University Square bar could be doomed

Johnny O’s has been dealt strike one (or two), Kollege Klub is on the ropes – where will the Coasties go next? If they knew what was good for them they’d be lobbying Ald. Michael Schumacher, a member of the Alcohol License Review Committee who opposes the creation of a new bar at University Square…right next door to Lucky Apartments.

I discussed the matter with Schumacher yesterday. Schumacher not only opposed the original plan – an enormous restaurant/sports bar with a capacity of 900 – but he was one of two members of the ALRC  to vote against “referral,” meaning he did not believe that Scott Acker, the developer, could amend the plan to comply with his demands.

Schumacher has only one demand and it’s very simple: That there be no bar at University Square. There can be a restaurant. It can stay open until 2 a.m. It can serve liquor. But it can’t be a bar and it can’t generate the majority of its revenue from alcohol sales. Part of this opposition is rooted in a legal obligation to abide by the city’s alcohol license density plan, which was enacted in 2007. However, Schumacer was a vocal supporter of the density plan and its goals in the first place, so repeal of the ordinance would be unlikely to sway his vote.

Bryon Eagon, an alder who does not sit on ALRC but as a student representative naturally has a great interest in alcohol issues, supports the restaurant, and is perhaps referring to it as such with the knowledge that opponents such as Schumacher support more eateries, just not more watering holes. Obviously Schumacher is not going to bite – he’s looked at the guy’s plan and he told me he doesn’t think the economics of the place clearly spell out a bar operation – a place that becomes a drinking spot at night and closes at 2. Drink specials, loud music etc.

Interesting, Eagon is either ignoring that reality or he believes Acker can do what’s necessary to make it a restaurant, not a bar.

The project designed in the U Square space is not a bar, it is a restaurant before all else. Will it serve alcohol? Yes, but in order to receive the alcohol license, the operation has to follow the percentage of food vs. alcohol sales that requires more food than booze. I really think that what will draw patrons to this space will be atmosphere and games first, food second, and alcohol third.

Yes but a capacity of 900, dependent on Badger sporting events? Sounds tough to swing. There has to be some other way for them to make money, and long island iced tea specials for the girls at Kappa Delta will likely bring in more cheddar than all the cheddar cheese curds sold to Sconnie families after football games.

But Eagon has a strong argument nonetheless, which appeals to any person who has been under 21 in Madison and lacked the sufficiently credible fake ID or the sufficiently feminine figure necessary to enter many-a-light night establishments:

This restaurant would provide a safe and fun place for the thousands of 18-20 year olds in the campus area to hang out, especially late night. 18-20 year old students need options. Those in that age range have severely limited options if they want to hang out with friends in a social atmosphere, with many choosing behind the closed doors of dorm rooms and in the crowed apartments or basements in off campus houses or apartments.

I remember feeling in many instances that people forget what being underage is like the day they turn 21. Or how frustrating it can still be when you’re 21 but many of your friends still aren’t. People who complain about it are derided as having alcohol-centric social lives, but it’s not about the alcohol, it’s about the socializing. Especially in the winter, when you’re cooped up in your apartment or dorm all the time – you just want some place to go and get out, and unfortunately almost all places are closed off to minors (meaning minors who can serve in war and vote) after 9 pm.

(Some) Lutherans allow gay pastors

A very influential church in Wisconsin:

The national assembly of the 4.7 million-member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, meeting in Minneapolis, gave local congregations the authority to choose pastors or lay leaders who are in “lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships.”

This will likely be included in history books written on the gay rights movement. It is yet another signal sent by moderates throughout the Midwest that gay-bashing is a thing of the past, or rather, a thing of the South.

Wisconsin Republicans are unreasonable, and they have been for more than a generation, however, they cannot help but acknowledge that homophobia is beginning to drive voters to their opponents. In next year’s gubernatorial primary, I would be surprised if their is more than a token reference to “the defense of marriage” or whatever other euphemisms the Republican Party has used to say “God hates fags” in the past.

While southern Baptists and Pentecostals will continue to demagogue on sexuality, mainstream Protestant churches are moving away from the issue, correctly identifying it as an issue that is driving young people away from churches.

Lutherans across the nation are commenting on the decision, some optimistically, and some less so.

