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Sep. 20th, 2014
Doors Open Milwaukee, day 1
Sep. 20th, 2014 11:57 pmWe left the house at 10:00. We got down to Walker's Point to see the Global Water Center. It's a pretty cool enterprise, but we didn't see much. Then we drove over to Milwaukee Blacksmith. It's always cool to see blacksmiths at work. Then we went up to East Town, where we went up to the 17th floor observation deck of the Gas Building.
Then the Federal Courthouse. I had never been in it before, and it looks like a cool building. When I said we were going there, Cyn was interested, because her mom had made a quilty thing based on a pattern in the tile floor, when she worked in that building. So first, we waited in line for 20 minutes, to get through security. We got into the bright and ornate atrium. It was nice, but there wasn't much to see. We wandered around some hallways, but there was even less there. I was starting to be disappointed that we spent 20 minutes in line for this. Cyn wanted to see the tile, and she saw it on a photo display. I then realized it was just over us, behind one of the overlooking railings. I saw a little area near the exit, and wondered what was in it. There were stairs, with no velvet rope blocking them, so we went up to the third floor. I wasn't sure if we were supposed to be there, since nobody else was there, so I made sure I was seen by a security guard (after I got a photo), and he ignored me. A woman came over and asked if we were there for the tour. "No. Should I be?" We actually weren't supposed to be there unless we were on a tour. So we joined a tour that was about half over. That was perfect, since I didn't want to spend too much time on tours, but we got to go in some courtrooms, and learn some things about the building.
So then we went down to the Wells building, to peek in the lobby. Not too exciting. Stopped at a Cuban restaurant for sandwiches and sangria. There was a little rain after that, but not much. Back to the car, and then found a new parking spot in West Town.
First stop Turner Hall. A historic athletic club, founded by German immigrants in 1883. Gymnasium, ballroom, etc. Then over to the Performing Arts Center. We got to see backstage. That was cool. After going to the symphony for over twenty years, I've wondered what it was like back there, and what they do with the walls of the symphony space. Now I know. When we came out of there, it was raining, so we ducked inside the nearby bridgehouse, to watch them raise and lower the State Street Bridge. The operator was waiting for more people before she did it, but nobody ever came, so we talked with her a while, and then she raised the bridge for us. And let Cyn work the controls to lower it part of the way. She and I flipped the switches to raise the barriers to let traffic through. That was fun. By that time the sun was out again.
We went up several blocks to Trinity Lutheran Church. I'd shot the outside before, but never seen the inside. It was nice. I saw one of my photo contacts there. The first person I'd seen all day, that I knew, and he was actually the guy I spent the day with on Doors Open a couple of years ago. Nice guy. He was heading over to St. John's too, so we walked together.
St. John's, while impressive on the outside, is not as pretty inside. But I asked if we could go upstairs (I didn't see anybody in the choir loft or up by the organ), and they asked if we wanted to go up in the steeple. Hell yes! So we went up and got to ring the bells. Three bells, a total of six tons. And then, we went on the catwalk above the ceiling. And in the other steeple on that level was the blower for the pipe organ. Back down on the choir loft and organ level, We were shooting, and I heard the guy who took us upstairs say to Mark, "if you want to see something else behind the scenes..." I called to Cyn, and Mark motioned me over. He took us inside the pipe organ. It was very dark, but really neat to see that. We had wanted to be heading home earlier than that, but I'm glad we stayed for it. Maybe a good thing we ran into Mark.
We got home about 5:30, had supper, and went back down for the symphony, at that same Performing Arts Center. Good show, but we're tired. We got pretty dehydrated. I wish I'd thought to ask for a glass of water at the restaurant, at lunch. At least I didn't have to go to the bathroom the entire day. Tired and stiff. I was surprised my neck is so stiff.
And tomorrow, we're going out again.
Then the Federal Courthouse. I had never been in it before, and it looks like a cool building. When I said we were going there, Cyn was interested, because her mom had made a quilty thing based on a pattern in the tile floor, when she worked in that building. So first, we waited in line for 20 minutes, to get through security. We got into the bright and ornate atrium. It was nice, but there wasn't much to see. We wandered around some hallways, but there was even less there. I was starting to be disappointed that we spent 20 minutes in line for this. Cyn wanted to see the tile, and she saw it on a photo display. I then realized it was just over us, behind one of the overlooking railings. I saw a little area near the exit, and wondered what was in it. There were stairs, with no velvet rope blocking them, so we went up to the third floor. I wasn't sure if we were supposed to be there, since nobody else was there, so I made sure I was seen by a security guard (after I got a photo), and he ignored me. A woman came over and asked if we were there for the tour. "No. Should I be?" We actually weren't supposed to be there unless we were on a tour. So we joined a tour that was about half over. That was perfect, since I didn't want to spend too much time on tours, but we got to go in some courtrooms, and learn some things about the building.
So then we went down to the Wells building, to peek in the lobby. Not too exciting. Stopped at a Cuban restaurant for sandwiches and sangria. There was a little rain after that, but not much. Back to the car, and then found a new parking spot in West Town.
First stop Turner Hall. A historic athletic club, founded by German immigrants in 1883. Gymnasium, ballroom, etc. Then over to the Performing Arts Center. We got to see backstage. That was cool. After going to the symphony for over twenty years, I've wondered what it was like back there, and what they do with the walls of the symphony space. Now I know. When we came out of there, it was raining, so we ducked inside the nearby bridgehouse, to watch them raise and lower the State Street Bridge. The operator was waiting for more people before she did it, but nobody ever came, so we talked with her a while, and then she raised the bridge for us. And let Cyn work the controls to lower it part of the way. She and I flipped the switches to raise the barriers to let traffic through. That was fun. By that time the sun was out again.
We went up several blocks to Trinity Lutheran Church. I'd shot the outside before, but never seen the inside. It was nice. I saw one of my photo contacts there. The first person I'd seen all day, that I knew, and he was actually the guy I spent the day with on Doors Open a couple of years ago. Nice guy. He was heading over to St. John's too, so we walked together.
St. John's, while impressive on the outside, is not as pretty inside. But I asked if we could go upstairs (I didn't see anybody in the choir loft or up by the organ), and they asked if we wanted to go up in the steeple. Hell yes! So we went up and got to ring the bells. Three bells, a total of six tons. And then, we went on the catwalk above the ceiling. And in the other steeple on that level was the blower for the pipe organ. Back down on the choir loft and organ level, We were shooting, and I heard the guy who took us upstairs say to Mark, "if you want to see something else behind the scenes..." I called to Cyn, and Mark motioned me over. He took us inside the pipe organ. It was very dark, but really neat to see that. We had wanted to be heading home earlier than that, but I'm glad we stayed for it. Maybe a good thing we ran into Mark.
We got home about 5:30, had supper, and went back down for the symphony, at that same Performing Arts Center. Good show, but we're tired. We got pretty dehydrated. I wish I'd thought to ask for a glass of water at the restaurant, at lunch. At least I didn't have to go to the bathroom the entire day. Tired and stiff. I was surprised my neck is so stiff.
And tomorrow, we're going out again.