Around the Corner with John McGivern

Eagle River stole our hearts. This is a community that has really figured out how to work, live and play all year long. Claims to fame? Eagle River is home to largest freshwater chain of lakes in the world, is the snowmobile capital of the world and the hockey capital of Wisconsin. Outdoor enthusiasts know all that, but John didn't. Are you surprised? What John did know are friends who come to play here only in the winter and others who come only in the summer, so he decided it would be necessary to experience both seasons. Oh, he experienced two extremely different seasons, all right! It was 6 degrees below zero and windy in January and 92 degrees and humid in August. And the truth is, the whole crew loved every minute. The kind people and beautiful scenery year round more than made up for a few lost toes! What a wonderful place to start our new season.

The West End is one of the most eclectic areas in Milwaukee, and we think eclectic is great! Miller, Harley-Davidson, renovated mansions, tiny Shriner cars and chickens - all together in about one square mile just west of downtown Milwaukee! The neighborhoods to the north and south of Wisconsin Avenue from 27th Street west to Highway 175 - Concordia, Cold Spring Park, Merrill Park and the Valley-Pigsville neighborhoods --- are collectively referred to as the West End. And while it's true that John found the architectural combinations puzzling and the zoning to be crazy, even he had to admit that here it all works!

Watertown has everything you could ask for in an episode, and John asked for a lot. He asked to go up on the roof of the best octagon house he's ever seen. He asked a member of the oldest Civil War band in the world to polka. He asked the CEO of the largest lawnmower blade manufacturer in the United States for a lunch break. He asked Kenn Fox of Paramount Guitars to let him play a very expensive guitar, and he asked his TV crew not to save his life if he were to fall into the manure pit at Rosy Lane Holsteins. It's as varied as wonderful as it sounds. Enjoy Watertown --- John sure did!

Does anyone, besides John Gurda and the Klode Kru, know that Whitefish Bay is a geographic area of Lake Michigan? Maybe not, but everyone knows that the village east of I-43 surrounding east Silver Spring Drive in Milwaukee County is home to Winkie's, right? And John McGivern knows that this is one of his favorite close-to-home neighborhoods. Will you like Whitefish Bay? Well, if you like a family friendly place where you can shop at local boutiques, go to dinner and a movie, walk along the beach or tree lined streets, then you will like Whitefish Bay for the same reasons John does. This community feels like home, even if you don't live here.

If Norway is on your travel list but not in your budget, start with Stoughton! This idyllic Dane County Wisconsin gem wins the award for most ethnic joy. While Stoughton celebrates its Norwegian roots, there's also plenty to do and see that doesn't require you know how to pronounce Syttende Mai. Now John knows that Naugahyde is a made here by a company that everyone thinks makes tires. He knows that Lutefisk, when prepared correctly by the Hanson brothers, is delicious! And he knows that if this TV thing doesn't work out, he could take up rosemaling. Watch, and you'll know why Stoughton should be on your travel list for its own sake! (But if you come and only see the creepy statue of the Norwegian troll lady with the giant feet and rolling pin down by the river, or the remote controlled, smoke-expelling dragon at the Viking Pub, your trip would be worth it --- honest!)

This episode is not community specific. What we chose were 12 organizations/places/people we wanted to cover in southeastern Wisconsin because... well, because we wanted to. The producers all got to pick based on their own curiosities. The only rule was that we had to be able to shoot at least three segments in one day and be back to the station in time for dinner every night. What does it say about a group who chooses Jones Island, a bell museum, Frank Lloyd Wright, pizza, ice cream and the Zoo? It says that apparently we're not all interested in the same things, but we are all really glad this worked out because we loved it. A special thanks to everyone in this episode for saying "Yes" instead of "Why?" Whether by region or by community, it's awesome to work in Wisconsin!

Delavan is completely unique, especially for the Around the Corner crew. This the only downtown we've ever been to that is defined by brick streets, a water tower and circus statues. Delevan is home to our only cookie jar museum, the one and only Bradley's department store and the only company we've been to that produces tubes used to artificially inseminate poultry and cattle. In Wisconsin, this is home to the only school for the deaf and the largest percentage of Latinos. For John, only Delavan will be remembered as the place that provided his craziest interviewee and his shortest... (Lois Stritt, you're the short one. Rafael Hernandez, you're the crazy one, but you both already knew that, right?) Yep. Only in Delavan. And we loved it!

