AROUND TOWN

FOOD, ART, ENTERTAINMENT

The European-inspired frites-n-ale concept of CAFÉ HOLLANDER has been recreated four times, but back in May 2007, the Downer Avenue original was a newbie – and a hottie – featured in our 25 New Restaurants cover story. From day one, Hollander has drawn crowds for the experience – the beer, sure, but really the feeling of being part of a scene. The food has never been its strong suit, but that's never mattered.

REALITY TV took the Aughts by storm, and by our June 2009 issue Wisconsin had enough “stars” to break down, complete with snarky titles, over two pages. Who can forget “Smartest Dummy” Erinn Lobdell, a contestant on “Survivor: Tocantins”? Or “Most Pious,” Julie Stoffer from “The Real World: New Orleans”? Among them was a true star – Danny Gokey, the third-place finalist on the eighth season of “American Idol.” Known for his eyeglasses, Gokey launched his own eyewear collection and, in 2021, released his eighth album, Jesus People.

When the BRONZE FONZ statue went up in 2008, we took a moment to reflect on other possible tributes to other

(real) Milwaukeeans. Gold Golda (Meir), Chocolate Gene (Wilder) and Onyx Oprah (Winfrey, natch) were solid, but our vote is for Diamond Lee (Liberace), “an all-diamond effigy draped in velvet.”

Serial entrepreneur JOHNNY V, aka John “my goal is to open 250 restaurants” Vassallo, didn't fare well in our 2004 "Overrated & Underrated" cover story, in which we called his Mo's steakhouse “MO-verblown.” Six months later, our Ann Christenson penned a mixed review of his new and short-lived Downtown seafood place, Moceans. But the steakhouse is still around, serving up beef “simultaneously rare and well done.” V has always loved a good pun.