY NOT? WHY WOULDN'T YOU? IT HAS SO MANY RESTAURANTS. >> IT'S THE DIVERSITY OF PEOPLE, THE LIBRARY, THE BIKE LANES ALL OVER, SO YOU CAN GET EVERYWHERE. WE ALWAYS JOKE. WE TRY TO NEVER LEAVE OUR ZIP CODE. >> WE DON'T REALLY NEED TO. >> YOU CAN REALLY DO EVERYTHING RIGHT THERE, AND SO -- >> A VIBRANT PLACE, WE HAVE TONS OF STUFF TO DO.00 >> AND NEIGHBORS, DO YOU KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS? >> OH, YEAH. THEY'RE TIGHT. WE'RE REALLY TIGHT WITH OUR NEIGHBORS. MOST OF THEM ARE HOMEOWNERS AND THEY HAVE FAMILIES AS WELL, SO NOT EVERYBODY MOVES TO THE SUBURBS. >> I THINK IT'S AFFORDABLE TO LIVE DOWN HERE. THE HOUSING STOCK IS REALLY AFFORDABLE. AND YEAH, JUST TO GET AROUND EVERYWHERE. THE LAKE IS AMAZING. >> >> IT REALLY IS GORGEOUS AND I'VE ALWAYS SAID, PEOPLE SPEND SO MUCH MONEY TO GO TO TROPICAL AREAS, AND REALLY, IF YOU LOOK AT IT, IT COULD BE AN OCEAN. YOU KNOW. MINUS THE PALM TREES. >> RIGHT. >> I REALLY FEEL LIKE WHEN WE'RE DOWN HERE, WE'RE LIKE IN A RESORT. >> RIGHT. AND IT'S YOURS. >> IT'S OURS. AND IT'S FREE. WE'RE REALLY PROCEED TO -- PROUD TO BE MILWAUKEEANS, WE LOVE OUR CITY SO MUCH, SO IT'S A JOY AND PRIVILEGE TO BE ON YOUR SHOW. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO NOW THAT WILL MAKE AIR. >> OK. >> WE ALL KNOW WAHL AVENUE AND I AM SO THRILLED TO BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH A HOUSE ON WAHL AVENUE AND THE REASON WE GOT IN, IS BECAUSE WE'RE KIND OF RELATED. >> WE KIND OF ARE, IN A ROUNDABOUT WAY. >> AND I HAVE NIECES AND NEPHEWS WHO LIVE AND COME TO THIS HOUSE. >> IT'S A LITTLE BIGGER THAN WE NEED, BUT IT'S AN AMAZING LOCATION AND WE COULD NOT WALK AWAY FROM SOMETHING ON THIS STREET AND IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.p >> IT'S CITY LIVING.x >> IT IS CITY LIVING AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE REALLY WANTED WAS TO BE CLOSE TO EVERYTHING. >> CAN YOU TELL A LITTLE HISTORY OF THIS HOUSE. >> I KNOW THAT IT WAS BUILT IN 1905, THE ARCHITECT DID A BEAUTIFUL JOB OF MAKING SURE THERE ARE WINDOWS ALL THE WAY AROUND. >> SQUARE FOOTAGE, WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN HERE? >> THE MAIN HOUSE IS ABOUT 6,000. THIS IS MY OFFICE. MY SITTING ROOM FOR THE MASTER BEDROOM, AND MY CLOSET AND THEN THE COACH HOUSE HAS ABOUT ANOTHER 1200. >> THIS IS MY NIECE MADELINE'S ROOM, SHE'S 14 YEARS OLD, A FRESHMAN AT DSHH, DIVINE SAVIOR HOLY ANGELS, WHEN I GREW UP, I HAD TO SHARE A BEDROOM WITH THREE BROTHERS, FOUR BOYS, TWO SETS OF BUNK BEDS. YOU ARE LUCKY, MADELINE. THIS IS OUR BRAND NEW PUBLIC LIBRARY. THE EAST BRANCH. A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THERE USED TO BE A LIBRARY IN THIS EXACT LOCATION, BUILT PROBABLY IN THE LATE 1960'S, BUT WHAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, IS THAT PEOPLE MY AGE WAS THAT THE FIRST EAST SIDE LIBRARY WAS TWO BLOCKS DOWN ON NORTH HEAV, IN A STOREFRONT WHICH IS NOW A TAVERN. THAT'S WHERE I WENT WHEN I WAS A KID. TO THE LIBRARY. NOT THE TAVERN. PEOPLE ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS CONCEPT OF LIVING AND LIBRARY AND RIGHT IN THE CITY. >> I THINK I ALWAYS WANTED TO LIVE IN, YOU KNOW, NEW YORK OR CHICAGO, SO I JUST MADE MILWAUKEE THAT KIND OF A CITY FOR MYSELF. IT REALLY IS, I THINK, PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST VIBRANT PARTS OF THE CITY. >> CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT AN APARTMENT IS LIKE? >> WELL, THE APARTMENTS HERE ARE VERY MODERN, BUT I THINK IT SORT OF HAS THAT MINIMALIST FEEL AND MODERN FEEL TO IT AND HAS SOME GREAT VIEWS OF NORTH AVENUE AND EVEN LAKESIDE. >> THIS IS PART OF AN AMENITIES THAT YOU HAVE. >> THE WEATHER IS BEAUTIFUL LIKE THIS, YOU CAN'T HELP BUT ENJOY IT. DURING THE MILWAUKEE AIR SHOW, IT WAS LIKE BEING AT THE AIR SHOW, THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING, BECAUSE THEY WOULD TURN AROUND RIGHT BEFORE THE BUILDINGS. IT WAS COOL. >> HAVE YOU BEEN TO THE LIBRARY DOWN STAIRS? >> I HAVE. SOMETIMES I WORK FROM THERE ACTUALLY TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE A LITTLE BIT, SO IT'S REALLY BEAUTIFUL. MY FAVORITE PART ABOUT THE LIBRARY IS THE FIREPLACE, I HAVE FRIENDS WHO COME AND VISIT ME AND GO TO THE LIBRARY OR GO TO THE LIBRARY FIRST AND I NEVER SEE THEM. BUT IT'S A GREAT LIBRARY, PEOPLE REALLY DO USE IT, AND LOVE IT, AND I ENJOY IT. >> HAVE YOU CHECKED OUT OF THIS LIBRARY YET? THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT. I THOUGHT IT WAS A CAPPUCCINO MACHINE. >> WE'RE AT THE RESIDENCES OF THE CATHOLIC HOME. WE'RE GOING TO MY MOM'S PLACE. >> WE HAVE ABOUT 130, 135 PEOPLE IN 120 APARTMENTS. >> MOM, THIS IS YOUR NEW HOME. AS OF A YEAR AGO. >> WELL, NINE MONTHS. >> NINE MONTHS. >> YES. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE. >> IT'S LOVELY. THE PLACE IS LOVELY, THE EMPLOYEES, EVERYBODY. >> THIS IS INDEPENDENT LIVING. SO WE HAVE STUDIO APARTMENTS, ONE BEDROOM, TWO BEDROOM, WE HAVE THREE BEDROOM, AND PEOPLE WHO ARE INDEPENDENT, SOME PEOPLE STILL WORK. WANT TO SEE THE EXERCISE ROOM, BUT THEY'RE INDEPENDENT AND THEY GET ALONG ON THEIR OWN. IF THEY NEED A LITTLE EXTRA HELP AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME, WE HAVE THAT AVAILABLE TOO, SO THEY DON'T HAVE -- WE HAVE EXERCISES CLASSES EVERY SINGLE DAY, INCLUDING ZUMBA ON SATURDAY MORNINGS. >> BRAVO. >> WE'RE CONNECTED BY TUNNELS, THE RESIDENCE HERE, TO OUR HEALTH CENTER, THAT HAS ASSISTED LIVING, IT HAS NURSING HOME, IT HAS REHAB, AND A SPECIAL CARE UNIT, AND THEN THE TUNNEL CONTINUES