When I was little, all I wanted to do was be a skater kid with the big boys. Of course, I only had a little sister so access to a board was pretty limited and I was blowing most of my allowances on Pokémon cards. Nevertheless I continued to wear primarily skater skirts throughout middle school and longed for a lifestyle that would never be mine... minus the bloody knees, I still got plenty of those. Flash-forward to present day, you're down a couple of beers after work and your friend asks you if you wanna go skateboarding in his garage? Uh duh. And obviously you bring your camera.
Riverwest Follies
Got a new update to the website thanks to the 2017 Riverwest Follies. I was asked by one of the co-producers, and dear friend, Shelly Schauer, if I could lend my photographic talents to this year's event and I was only too happy to oblige.
I had never attended the Follies previously so I didn't really know what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised to see neighbors of all ages filing in to enjoy the performances at the Polish Falcon that night. The acts were just as diverse as the crowd, from songwriters to comics to belly dancers. It was a great turnout with a record number of acts, and a write-up in the neighborhood paper, the Riverwest Currents, so I think it's safe to say the 2017 Follies pretty much nailed it. And I've got the pictures to prove it.
I've updated the LIFE section off my homepage with an appropriately titled "Riverwest Follies" section that you should check out the second you're done reading this but for now, here's a little teaser of what you may find...
Thursday Night Throwdown
We may not be as well know as Seattle, but Milwaukee definitely knows a thing or two when it comes to coffee, or at least has enough coffee snobs living in it to support all our local roasters and cafes. I've been working in the coffee industry for almost six years now, and personally, I feel like I have just scratched the surface of this crazy micro-culture. However, there is one time-honored tradition that I have had the pleasure of taking part in, and that is the art of the barista "throwdown."
For anyone who is unaware, a throwdown is a friendly competition where two baristas battle it out for the most impressive latte art. The two designs are poured and presented to the judges who vote for the best cup, typically defined by visual aesthetics, degree of difficulty, color infusion, and definition. The competition is whittled down to the final two (March Madness style), leaving the winner who gets the pot, i.e. the $5 entry fee charged for each competing barista.
Needless to say, the night was a roaring success with laughter abound and PBR cans littering the counters and the La Marzocco, in true Milwaukee style. Suck on that Seattle.
Milwaukee, I Love You
It's 60 degrees and sunny. In February. In Wisconsin. So yeah... definitely not thrilled about the whole global warming implications of today but then again, it's hard to stay mad when there's so much love in the air right now. And with that in mind, I dedicate this post to the love affair I've been having with the city I have called home for the past seven years. Milwaukee, I love you.
I know it's not on a lot of people's list of top places to be, but Milwaukee is seriously underestimated in it's ability to wow. We've got beer, street festivals, and an arts and culture scene that continues to inspire and amaze. Not to mention the fact that due to our harsh winters, most Milwaukeeans spend those cold months plotting and preparing to party-it-up the second the thermometer reads anything above 50. In one day you could hit up a beer garden, check out a neighborhood farmer's market, catch the Brewers at Miller Park, and probably have time to see some local music spilling out of Linneman's, Company Brewing, or Mad Planet. Milwaukee isn't the type of city to be want for entertainment.
I could ramble on and on so I'll just let these snapshots speak for themselves and just say, thank you Milwaukee. You keep doing you, and I'll keep doing me. You have been an excellent host to my burgeoning adulthood, introducing me to new experiences, and new perspectives. Till the next 60 degree day (and may it be a little more seasonably appropriate).
Home, Place, House, Dwelling
I may not be exactly known for it but I am definitely a procrastinator when it comes to posting photos, as my family and friends are quick to remind me. I've for sure been getting better with the start of this blog (and the fact that it has been a part of my new year resolutions for the past two years) but I'm still the girl with a Facebook album series entitled Bet You Don't Even Remember Me Taking These Photos. So in an ode to my old ways, I'm finally debuting some shots from a little over a year ago, you know, when Star Wars: The Force Awakens reigned supreme and we all still held hope for the wonders of 2016.
Since I moved to Wisconsin as a High School sophomore, I never got to experience a field trip to the capitol in Madison like many of my peers. As a college student, visiting my friends, I had only ever walked outside the the big white dome, admiring it's all-roads-lead-to-me vibe it was laying out. So when my two friends, Auriana and Jenny, and I rolled in to town to visit Auriana's parents for the weekend, I pounced on the chance to see inside this gleaming temple of architectural magic. And it did not disappoint. Holy gorgeousness is all I can say.
After we feasted our eyes on the engineering equivalent of #foodporn and felt fully satiated, we decided to take another detour to one of Auriana's favorite spots in high school. I love going back with my friends to where they grew up and where they use to go before I met them. I feel like it's so personal and nostalgic for them, yet also comforting to me, knowing that the people I love now were doing similar things to what I was doing, in another town, in another state. Like had we known each other earlier in life, we would have gotten along just fine.
First stop, dad's house, and oh, hello gorgeous glass-walled sunroom that makes everyone look like they're in a lifestyle photoshoot! And did I mention Skippy, the adorable Jack Russell that lived there? I know. Jackpot. Hanging out and shootin'-the-shit in this sunny winter wonderland was just what the doctor ordered, which coincidentally, Jenny was as she had gotten her tonsils removed recently and needed to take it easy. Good thing being a blanket goddess suits her.
After a bowl of tomato soup and an episode of Adventure Time, we headed off to Auriana's mom's house where we would be spending the night. Now when I say this house is insanely cool, that's probably an understatement. This house has already been featured in prominent Madison magazines and was designed completely by Amy Gilliland-Lloyd, Auriana's mom. She had a part in every doorknob, every sink (for which each bathroom has a completely different style), and every countertop. Everything in this house was carefully thought driven and it shows. A perfect example would be the kitchen where Amy has all of the countertops, cabinets, sinks, and stove measured for her height (aka slightly taller than standard). Her washing machine and dryer are on the second floor by her bedroom because why would you drag all your clothes downstairs just to haul them upstairs when they're clean? Genius, sheer genius. Anyways, the list goes on but I'll share a few little moments I captured...
And with that, sweet prince, concludes this tour of Katie's trip to Madison. I would like to thank all of my gracious hosts for the weekend and give a shout-out to 2017. May you not be the blossoming of the apocalypse you're pretending to be, and may you not kill as many celebrities as your predecessor 2016. Thank you.