Saturday Brunch

Should be a beautiful weekend in Madison – high of 70 today and a high of 76 tomorrow. Gets a little chillier at night though, at 47 and 54, respectively. The Brewers are in fourth place. A greasy brunch for that hangover.

How did Lincoln land on Bascom?

Journal Sentinel notes that Latino groups have come out in support of Doyle and Barrett’s takeover plan for the Milwaukee public schools.

Uh oh, Obama is considering “Loophole Louie” for a federal judgeship. Who will WMC forward the slime campaign to?

Fox Valley health executives don’t favor the public option. Stunning…you’d almost be lead to think their profits are their priorities.

Another state senator is considering a run for Lt. Governor.

Bars: The Plaza

How cliché. I went to the Plaza for the first time since moving in practically next door and who do I run into other than Danny Spirn of the Critical Badger and Mac Verstandig, the flamboyantly right wing former editor-in-chief of the Badger Herald. After reminding Verstandig about the last time I had seen him – which featured Verstanding in a new McCain-Palin polo, pontificating to the herald office about Florida’s unbreakably red character – I went to the bar to inquire about drink specials, but more importantly, the famous Plaza burger.

Drink specials weren’t that bad. Top-o-the-line rum cocktails for $2.50 on a Tuesday night and $2 off pitchers. Top shelf rum is cool, but when you offer that deal, it makes a guy like me imagine an even cheaper drink with rail rum. Just a suggestion. I think I’m going to make that one in person as well, since the staff seemed very friendly – and oddly sophisticated.

The burger was pretty good, although it’s not very big. There’s some kind of ranch sauce they put on it. The Plaza definitely has cheap bar food, which, believe it or not, is something that quite a few Madison bars lack.

During the day the inside of the bar is an eye sore. A long hall of white floor, almost completely devoid of sunlight. But at night there’s something that happens to the Plaza that brings out a certain charm that apparently has worked for decades. It’s garnered somewhat of a cult status in certain Madison circles, as noted by the Critical Badger.

Good food, good drinks, good people. Now that Ramhead is closed, I can comfortably say the Plaza is the best bar on my block.

Trains for Madison

I don’t want no bus, a bus is a ride that can’t get no love from me.

It seems as if the debate has come down to that dichotomy, with rail advocates yearning for a European style system of efficiency and clean air, and others who believe that adding buses is a more realistic way to work within the current framework of regional infrastructure.

Brenda Konkel, a model citizen reporter, attended the Public Works and Transportation Committee meeting of the County Board, which is currently debating whether or not to levy a sales tax to fund a regional transportation authority. Actually, the question at hand is whether to put that question to the voters, through a referendum.

Is this the kind of issue that is dealt with best by the people? What do you think? Are the people of Dane County intelligent enough to evaluate the merits of public transport? Are you? Am I?

Brunch Links

Late today – I apologize.

The Sconz breaking story on the Credit Union robbery has now reached the press.

First off, it looks like a new development in the search for a Lieutenant Governor. Ald. Tony Zielinksi has at least temporarily taken the spotlight off State Sen. Lena Taylor, who is rumored to be interested in running.

The Progressive Magazine, in print for over 100 years, is facing insolvency, and is asking for contributions.

Chamber of Commerce supports Edgewater development – I’m stunned.

Van Hollen, sticking to his GOP guns, will not represent the state to uphold the domestic partnership registry recently put in place.

And Tommy Thompson still hasn’t ruled out running for governor himself.

About lieutenant governor..

Let’s be fair. But, let’s also take this excerpt from Milwaukee Magazine into consideration when evaluating Lena Taylor’s possible candidacy for lieutenant governor:

She’s no Gwen Moore, who, despite her occasionally rancorous style, was “brilliant and knew state law back to front,” says an admiring staffer. With Moore’s promotion to Congress, Taylor stepped up to the state Senate from the Assembly. Too bad for Milwaukee.

“She has absolutely no depth of understanding,” says a conservative-minded lobbyist. “And she’s tiresome. It’s just awful to have to listen to her talk and talk.” A liberal-minded lobbyist calls her “bombastic and egotistical. You can’t have a conversation without her reminding you she’s an attorney.”

