Milwaukee, WI

The story behind Shrekfest, Milwaukee’s strangest summer festival

Published

2 years ago

September 3, 2022

The story behind Shrekfest, Milwaukee’s strangest summer festival

Maybe much more than beer, Milwaukee is town of festivals. Right here, you will discover a competition devoted to a tradition, a neighborhood, a meals, a drink, a season or merely the truth that the solar got here up that morning – absolutely anything. And now that features a competition devoted to a inexperienced, swamp-dwelling animated ogre with emotional layers like an onion and a penchant for farting.

On Saturday, Sept. 3, a band of native web creators/associates/ogre uber-fans will host Shrekfest, a celebration devoted to a hero as inexperienced because the Humboldt Park grass it’s going to name residence. Operating from 3-9 p.m. (plus an afterparty at Certainly Brewing in Walker’s Level) the free all-ages occasion options all of your typical competition components – reside music, video games, honorary ceremonies – themed in far-less-typical trend to the film “Shrek.” That features a costume contest that includes the franchise’s fractured fairy story characters, a roar-off impressed by the inexperienced grump’s swamp-clearing bellows and an onion-eating competitors, all finally topped off with a screening of the profitable (and, lest you neglect, Oscar-winning) movie.

The one factor extra outstanding than the existence of a competition devoted to “Shrek”? {That a} competition devoted to “Shrek” has existed for years – and solely grown, beginning in a small Madison park in 2014 and increasing yr after yr within the capital metropolis till now touchdown for the primary time in Milwaukee.

“We preserve out-growing our shell, like a hermit crab,” stated competition co-creator Grant Duffrin.

Shrekfest is the beloved and weird donkey-dragon hybrid child of 3GI Industries, a band of web creatives headed by Duffrin together with southeastern Wisconsin natives Kevin Gonring and Eric Nitschke. Nevertheless, it’s certainly not their first surreal brainchild.

Earlier than the times of Shrekfest, the trio made equally ornate oddball tasks by 3GI – albeit for the web moderately than in-person occasions. One in every of their first viral sensations got here a little bit greater than a decade in the past: an ever-increasingly intricate sequence of live-action “Tremendous Smash Bros.” tournaments, mixing collectively their love of films and video video games with an off-kilter “Tim & Eric Superior Present, Nice Job!”-like humorousness, extremely creative lo-fi manufacturing worth and an excellent larger tolerance for ache.

One other of their popular culture obsessions: “Shrek,” a collective favourite from their childhoods that they made the centerpiece of some later comedy movies together with the horror parody “Shreknomicon.” So after they stumbled upon a Fb occasion for a Shrek-themed competition in Madison again in 2014, they have been thrilled.

“We thought, ‘That is superior,’” Nitschke recalled. “We’re going to point out up, and we’re going to actually wild out at this occasion. We’re posting on this web site, and it’s trying actually cool – and so many individuals are saying they’re going to go.”

Only one downside: The competition didn’t really exist.

“The man who created the occasion was like: Do individuals actually assume that is actual? … That is so not actual; why would anyone do that? It’s clearly pretend,” Nitschke stated.

“The joke went over our heads,” Duffrin added. “Shrek, to us, wasn’t on my radar as a meme … it was identical to, ‘Keep in mind Shrek?’”

The occasion itemizing was a joke – however the enthusiasm Duffrin, Gonring and Nitschke felt was very actual. And judging by the guy feedback within the Fb occasion, they weren’t alone – so that they determined to show this on-line prank into an offline actuality, throwing the primary Shrekfest in 2014 at Demetral Park in Madison. A number of dozen followers joined them.

“It was intimate,” Duffrin stated with a smile.

“However among the individuals who went that yr at the moment are serving to out with the fest or nonetheless go,” Nitschke added. “Most individuals have been completely gained over by that.”