RIGHT OVER TO ST. MARY'S HOSPITAL, SO PEOPLE DON'T EVEN HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE IN THE RAIN OR THE COLD OR THE ICE@@ TO GET OVER TO THE DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT. >> THIS IS THE DINING ROOM, WHICH IS SO MUCH MORE LIKE A RESTAURANT. >> IT IS. AND I'M NOT SAYING THIS BECAUSE I WORK HERE. >> THE FOOD IS FABULOUS. >> LIVING HERE WOULD BE GREAT. >> I THINK YOU MIGHT BE OLD ENOUGH TO GET ON THE WAIT LIST NOW. >> I AM 60. >> YOU'RE NOT OLD ENOUGH TO GET IN, BUT YOU COULD GET ON THE WAIT LIST. >> WHAT'S THE AGE? >> 65. >> I HAVE A FEW MONTHS. >> REAL LIFETIME FOUNDATION -- REALLY. >> SPORTS FOR A MINUTES, MESSMER HIGH SCHOOL. >> NO HIGH SCHOOL HERE. WE'RE AT BRAD IN ORDER BEACH AND I'M JUST WEARING THIS BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL. A LOT OF BEACH VOLLEYBALL BEING PLAYED AT BRAD IN ORDER BRADFORD BEACH. SUNDAY NIGHT TO THURSDAY NIGHT, ALL DIFFERENT LEAGUES, OPEN DIVISIONS, THE BEST PLAYERS, A DIVISION, COMPETITIVE, DOWN TO C, JUST RECREATIONAL. MALES AND FEMALES HAVE PLAYED CO-ED, THEY PLAY ALL MALE, THEY PLAY FEMALE, AND IT'S TWO ON TWO OR SIX ON SIX, AND THERE'S SO MUCH VOLLEYBALL BEING PLAYED HERE, THIS DIDN'T USED TO BE HERE. FIVE, SIX YEARS AGO, THEY PUT YOU WILL ALL THESE NETS, PUT IN DIFFERENT SAND AND PEOPLE COME DOWN AND USE IT LIKE CRAZY. >> THESE TOURNAMENTS, THEY'RE FROM ALL OVER THE STATE. >> THE TOURNAMENTS, THEY RUN SIX DURING THE SUMMER AND GUYS FROM THE MIDWEST COME AND PLAY. PRETTY HIGH LEVEL TOURNAMENTS BEING PLAYED HERE AT BRADFORD BEACH. >> NOT THE BEACH WE KNEW GROWING UP. >> NOT EVEN CLOSE. >> MESSMER, SO GLAD YOU GOT A CHANCE TO WEAR YOUR OUTNIT. >> ALMA MATER, THANKS JOHN. >> LET'S TALK ABOUT INSTITUTIONS ON HASTY NORTH AVENUE. BBC, ORIENTAL, VON TRIER'S AND OF COURSE, MA FISHER AND THEY'VE BEEN HERE AS LONG AS I HAVE, BUT MEANS I'M NOT THAT OLD. WE'RE IN THE MAIN THEATER AT THE ORIENTAL, THIS USED TO BE ONE THEATER. THE FIRST THEATER I EVER SAW A MOVIE IN. THIS WAS MY NEIGHBORHOOD MOVIE HOUSE. >> IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THEATER THAT'S BEEN IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD FOR HOW LONG? >> 88 YEARS. THE ORIENTAL IS KIND OF UNIQUE IN THAT IT WAS AN EAST INDIAN OR MOORISH MOTIVE AND THERE WEREN'T TOO MANY PALACES BUILT TO THAT THEME. IT'S A SPECIFICALLY 1920'S KIND OF THEME AND IT'S AN AMAZING THING THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. >> WHEN DID IT BECOME THREE FEETERS -- THREE THEATERS? >> 1988. IT WAS A NECESSITY. >> HOW ARE WE SO LUCKY THAT THIS IS MAINTAINED? >> WE OFFER CHARACTER. >> THE SOUND IS HUGE. >> YEAH, IT'S QUITE AN STUFF. -- AN INSTRUMENT. THERE'S NOTHING LIKE PLAYING FOR A PACKED HOUSE. THEY PLAYED HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 1991, ORIGINALLY FROM THE WOERNER THEATER IN MILWAUKEE. >> IN THE WORLD OF THESE ORGANS IS THIS GUY A GOOD ONE? >> IT'S CONSIDERED TO BE ONE OF THE FINEST. >> AND WE HAVE IT HERE. >> RIGHT. ABSOLUTELY. IT'S AN ABSOLUTE TREASURE FOR MILWAUKEE, FOR THE ORIENTAL, FOR ALL OF US THAT GET TO ENJOY IT, WHICH IS EVERYONE. >> THE ORIENTAL REPRESENTS AN EXPERIENCE THAT YOU DON'T GET ELSEWHERE. QUALITY FILMS AND A SETTING THAT'S JUST AMAZING. AS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN 1927. IT'S JUST AN AMAZING PLACE TO SEE A MOVIE. >> YEAH. >> AND THAT'S NOT HYPE. THAT'S REALITY. >> I LOVE THE FACT THAT WE'RE RIGHT UNDER THE THEATER. >> RIGHT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THOSE UNITS IS WHERE THE THEATER SCREEN IS. >> THAT IS. I'M SO HAPPY TO BE DOWN HERE, BECAUSE I REMEMBER THIS CLEARLY AS A KID, WE ICED ICE USED TO COME HERE. IT'S A GREAT PLACE. KIDS SHOW UP HERE WITH THE FAMILIES. >> YEAH. >> 9? >>

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00 P.M., IT'S 21 AND OLDER. >> IS IT A NEIGHBORHOOD PLACE OR PEOPLE SHOW UP FROM EVERYWHERE? >> IT'S NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEN IT'S A LOT OF RANDOM PEOPLE. >> IT IS A TOURIST DESTINATION. >> YOU HAVE BANDS IN MILWAUKEE. >> WE'VE HAD RINGO STAR. >> NORAH JONES WAS HERE. >> THEY'RE NOT HERE TO PERFORM, THEY STAY IN A HOE THEY WILL AND THE HOTEL SAYS WHERE SHOULD WE GO. I HAVEN'T SEEN THIS SINCE HIGH SCHOOL, IT'S BUMPER POOL. >> IT'S A CLASSIC PLACE, FOR THOSE OF US WHO GREW UP IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, WE DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS A CLASSIC PLACE, BECAUSE THIS PLACE IS HUGE. I BET YOU HAVE STORIES. >> WE ARE WORKING ON A BOOK AS WELL AS THE STORIES. >> ARE YOU REALLY. >> YOU ARE. CARNIVORE, HERBIVORE, LOCAL VORE. EAT LOCAL LIVE. HAS TO BE IN IN VENTED ON THE EAST SIDE. WAS THE CONCEPT ALWAYS WHAT IT IS NOW? >> IT'S A RESTAURANTS, GROCERY STORE AND CATERING COMPANY AS WELL. >> THIS BUSINESS STARTED OUT AS A COMMUNITY BUSINESS AND FIRST PEOPLE DOING WHAT IS KNOWN HAS A LOCAL MOVEMENT, BEING THE FIRST PLACE THAT HAD ANY OFFERINGS THAT ARE WHAT PEOPLE CALL LIKE THE HEALTH FOOD MOVEMENT. >> HAVE THESE BEEN A STAPLE FOR A WHILE? >> THESE HAVE BEEN HERE LONGER THAN I HAVE. >> NOT THESE PARTICULAR. >> I THINK THAT IN THE BEGINNING, THE GROCERY AND THE DELI WERE REALLY A BIG FOCUS. PEOPLE WERE REALLY ASKING FOR HEALTHY FAST-FOOD. >> I BET THERE IS STUFF THAT HAS TO BE IN THERE THAT PEOPLE GET MAD IF IT WEREN'T. >> OH, YEAH. >> PEANUT NOODLES, BEAUTIFUL BROCCOLI. REALLY SIMPLE, LIKE OUR MOTTO, REAL GOOD FOOD, USING GOOD INGREDIENTS AND KEEPING IT SIMPLE IS THE WAY WE DO IT. >> AND GIFTS, NOT JUST A GROCERY