EVENTS ABOUND THIS WEEK

Dear Readers --

Let's take a moment off work to plot events outside the realm of football. The town is buzzing with them, particularly in the political precincts.
This evening, Monday, January 14th, 2008, Third District Aldermanic Candidate Sam McGovern-Rowen will have a "meet-and-greet" at Regano's Roman Coin, 1004 E. Brady St. Sixth District residents, on the other hand, should head out to the Department of Natural Resources building at 2300 N. Martin Luther King Dr. for a forum of candidates there -- minus the guy who's in jail! ... The next day Sebastian Raclaw welcomes County Executive Scott Walker to a fundraiser for Raclaw's county board quest at Tutto, the new spot at 1033 N. Old World Third St. .... Once that's over, slip down to the Historic Third Ward, where Soho 7 True Lounge will have its grand opening after 7 p.m. at 231 E. Buffalo St.. ... That brings us to January 16th, 2008, when there will be a Third District forum at the Miramar Theatre, 2844 N. Oakland Avenue, which should find us in good spirits for Pedro Colon's gig on the 17th at Moct, 240 E. Pittsburgh St. Earlier that day, convicted embezzler Andrew Bandy is to be sentenced (finally!) in U. S. District Court downtown. Then, the next day is Gallery Night, when we all can have some fun! ... Hollywood star Wesley Snipes has hired Milwaukee attorney Robert G. Banhoft to defend him at trial for refusing to pay taxes on $38 million of income earned from 1999 to 2004, according to the New York Times. Banhoft, who has a valid Wisconsin license to practice law, has been banned by court order from selling a program that he claims is a legal means for anybody to refuse to pay income taxes. This should be odd. ... There was a shooting over the weekend at "Private X Club" in the 500 block of N. Water St. That club sprang out of nowhere, and is destined to return to its origins. I walked by Friday evening, several hours before shootin' time, and a number of hours before opening time. The place had blacked out windows, except for a sign with severe restrictions as to the proper attire and demeanor expected of its customers, phrased in the negative. No Hats, No Gang Signs, No T-Shirts, No Team Apparel, No -- no! I have generally found that any club that needs to tell me how I may not wear my hat, trousers, shirt, shoes, etc. probably could do just as well without my business. Certainly I can attribute at least part of my longevity to knowing which clubs are more likely than others to erupt into gunfire. This one, despite being located right downtown, had all the markings. It's a shame that a place like this is on the very same block as a number of excellent taverns that have never caused problems for anybody, ever.
--Michael Horne