Certainly, identical to the animated franchise that spawned it, Shrekfest has solely grown since. Some featured components have stayed, just like the onion-eating contest and the end-of-day screening; others, like a Pin The Tail On Donkey competitors and selfmade “onion wine” refreshments, made like Lord Farquaad and received killed off. (Although throughout our chat, Duffrin and Nitschke have been already pitching one another concepts for a brand new and improved Donkey sport for subsequent yr’s version.) Due to phrase of mouth from completely satisfied followers in addition to write-ups each native and nationwide, celebratory and side-eyeing, the occasion additionally expanded out of a number of Madison swamps through the years, shifting from Demetral Park to James Madison Park to Warner Park – and now, for the primary time, to Milwaukee, with Humboldt Park serving as the newest locale to remodel into Duloc for a day.

“We most likely weren’t prepared for Milwaukee – undoubtedly not yr one,” Duffrin stated. “Madison was an ideal place for the coaching wheels, however that is going to really feel totally different. That is going to really feel like a giant deal.”

So sure, Shrekfest is actual – however is it, , actual? Is that this a honest celebration of a 20-year-old animated film for youths? In any case, greater than a decade faraway from its final big-screen look (2010’s middlingly acquired “Shrek Perpetually After”), the character is maybe extra often called an web meme than a film. Even the competition’s creators aren’t solely positive, with Duffrin notably fascinated by the philosophical questions of whether or not or not the occasion is ironic. They know the place they stand, although.

“We’re not hate-going to this. We’re not saying, ‘Oh, ‘Shrek’ is so silly; it might be hilarious to have a competition a couple of silly film.’ No, that’s not it,” Nitschke stated. “It’s humorous, and it’s enjoyable – but it surely’s not a joke.”

“It’s an excessive amount of effort for a joke,” Duffrin added.

“I believe it’s a mode of film that’s tremendous fashionable, particularly now: a parody of one thing that finally ends up being the real model of that factor – within the case of ‘Shrek,’ a fairy story,” Gonring famous. “In Shrekfest’s case, it’s a competition that began ironic and must be ironic, but it surely’s in some way healthful and actual.”

The Shrek-ffection – and the work that goes into it – goes past simply Shrekfest, too, for the 3GI guys. In 2018, with the participation of dozens upon dozens of fellow followers and creators, they assembled “Shrek Retold,” a feature-length unfastened re-imagining of the unique movie that includes a plethora of various animation kinds and interpretations from the primary film.

And whereas some could eye-roll “Shrek” greater than 20 years after its authentic launch, with its now-commonplace referential fashion, there’s no such sarcasm or cynicism from the trio when requested concerning the film.

“’Shrek’ is a message of inclusion,” Gonring stated. “It’s a couple of man who hates everybody totally different from him however learns to like type of love them by the top. And by way of Fiona’s arc, she learns to like who she is and settle for who she is.”

“For us, the meme looped again round to us only a true appreciation for the film – as a result of it’s a very, actually good film,” Nitschke added. “You actually can’t contact it. It’s received a great ethical. It’s received good motion, hilarious jokes, a great forged. The animation for the time really was actually good and even now holds up fairly good. It’ll by no means be ‘Polar Categorical.’

“It’s a satire that loops round again to being honest, as a result of the top ethical and the top state of affairs isn’t comedy. It’s a very honest, romantic finish to the film. It’s nearly like us: It’s type of a joke however loops round again to sincerity.”

Irrespective of in case you’re a hardcore fan of ogres, irony or someplace within the center, identical to the characters in its inspiration, Shrekfest has made fairly a neighborhood – one which’s now come to Milwaukee and, on Saturday, would possibly simply flip you right into a believer, not a hint of doubt in your thoughts.

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Milwaukee, WI

Admirals lose to Stars, concluding 5-day road trip Sunday

Published

6 hours ago

January 19, 2025

Press Room

Admirals lose to Stars, concluding 5-day road trip Sunday

article

What we know:

CEDAR PARK, Texas – The Milwaukee Admirals lost to the Texas Stars on Saturday, Jan. 18.

They lost 4-3 at the H-E-B Center in Cedar Park, Texas. Both teams finished with 25 shots on goal.