STORE. >> NOT JUST A GROCERY STORE AT ALL. >> IS THERE STUFF HERE I COULDN'T FIND ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD? >> I THINK SO. GOOD EARTH SOAPS. >> YOU LOVE LOCAL. >> WE LOVE LOCAL. IT'S NOT SO MUCH A MOVEMENT AS IT HAS BEEN JUST THE WAY THINGS OUGHT TO BE. >> AND IT'S A RESTAURANTS. >> IT'S CRAZY BUSY. >> IT'S BEEN LIKE THAT NOR YEARS. >> FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER. >> AND CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE BEEN HERE AS LONG AS YOU'VE BEEN HERE. >> AND THEY REMIND ME, I WAS HERE BEFORE YOU. >> LET'S TALK HISTORY OF THIS HOME FIRST. >> IT'S THE HOME OF LLOYD AND AGNES SMITH OF THE A.O. SMITH CORPORATION. LLOYD WAS THE SON OF A.O., WHO MADE THE FORTUNE SUPPLYING THE HENRY FORD ASSEMBLY LINE WITH CAR PARTS. THERE WERE SIX KIDS. >> THEY NEEDED A BIG HOUSE. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> ONE OF THE GRANDKIDS. >> WATER STAIRCASE. >> WHICH IS STILL OPERATING. >> IT IS. >> IT THEN STOPPED BEING A HOME WHEN? >> THEY DONATED IT IN 1967 TO THE COUNTY. >> IT'S BEEN A MUSEUM SINCE. >> IT'S BEEN A MUSEUM EVER SINCE. >> IF SOMEBODY CAME IN TODAY, WHAT COULD THEY FIND IN A MUSEUM. >> WE DO THREE EXHIBITIONS A YEAR THAT FOCUS ON LOCAL ARTISTIC PRODUCTION AND THEN WE HAVE CHANGING DECORATIVE ARTS AS WELL AS SOME ARTWORK FROM THE MILWAUKEE HART MUSEUM AS WELL. >> IF YOU DRIVE DOWN LINCOLN MEMORIAL, YOU SEE YOUR GARDENS. >> A LOT OF PEOPLE DRIVE BY AND THEY'RE LIKE, WHAT IS THAT PLACE. IT'S A PUBLIC MUSEUM THAT EVERYONE CAN COME VISIT. >> WE HAVE DUO CARIBBEAN PLAYING RIGHT NOW. EVERY SUNDAY IN THE SUMMER FROM JUNE THROUGH SEPTEMBER, WE HAVE AMAZING MUSICIANS FROM MILWAUKEE AND THE AREA AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE COLLECTION. THIS IS HIS GOLD METAL PIECE FROM THE CHICAGO'S FAIR. >> HE WAS THE WROUGHT IRON MASTER, IF YOU'VE BEEN TO ANY HISTORIC BUILDING IN MILWAUKEE, MOST LIKELY IT'S HIS WORK.0@9 HE'S THERE. >> CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE BEAUTIFUL CHANDELIER. >> IT TURNS OUT THIS WARS MADE BY COLEMAN TO BE IN THE ENTRANCE WAY OF THE PABST MANSION WHEN HE BUILT IT. >> FIVE YEARS AGO YOU BOUGHT IT. >> RIGHT. >> ONE OF THE REASONS WE DID BUY IT, WE WANTED TO KEEP IT THE SAME. >> IT'S BEAUTIFUL. >> IT REALLY IS. PEOPLE DO THINK IT'S BEEN THIS WAY FOREVER. >> RIGHT. >> AND IT JUST HASN'T BEEN. >> HOW DO YOU KNOW DO YOU GUYS KNOW THE NEIGHBORHOOD. >> LIVED HERE 35 YEARS. >> WE CAME ACROSS THE STREET. >> LITERALLY CAME ACROSS THE STREET. THE BAR BUSINESS CHANGED SUBSTANTIALLY. WE WOULD HAVE TEN TAP LINES AND OUT OF THE TEN, TEN WERE PABST. HERE, WE HAVE 30 DIFFERENT TAPS, SOME ARE PRETTY OBSCURE, BUT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. WE HAVE A STEIN