Around the Corner with John McGivern

The first episode of the second season is Shorewood, so named because it's situated between the shore of Lake Michigan and the woods along the Milwaukee River -- at least that's what John Gurda says, and who's going to doubt him? This close knit community, with its churches, restaurants and zillion salons, feels familiar because of some long-standing community treasures. Ever gone to Hubbard Park Lodge, climbed the stairs of Atwater Park, eaten at Benji's Deli or seen a show at Shorewood High School? Chances are that you have. But have you been impressed by the Table Tennis Club, sat on the roof of the Garden Room, had a custom garment created at Sophisticated Rose or licked the salt from your fingers at Goody Gourmet's? It's the combination of old and new that make Shorewood a truly great place on a great lake!

If you knew that Mineral Point was the birthplace of Wisconsin, you are either a resident of Mineral Point or John Gurda! We did anticipate that it wouldn't be called Mineral Point if it weren't for minerals, so we couldn't wait to visit Merry Christmas Mine and the Pendarvis Historic Site. But we quickly learned that the main attraction today isn't zinc, it's art. There's weaving, potting, acting, singing, sculpting and glass making, not to mention cheese making. Don't laugh - the cheese that comes out of Hook's is art in and of itself! We discovered one of the great opera houses left in Wisconsin, the most friendly mailman you'll ever meet, and the only library we've ever been in that encourages graffiti. All that and so much more in this charming, hospitable and well preserved community.

We love Kenosha, and this episode! So many "firsts" for us here: first civil war museum, first velodrome, first trolley car, first dinosaur, first visit to Tenuta's and the first time John played on a ladies bocce ball team! The rebirth of downtown Kenosha is nothing short of invigorating. And even though we were hot (average temp when we shot was 104), we were enchanted as well. There's nowhere else that you'll find an artist in a light house, a couple selling tuxedos and Hawaiian shirts, a charter boatload of Illinois fisherman and the communications director of Jockey International talking incessantly with such excitement about underwear! And it all works!

There's nothing like going "up north" in Wisconsin in summer. And where is that, exactly? It may be different for you, but when John McGivern was a kid, "up north" was where his family would vacation. So for this episode, John goes back to Waupaca Chain of Lakes and finds it as relaxing and friendly as ever. We found idyllic cottages along the banks and boats of all kinds in the water. And the people who own them... they are so lucky! In Waupaca (that's a city), discover charming businesses like Freckled Frogg and Furniture by Todd. In King (that's a town), be moved at the Veterans Home. In Rural (another town), visit with a life-long resident, and at Camp Onaway (that's an island), envy the joy of youth. Summer in Wisconsin doesn't' get any better than this!

Walker's Point is by far the most diverse place we've been. Seriously! Just try to find another community that has a blues bar, a roof top garden overlooking a giant four-sided clock, a distillery, the best boutique hotel in the country, countless restaurants, one of John's favorite stores, a 350 pound city founder, and a horse stable! See? You can't. We loved the people and the feel of Walker's Point, and John Gurda loved that he didn't have to study even one bit to tell us the history! And the fact that we were in our own backyard made the whole experience comfortable, easy and too much fun!

On the northwest bank of Lake Winnebago in the Fox Valley, we were thrilled to explore the idyllic community of Neenah. How can you pass up a community that bills itself as the world headquarters of world headquarters? And even if that title can't be proven, Neenah is proof that even though industry changes, communities can reinvent themselves. Both Johns get schooled in this episode -- John Gurda learned about the paper potentates, and John McGivern goes to 8th grade math class. We found paper weights, music and manhole covers galore, and of course John eats well yet again. We're pretty sure that Rapunzel lives in Neenah, and East Wisconsin Avenue has some of the best real estate we've ever seen. Such an attractive community!

We knew about the Les Paul connection, but there are so many gems in Waukesha that were a joy to discover. This was our first (and maybe only) "five points" community. A magic and joke shop, great chocolate, sewing supplies, beads, great food, old-fashioned ice cream and tattoos, all within about a five minute walk. Add the oldest college in the State, 27 guitars (10 of them are giant!), and put John McGivern in a giant pink flamingo, and then we knew we really had something! And best of all, we dispelled our fear that we wouldn't find our way back out! But after spending the week, we weren't too eager to leave anyway. The "Sha" is hot!

