Around the Corner with John McGivern

Milwaukee’s Haymarket District may get its name from the past, but it’s the present and future of this perfectly situated, downtown Milwaukee neighborhood that has long-time tenants and developers alike singing this neighborhoods’ praises.

Ripon, Wisconsin. Here’s what we knew before we came: birthplace of the Republican Party, home to Ripon College and Speed Queen washing machines, and used to be home of Rippin’ Good Cookies. What we know now: Ripon is a vertical farming, scrapbooking, pizza making, Clydesdale raising, tuba playing bonanza!

In Jefferson, it’s all about Gemuetlichkeit. And even though an Irish guy like John couldn’t pronounce it, he sure could feel it! Who wouldn’t feel happy and welcome after

It’s true that Sparta Wisconsin is the bicycling capital of America, but we found lots of things happening here: soldiers marching, shovelmen building, luthiers crafting, quilters quilting, and, of course, bikers biking. Yes, Sparta likes active people and companies: Fast Eddie and FAST Corp fit right in.

It doesn’t take long to figure out the heritage of New Glarus. If the Swiss flags or the edelweiss at Brenda’s Blumenladen don’t give it away, the Alpine architecture and the brown Swiss cows all over town sure will! You know that people are proud when they name their organizations after the city.

Delafield and smiles just go together. Yes, there’s a literal, giant smile on a barn to welcome you as you exit I-94 onto Hwy 83. But we found that the smiles we enjoyed most were the ones we shared with people like Bob Lang, Tom at Naga- waukee golf course, Pipe Major Donaldson at St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy, and Ramona and Mark at Seven Seas.

We thought we knew Oak Creek. But then we pulled up at the new town center, looked at each other and said, “Wait. THIS is Oak Creek? When did this get here?!?” To us, Oak Creek will always be known as the most familiar unfamiliar place we’ve loved!

Most people go to Minocqua to play in the north woods of Wisconsin – and there is no finer playground. If you are thinking about cabins, lakes, waterski shows, and supper clubs, then you are right on the money. But after this half hour, you’ll also think of jerky, popcorn, zoo safaris, and vitamins – no kidding!

The capital of Wisconsin can’t be covered in one episode, so we neglected some great things in Madison when we were there in 2012. We didn’t include the UW Arboretum, Olbrich Botanical Gardens, the Henry Vila Zoo, the Dane County Farmers Market and Mickie’s Dairy Bar. Consider those oversights rectified!

John McGivern leads a unique field trip through towns and neighborhoods from Sheboygan to Racine, and Burlington to Brady Street. McGivern discovers the secrets to living well, working hard, and playing merrily in all of these hometowns. Along the way, he bumps into local historian John Gurda who shares fascinating historical gems.

Quiet must be a relative term since the Lake Michigan side of Door County was pretty loud and active when John was there in October of 2018. Then again, maybe it was John who was loud and active!

Portage is the kind of place whose people light it up from the inside out. And that was a really good thing in September of 2018 because between the rain and the mosquitoes, John didn’t want to be outside much!

Eau Claire really IS the definition of a renaissance . As John Gurda said, if you were familiar with this northwestern Wisconsin city 20 years ago, you’re not familiar with it now unless you live in Eau Claire!