CLUB HERE, SO YOU BUY A STEIN FROM US, WE GIVE THEM A LITTLE BUFFET ON OUR STEIN CLUB NIGHT AND WE'VE GOT ABOUT 150 PEOPLE WHO BELONG TO IT RIGHT NOW. >> THAT'S RELATIVELY NEW. THAT CAME ABOUT QUICKLY. >> THANKS FOR KEEPING THIS PLACE THE WAY IT IS, BECAUSE IT ISN'T JUST A NEIGHBORHOOD PLACE, IT'S A DESTINATION PLACE AND THE FACT THAT YOU BOUGHT IT AND KEPT IT THE SAME IS REALLY, REALLY ADMIRABLE. >> WELL, A YEAR FROM NOW I MAY TURN IT IN TO A MEXICAN RESTAURANT. >> IN THIS SHOW WE'VE COVERED EAST TOWN, BRADY STREET, MCGIVERN'S SIDE, BUT EAST NORTH HEAV IS THE TRUE HEART OF -- NORTH AVENUE IS THE TRUE HEART OF MILWAUKEE'S EAST SIDE. YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS TO TELL US WHY THIS IS THE BEST NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE WORLD TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY AND ALDERMAN KOVAC, START NOW. >> JOHN GURDA PROBABLY TOLD YOU THAT NORTH AVENUE IS CALLED THAT BECAUSE IT USED TO BE THE NORTH EDGE OF THE CITY. THAT WAS THE 19th CENTURY. NOW IT'S THE CROSS-ROADS OF THE CITY, IT CONNECTS THE RIVERS TO THE LAKE AND IT'S WHERE EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE NOW. THE LIBRARY HAS 99 APARTMENTS ABOVE IT, THE PROSPECT MALL HAS RISEN FROM THE ASHES. WE HAVE APARTMENTS, WE HAVE A ROCK WALL, WHERE ELSE, JOHN, WHAT OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD COULD YOU CLIMB A ROCK WALL, GO BOWLING, GO TO A MOVIE, GO TO THE LAKE -- >> THAT'S LINCOLN MEMORIAL DRIVE, THAT'S LAKE MICHIGAN. THAT'S CUSTARD. IT'S WISCONSIN. IN THIS AREA, THERE ARE 19 ETHNIC RESTAURANTS, PAKISTANI AND INDIAN AND JANUARY NIECE AND THAI HAND MEXICAN. WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO FEATURE THE 19 RESTAURANTS, DON'T SEND ME EMAILS, WHY DIDN'T YOU GO TO -- WE COULDN'T GO TO ALL OF THEM. YOU CAN. SO GO. OK? >> THIS EPISODE OF "AROUND THE CORNER" WITH JOHN MCGIVERN IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH FUNDING PROVIDED IN PART BY THE GREATER MILWAUKEE FOUNDATION'S ERNEST C. AND FLORENCE M. SHOCKE FUND. THE GREATER MILWAUKEE FOUNDATION IS HONORED TO BE SERVING OUR COMMUNITY FOR A SECOND CENTURY. >> THE W.E. ENERGIES FOUNDATION, PEOPLE YOU CAN TRUST FOR ENERGY YOU CAN DEPEND ON. >> WHAT GOODWILL CAN DO WITH YOUR DONATIONS IS PRETTY AMAZING. >> MAKING SURE ELECTRICITY IS THERE WHEN YOU NEED IT. AMERICAN TRANSMISSION COMPANY, HELPING TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON, BUSINESSES RUNNING AND COMMUNITIES STRONG. >> "AROUND THE CORNER" WITH JOHN MCGIVERN IS PRODUCED BY MILWAUKEE PUBLIC TELEVISION, A VIEWER SUPPORTED SERVICE OF MILWAUKEE AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE, MATC, TRANSFORMING LIVES, INDUSTRY AND COMMUNITY. NOW YOU KNOW WHY WE'RE SUCH A GOOD FIT.