Did you know that ours is the only state Capitol on an isthmus? We liked everything about the isthmus. We even like the word "isthmus." And John Gurda loved it because it's bike rider heaven! John McGivern loved it because from State Street to Willy Street, there's a vibe here that doesn't exist anywhere else in the State. All John had to do was tour the Capitol and the UW campus to realize that "active" has many meanings here in Madison. But Madison produces more than laws and students, like great food and all things Sconnie. After exploring for just four, beautiful Fall days, we fully understand why students and residents alike have such passion for this city. On Wisconsin!

Wow! And fun! Talk about something for everyone. The Wisconsin Dells has natural wonders and manmade adventures, decades-old businesses and brand new attractions - and we loved it all! Water -- as in a flood - is what formed the landscape, and water -- as in waterpark park capitol of the world -- is what makes the Wisconsin Dells the number one tourist destination in the State. Yes, John will try anything once, so he screams down the water slides, cruises up the rivers, bounces around the curves of the go cart track, and flies under the parking lot in a roller coaster and over a lake on a zipline. We discover HoChunk pride, appreciate HH Bennett's genius, and then there's Swiss Maid Fudge and Paul Bunyun's. Need we say more?

Take a drive down Sherman Blvd., turn the corner to Grant Boulevard and then backtrack to 47th street, and you will see some of the finest and most varied residential architecture in Wisconsin. Sherman Park has so much to offer--not just architecturally, but racially, culturally, and cuisinely (is that a word?)! Looking for the largest Orthodox Jewish population in the State? How about an old gas station that now pumps coffee, or a neighborhood hospital that has anchored the community for 125 years? Here, businesses (large and small), neighbors (black and white), and cultures (American, Asian and Jewish), all come together to create a close knit community that feels so much like what we wish all of Milwaukee could be. Everyone is welcome!

It's called the city of seven hills, but Lake Michigan is why Port Washington exists. Ewigs built their business on it, artist Shirley Gruen paints it, yacht builder Bill Prince is inspired by it, the people who publish Sailing Magazine write about it, and the people who built their house using the pebbles they gathered from its shore really got the most out of it! At the intersection where Grand Avenue meets Franklin Street, look east and you'll see first clean and arguably the most modern marina in Wisconsin. Look north and you'll be completely taken with St Mary's on the top of the hill, but don't look past one of the most quintessential main streets of the season, packed with businesses old and new. Look down and you might see some of Port Washington's most famous product, Allen Edmonds shoes! It was a complete joy to explore.

John McGivern has always wanted to go back to college (to visit, not to study!). Even though UW-Whitewater is a big part of this community and a big part of this episode, it's not all students, academics, theater and sports. Ever wonder what it would be like to own a coffee shop and bakery in a college town? (Busy!) Or how about owning a sports bar? (Busier!) What if you owned an off campus rental company? (Busiest!) For visitors and residents alike there's plenty to do, and a short jaunt to the Fuzzy Pig is required. Of course, we told John that a look inside Shockwave Haunts was also required, and he still hasn't recovered! Whitewater buzzes and hums along and makes you want to just go with the flow.

In this episode, we slow things down for a relaxing, completely beautiful Fall visit to the quiet part of Door County. From Sister Bay, to Ellison Bay, all the way to the Washington Island Ferry, John not only found colorful leaves, but colorful characters as well! Join him at a fish boil, get up on the roof of Al Johnson's with the goats, relax at a real retreat, choose a great book, bowl, and, of course, eat! Northern Door County--now that we know how idyllic it is in the Fall, we can't wait to come back for the other three seasons!

John Gurda, our resident historian, author and friend, has been schooling John McGivern for two seasons now. In 26 communities around our state of Wisconsin, John Gurda has had three minutes in each community to share the history, geography and demographics of the area. Yep. Just three minutes, and John Gurda thinks that's too short, too! So in this special one hour episode, John Gurda gets to go a little more in depth as he expounds on eight specific locations: The Milwaukee River Greenway, Walker's Point, Forest Home Cemetery, Port Washington, the Wisconsin Dells, Madison, Greendale, and the old National Soldiers Home. Even an hour is too short, but we are sure that you're going to learn something. John McGivern sure did, and he enjoyed every minute of it. You will, too!