The people who attended – diverse in age and interest; families, individuals and groups – contributed $15,000 to the SquareUp Campaign to enhance the one-of-a-kind City Square in the Wausau’s central business district. SquareUp Brew Fest was sponsored by Wausau Area Events on behalf of the SquareUp Committee.

Wausau Area Events volunteers staffed the ticket sales, beer serving and ongoing site operation services. WSAW News Channel 7 sponsored Brew Fest television promotions. Creative Communications designed the poster and event program. Sun Printing provided posters and SquareUp fund raising materials. Midwest Communications provided radio and the Daily Herald and City Pages provided print promotions. Twelve area businesses contributed services and materials for free or at discounted rates. Downtown businesses helped promote the event with their customers. Stevens Point Tents responded early Saturday morning to repair and re-erect the tent. A group of some 30 volunteers answered the call and helped with the tent and to set up the site. The City of Wausau Department of Public Works provided site preparation and take-down services. Brew Fest goers sampled three unique SquareUp beers that were donated by Bull Falls Brewery, Great Dane Pub and Brewing Co., and Red Eye Brewing Co.

A good deal of chatter among those attending was whether Bull Falls’ SquareUp 400, Great Dane’s SquareUp Springbok, or Red Eye’s SquareUp Sq. was their favorite. The beers will be sold at the brew pubs while supplies last with proceeds going to the SquareUp Fund. SquareUp Brew Fest was designed to attract over the day an ever changing crowd by offering three choices of unique beer, a variety of musical entertainment – polka, country, folk, rock and jazz – and several selections of food from downtown businesses and food vendors from the greater community. The bands and performers donated their talents to the event.

The SquareUp Committee said the event was a success. Brew Fest organizers expressed their sincere thanks to the individuals, businesses, groups and organizations who participated and contributed with tremendous generosity and support. The SquareUp Campaign goal is $1 million dollars. The campaign ends July 1, 2010.

Visit squareupwausau.org for information about contributing or purchasing a SquareUp paver brick for the Square.

It is pretty much peak season for all things growing.  The summer crops are in, the fall crops are due any second now and so the farmers’ markets are just bursting with produce of all shapes, sizes and colors.  Wausau now has three farmers markets each week, so there is no excuse for missing one.  You can come down to the square tomorrow or down on River Drive Saturdays or Wednesdays.

If you can’t make it to the famers markets, how about Downtown Grocery?  Or maybe check out any number of local eateries that feature local foods, such as Alistair Deacon’s, The Wright Place on 6th, Sy-am Gardens on Thomas Street or many others you can find here on our sidebar.

Eating locally this week is a piece of cake!

We all love a bargain and pretty much all of us shop at the big box stores to “benefit” from their “everyday low prices.”

But do those benefits have a cost?  They must, a classical form of economics analysis, the TAANSTAAFL school, tells us.  That is to say, “There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch.”  To make something lower priced, something has to give.  We would hope that it would be tremendous profit margins and over inflated executive pay, but as the book Cheap: The high cost of discount culture by Ellen Ruppel Shell points out over and over again, that is just not the case.

What suffers is product quality, worker pay, and even human dignity.

Low price doesn’t have to mean low quality, but most often it does, and not just the quality of the goods produced, but also the quality of life that results.  And not just in those foreign lands where low wage workers crank out goods meant for shipping containers to fill our discount and dollar stores.  As wages have stagnated in the US, even as productivity continues to climb, our happiness levels seem to have dropped, even as we have more and more to fill our shopping carts.

The book does not necessarily provide grand solutions, but it is clear that buying quality products from quality people is part of that solution.

P.S. Yes, I realize how ironic it is to link to Amazon for this book!

P.S.S. I’m sure Janke Book Store would either have it in stock for would be happy to order it for you!

Try their chili or soup of the day or opt for updated classics like the A.D. Reuben (Corned Beef, sauerkraut, swiss cheese, and Russian Dressing with Baked Fries). Frittata (Oven-roasted champignon mushrooms, parsley and parmesean cheese with toast and local greens) or the Balsamic Roasted Portabello Sandwich (Grilled Moonshadow Farms summer squash, pesto amd mozzerella on housemade foccacia with local mixed greens). The food is hearty and flavorful. The menu may change based on seasonal availability of ingredients.

While you’re waiting for your grub, take a seat on the comfy leather furniture and people watch. Or feast your eyes on their dessert and drink selection. Also serving an expanded breakfast menu including authenic New York bagels.

For more information:

Allister Deacon’s
300-3rd Street, Suite 103
Wausau, WI  54403
715/845-5888

The minimum donation per shirt is $12.