A veteran trade group representative faults Taylor for “never stopping to understand the issue, because she already has the answer.” She’s “all bluster, with no substance,” says another observer.

Rumors are that Taylor could be vying for the LG spot now that Lawton is officially declared for governor.

UW CREDIT UNION ROBBED

According to a source of mine the UW credit union on State St was robbed.

The extent of the damage is not yet known. More later.

UPDATE: The branch has been closed for the day.

The Badger Herald has come out with more on the story.

Why kids should be allowed in bars

I know I’m not going to win a lot of sympathy with that headline, but I had to catch your attention somehow.

The other day I was in the Red Shed bar and I witnessed what I thought was beautiful tapestry of American drinking contradictions. Although it was a Tuesday night the bartender took the carding process very seriously. He put our IDs under a light and studied it for a good 20 seconds before OKing me. Not the kind of treatment you expect from a bar that appears from the outside to still be stuck in Prohibition. Several minutes later a group of about 6-7 people came in, led by a visibly inebriated girl with a Happy B-Day button on. It was her 21st, she announced to the bar. She was accompanied by her parents and several friends. After doing the free shot with her parents, she realized that the Red Shed was the place she had taken her first shot – at her grandmother’s bachelorette party. What did it taste like, asked the bartender. “I don’t remember,” responded the girl. “I was so little.”

Wisconsin law currently provides no drinking age for kids accompanied by parents in a bar or restaurant. Unlike most other states in the country, a teen in Wisconsin can be legally “taught” how to drink, which, contrary to popular belief, is actually possible.

However, new legislation proposed by State Sen. Judy Robson (D-Janesville), will eliminate the right of minors under 18 to be served in public. Some say the law should go further, and make it illegal for anyone under 21 to be served.

Raising the age to 18 wouldn’t be the worst thing – 18 is what the real drinking age should be anyway. Laws do make a difference in affecting drinking attitudes, however, not in the way they’re supposed to. In Wisconsin, I believe that if any law has adversely affected drinking attitudes among young people, it is the 21 drinking age, not the nonexistant drinking age for minors with parents.

The illegality of alcohol for young people, even those old enough to be tried as adults for alcohol-related offenses, ironically forces alcohol onto thousands of college kids who would probably choose more moderate courses of social life under a more rational system. Alcohol is badass – it’s what the cool kids in high school did. That’s at least what every not-cool kid in high school understands, which is why he is more determined than ever to drink when he gets to college. There was perhaps no better feeling than leading a group of guys from my floor up State St. to Badger liquor my first night of college life. I was the guy with the fake ID – the hero gathering resources for the party.

Every other first world nation has a lower drinking age, and that isn’t even the most convincing proof that a lower one could work better. Look at the binge drinking rates over the last two decades – they’ve risen. The drunk driving deaths have simultaneously fallen but guess what else has risen drastically? Seat-belt use, airbags, drunk driving penalties and drunk driving arrests. 30 years ago you had to practically beg to go to jail in Wisconsin for drunk driving. Our five convictions required for a felony was cruel and unusual compared to the seven needed until the late 90’s.

We have always had drinking problems in Wisconsin – but those are fought by encouraging responsibility and punishing those who act irresponsibly. Our current system does exactly the opposite, and Judy Robson’s law will only exacerbate the imbalance. Parents who take their teens to wine tastings should not be decried for encouraging alcoholism, but lauded for encouraging moderation.

Brunch Links

Good morning Wisconsin! For the next couple days you’ll be getting your dose of Madison from New Jersey, where the Sconz was actually started nearly three months ago.Today we’ve got some Huveos Rancheros, with what I believe is a margarita in the background. It’s 11 AM somewhere.

CFACT, a group of right wing lunatics, sues UW after being denied funds. They have also won the representation of the Alliance Defense Fund.

Super mayor emerges from hospital (is “hospitalized superhero” an oxymoron?) and says he’s no hero.

Dan Kapanke, the state rep running to unseat Rep. Ron Kind, continues to face a barrage of ethics complaints from the Democratic Party. “It is becoming a distraction.”

Drinking with parents at age 14 may soon be history in Wisconsin.

Smoking ban exemption for a Hookah bar?