Grafton is like Miss Congeniality of Season 6! Friendly, graceful and good looking, this community gets high marks in all the important categories. In the talent category, Grafton has it covered with the artists and businesses at The Arts Mill, and the incredible band, Life in a Tree. In the Make-a-Difference category, you're not going to find better representatives than Mel's Charities and Josh Davis-Joiner's friends. In the personality category, banjo player Mike Gregory and Christmas tree farmers Lisa and Rick O'Malley were too much fun. And on the Around the Corner judging sheets, there's also the best tasting category --- of course --- which was well satisfied by Lake Winds Elk Farm, Slow Poke Local Foods and Atlas BBQ. We could never choose one community as Miss Wisconsin because there are too many worthy contestants (and because we're not stupid, thank you very much), but for Miss Congeniality, we have a winner! And Grafton, it's you! Congratulations!

Beloit really surprised us --- and we're not easily surprised. This is a city with a great, paradoxical spirit. Polished and rustic, sophisticated and folksy, old and new, serious and whimsical. Highlights? Forward thinking companies like Universal AET and AccuLynx who are new life to the renovated buildings that were Beloit Corporation. The old Beckman Mill made to work like new again. Thousands of angels under the roof of an old church (not what you're thinking). And no kidding, some of the best food of the season! John literally ate his way through Beloit --- and enjoyed every bite at Bushel & Peck's, Merrill and Houston's and The 615 Club. But it was the fun, hardworking people who made our time in Beloit a week to remember. Yep, the people... and the Ironworks! You have to see this reinvigorated area. The Ironworks is just really cool. And since we love cool, we love Beloit!

Fish Creek and Ephraim are just minutes away from each other in Door County. While these communities are really different, they are both part of the same wonderful Door County experience. We're on the bay (west) side --- also known as the "busy" side. Indeed, John had a full agenda, as do most tourists who come to this part of Door County, but this turned out to be one of the most relaxing episodes because that's how Fish Creek and Ephraim are. You can't help but walk a little slower, talk a little less and smile a little more. Well, John didn't follow suit on the "talk a little less" part because he's a television host and talking to people is what he does. And what fun conversations he had at Lautenbach's Orchard Country Winery and Market, Edgewood Orchard Galleries, Wilson's, and with everyone he met. And since John spent a good deal of time here acting, he couldn't wait to catch up with both famous theater groups. The busy side of the Door in September. We highly recommend it!

The Garden District. The name sounds like this community should be in a pleasant little village where neighbors know each other and gather in community gardens. Well, add an international airport and 40,000 people and that's just what the 13th aldermanic district on the south side of Milwaukee is. With a name like the Garden District, you probably guessed, as we did, that this is a very environmentally conscious and eco-friendly community. But we found tons of unexpected experiences in this under-celebrated area. Do you know what's in that art deco-looking water tower that you see while driving on I-43 near the Plainfield curve? Have you ever seen a grave marker or monument being made? Have you been invited onto a military base and into the simulator of a military refueling plane? Do you know where you can get the best Italian beef sandwich you'll ever have? You're in for a treat. That's just how we felt in the Garden District. It was a complete treat!

If all you know of Horicon is that there's a Marsh here, then you have (just like John did) a lot to learn. Truth is, the Horicon Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary --- loved and known by bird and wildlife lovers throughout the world - deserves all the acclaim it gets. But even though the Marsh stole our hearts (what a remarkable place!), the City of Horicon steals the show. The John Deere Horicon Works is a shining example of this community's ability to retain big-time manufacturing, but the smaller business here are no less impressive. Horicon Bank and Leroy Meats are stars in this community. Sure-Fire Inc., Family Chiropractic and the Rock River Tap are trusted Horicon staples. And the experiences we had at the Satterlee Clark House and Horicon Marsh Boat Tours will be remembered as standouts of season 6. Just one question: Does John have to wear the rubber hip waders to be considered an honorary Marshman? (He'd be happy to...)

Smack dab in the middle of the state, we found Wisconsin Rapids. True, it’s not hard to find, but it is hard to leave! Wisconsin Rapids is a paper making town, and has been almost 200 years. While this kind, warm town is heavy with history, there are loads of current things to experience, and literally tons of cranberries to be harvested! That’s why we came. Wisconsin is the largest producer of cranberries in the world, and John had never been in a bog – ever! The owners of Glacial Lake Cranberries treated us to an amazing experience that almost left John speechless (almost, but thank goodness, not quite!). But after we experienced all things cranberry, we learned that the unique geology in the center of our state allowed for the building of what is quickly becoming a world renowned destination for golf. And with a name like “Rapids” you know we spent some time along the river. Wisconsin Rapids is gorgeous. We hated to leave, but it was the perfect place to wrap up our sixth season.