For more information:

peacesculpture@gmail.com

Tax-deductible donations for this project can be sent to:

Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin
500 First Street, Suite 2600
Wausau, WI  54403

Please note “Peace Sculpture Fund” in the memo portion of your check.

Every

The Humane Society of Marathon County is holding a photo contest to select the Cover Critters for their 2010 Pawtraits Calendar.

All submitted photos will be displayed and judged through a bid-process with the top twelve winners selected as “Pets of the Month”. Additional winners will be used throughout the calendar. The photos will be displayed and the community will be able to vote for their favorites with a donation of $1.00 per vote.

To enter, submit your pet photo, entry/order form and entry fee of $25.00 (each entry includes one free calendar) to: Calendar Contest, Humane Society of Marathon County, 7001 Packer Drive, Wausau, WI. 54401.

Complete entry requirements are posted on their website at www.catsndogs.org

Entry deadline is August 1, 2009.

Sale price of the calendars will be $15.00 each and can be pre-ordered until September 1st. Pre-ordered calendars will receive free shipping.

For more information contact:
The Humane Society of Marathon County
Shannon Thomas, Marketing Coordinator
(715) 845-2810
www.catsndogs.com

Wausau IS Good!

Chalk drawing by Megan Sichterman and Allie Reif.

Balloon glowing on the 400 Block

It is hard to miss the Balloon Rally which has been underway since Thursday, even if the mid-summer nights winds have held down the festivities just a little bit.  There was an abbreviated glow on the square last night with 2 balloons inflating and Balloon glowing on the 400 Block, and the balloons launched from the airport this morning.  And there is plenty more to come with another launch and glow this evening, fireworks, Pigs in the Sky ribfest and more.  You can check out the complete schedule at the Wausau Area Events website.

But wait, as they say, there’s more!

If you need something to do while you are waiting for the balloons to launch late this afternoon, head downtown.  On the 400 block Chalkfest is underway, public art at its best.  And a number of downtown merchants are having sidewalk sales.  Get everything you need, get inspired and meet new people.  Another great day downtown.

Now how much would you pay?  Don’t answer yet!  There’s more.  If athletics is more your thing, there is a recreational release for kayaks and canoes down at the Wausau Whitewater Park on Sunday.  You can get more information here.

If after all that you need some peace and quiet, the First Universalist Unitarian Church of Wausau has a weekend of teachings by nationally known Tibetan teacher.  More information on that can be found here.

Inside or outside there is more to do this weekend than you can shake a stick at — get out there and enjoy all that is Camp Wausau!

Dining room of the 6th Street Filling Station

If you exclude downtown, there is not much in the way of food places on the East side.  Yes, you can head down Grand Avenue, but you are pretty much in Schofield before finding something other than chain food.

So, I really appreciate the 6th Street Filling Station.  Not only is it on my way home from most places, but they offer a very nice combination of local cafe with very nice upgrades that make them well worth the visit.

Not your ordinary fish fry!

On the local cafe side, yes they have a complete selection of burgers, shakes and soft serve ice cream, perfect for any summer day.

Every so often they will go even more homestyle and grill those burgers outside for perfect barbeque taste.  But they have so much more.

How about an egg, cheese and spinach sandwich served on inch thick whole wheat toast?  Very yummy.  Salads that include exotic lettuces and touches found usually only in upscale restaurants.  Or a lucious pan fried haddock filet, one that had lots of rye bread crumbs in the breading that gave it a real flavor snap.

Chef Peter McGreck add his personal touches to the dishes at the Filling Station, like this pan fried haddock.

And that does not even begin to mention the wonderful baked specialties, including the pecan carmel rolls, which are to die for. The dining room of the Sixth Street Filling station with their automotive theme.

You can’t miss the Filling Station on 6th right across the street from Saint Michael’s Church.

Check out their daily specials and be happy to be an Eastsider!

6th Street Filling Station
1314-6th Street
Wausau, WI 54403
715/848-3000

Sweets on Third is hosting a special demo tonight (Thursday, June 11, 2009), presented by Theresa Ford, the East Coast Sales Representative for Moonstruck Chocolate Co. 

Even if you are watching your figure, a few chocolates now and then can’t hurt. Did you know that cocoa contains flavonoids (naturally occurring antioxidants), which are shown to prevent heart attacks and strokes. So see, chocolate is a health food!

About Moonstruck Chocolate Co.:

In 1993, a simple concept took root in Portland, Oregon. That concept was to handcraft superior chocolates that would taste exquisite and look exceptional. Each piece is handcrafted using only the finest ingredients and then hand-decorated with care.

Online at: www.sweetsonthird.com and www.moonstruckchocolate.com

Sweets on 3rd
615 N 3rd Street
Wausau, WI
tel: 715/842-7171
sweetson3rd@mac.com