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The Admirals fell to 1-3-0-0 on their five-game road trip.

What’s next:

Milwaukee concludes its five-game road trip on Sun., Jan. 19 at Texas.

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The Admirals will then return home to UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena on Wednesday, Jan. 22 to host Rockford.

The Source: The Milwaukee Admirals provided information in this post.

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Milwaukee, WI

This property manager operating in Wisconsin is being sued by the FTC. What to know.

Published

14 hours ago

January 18, 2025

Press Room

This property manager operating in Wisconsin is being sued by the FTC. What to know.

The Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit against property manager Greystar Thursday, accusing the Charleston, S.C.-based company of charging consumers hidden fees adding up to “hundreds of millions of dollars” since at least 2019.

Greystar manages properties across the U.S. including in the Milwaukee and Madison areas.

“The FTC is suing Greystar for deceptively advertising low monthly rents only to later saddle tenants with hundreds of dollars of hidden junk fees,” said FTC Chair Lina M. Khan in a Jan. 16 press release.

The lawsuit was filed alongside the State of Colorado.

The hidden fees “allegedly range from tens to hundreds of dollars a month,” and include utility fees, “valet trash” fees, package handling fees and more, according to the FTC’s press release.

The agency also alleged that tenants “often have not discovered the fees until after they have signed a lease or moved in.”

“Simply put, consumers cannot lease a Greystar-managed apartment by paying only the advertised price,” the Jan. 16 complaint alleges.

To read the FTC’s full complaint, click here.

The property management company manages more than 800,000 apartments across the U.S., the release said.

The FTC’s lawsuit comes days after the U.S. Department of Justice and several other state attorneys general filed a lawsuit against six of the largest landlords in the U.S., including Greystar. The DOJ complaint accuses the property management companies of sharing non-public rent data in a software system, causing tenants to lose bargaining power.

How many properties does Greystar manage in Wisconsin?

Greystar manages several properties around the Milwaukee area, according to its website, including the The Lydell in Glendale, Deer Run in Brown Deer and Evoni in Milwaukee. It also manages two properties in Madison.

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Milwaukee, WI

Area girls basketball takeaways features All-American nominees and history made for Whitnall

Published

21 hours ago

January 18, 2025

Press Room

Area girls basketball takeaways features All-American nominees and history made for Whitnall

With the final couple of weeks of January to come, it feels like the girls basketball season is starting to hit that next gear as conference title races tighten and contenders truly start to separate themselves from the rest of the field.

We’ll take a look at the week that was around the greater Milwaukee area, including a pair of superstars who could join an exclusive group soon.

Pair of area stars named to McDonald’s All-American Game nominee list

Wisconsin has three McDonald’s All-American Game nominees this year, with two from the greater Milwaukee area. Hartford forward Makena Christian (Minnesota) and Pewaukee guard Amy Terrian (Michigan State) were both named to the nominee list, along with Hortonville star Rainey Welson (Maryland).

If one or both are selected to the game, which will be played April 1 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, they would join current Connecticut guard KK Arnold (Germantown, 2023), current Women’s Chinese Basketball Association player Sidney Cooks (Kenosha St. Joseph, 2017), current Dallas Wings star Arike Ogunbowale (DSHA, 2015) and current Oregon assistant coach Samantha Logic (Racine Case, 2011) as the only girls players from the area to participate in the game.

Christian has the Orioles flying as the leaders of the North Shore Conference with a 13-1 mark this season. She’s averaging 24.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.9 steals this season. The Minnesota recruit also became the 40th player in state history to eclipse 2,000 career points earlier this season.

One-half of the Terrian twins also has Pewaukee where it usually is, atop the Woodland West standings at 13-2 this season. Through 14 games played this season, Amy Terrian is averaging 13.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.7 steals and is shooting 47.7% from deep. She also became the program’s all-time leading scorer earlier in the season.

Whitnall caps perfect week after not playing at home for 56 days

The last time Whitnall played a home game, the Green Bay Packers still had seven regular-season games to play.

For the first time since Nov. 19, the Falcons hosted an opponent and extended their winning streak to seven games with a 69-24 rout of Racine Horlick on Tuesday night. The win streak now sits at nine games following a victory over Shorewood on Thursday (93-70) and a 71-21 drubbing of Cudahy on Friday night to improve to 13-1 on the season. The nine-game winning streak is the longest since the 2019-20 season for the Falcons when they won eight straight from Jan. 10 to Feb. 11, 2020. It’s only the second streak of that length since the 2012-13 season in program history.

Along with the perfect week, Riley Ward had a 30-point outing earlier in the week against Shorewood and then scored her 1,000th career point during a 21-point first-half performance in the rout of Cudahy. The Falcons will likely be favored against Brown Deer and Cudahy again next week to extend the win streak before a massive showdown next Friday against Pewaukee.

Wauwatosa East stays unbeaten, only two area undefeated teams left

There’s only two Milwaukee-area teams with zeros in the loss column as the three-day weekend arrives for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday: Wauwatosa East and Bradley Tech/Arts.

The Red Raiders improved to 15-0 with dominant performances against DSHA (69-36) and Brookfield Central (84-49) this week to stay unbeaten, while the Trojans improved to 12-0 with a 59-15 victory over Carmen Northwest on Thursday. Tech raced out to an eye-popping 48-6 halftime advantage and put it in cruise control to remain undefeated.

Tuesday’s win over DSHA marked the seventh time this season the Red Raiders have held an opponent to 40 points or fewer. Emma Close scored a game-high 24 points for Tosa East, while Mikaia Litza flirted with a quadruple-double. Despite a 3-for-11 shooting performance with eight turnovers, Litza still had 8 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists and 8 steals for the home side.

Other gatherings including some tight title races and a statistical title chase

As the regular season enters the home stretch, you can expect some title races to heat up. The Classic 8 Conference has four teams with a 5-2 mark or better in C8 play this season. Muskego still paces the field with an 8-0 mark after a 55-38 victory over Waukesha West on Friday. Kettle Moraine Lutheran remains the lone unbeaten (6-0) in the East Central Conference title chase with Winneconne on its heels at 5-1. Tosa East sits atop the Greater Metro Conference at 9-0 with Brookfield East (8-1) lurking just behind with one more meeting to go between the two.
Salam sits perfect atop the Lake City Conference at 9-0 with Faith Christian not far behind at 8-2. The Prairie School leads the field in the Metro Classic Conference with Dominican (5-1) and Racine St. Catherine’s (4-2) in hot pursuit. The three-horse race in the Midwest Classic Conference is madness so far, as Lake Country Lutheran (7-0), Watertown Luther Prep (7-1) and Living Word Lutheran (6-1) all still have title hopes. Hartford leads the North Shore Conference, but don’t count out Whitefish Bay (8-1) and Homestead (7-2).
The top of the Southeast Conference has a pair of unbeatens with Oak Creek (6-0) and Kenosha Bradford (5-0). Union Grove leads everyone in the Southern Lakes Conference at 7-0, but Westosha Central lurks with a 6-1 mark. Whitnall (6-0) leads the Woodland East with Greenfield (6-1) right behind, while Pewaukee (7-0) handed Pius XI (5-1) its first loss in Woodland West play this week.
There’s another race around the area and that’s the statewide scoring title chase between Shorewood’s Serinity Metcalfe and Brown Deer’s Ameerah Grant. Both players are averaging at least 38 points per game this season with Metcalfe having a slight 0.3 average advantage (38.3) over Grant. Lakeland wing Kristina Ouimette is the only other player averaging at least 30 points per game this season across the state. Metcalfe has just one game below 30 points this season and four 40-point games, including a 52-point outing against Milwaukee Juneau on Dec. 10. Grant has been just as ridiculous with five 40-point games, including a 50-point performance this past Tuesday on 19-for-30 shooting in a win over St. Augustine Prep.

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