First, thank you for reading and trusting OnMilwaukee in 2015. We work hard to deliver great content and amazing digital service and products. 2015 was our best year to date, and we truly came into our own winning "Best Digital Magazine" and driving record revenue as a strategic hub for digital solutions in any market and on any site.
Enough, though, of my promotional banter. It’s time for the year in review piece. I live my life, as much as I can, in this order: faith, family, friends, Milwaukee, Marquette and the Bucks. That list pretty much covers it all, and 2015 saw many highlights, big stories and big events, that included those things. I loved it.
Here are some of 2015 moments and stuff that, I think, we should all remember.
Concert: Keith Urban was amazing at Summerfest. Just him and four musicians and a night of great country and rock and roll. Garth was great, the Stones were here, Darlene Love rocked it at age 74 on the Marcus Center stage, and the Milwaukee Theatre toasted Merle and Willie. But for me, Keith Urban’s show stood out.
(PHOTO: zaitzphotography.com)
TV: "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" had another great season on HBO, but "Master of None" was easily the best new series. Watch it on Netflix.
Books: I really enjoyed "Creativity, Inc." and Ethan Hawke’s "Rules for a Knight" is a great read – and an even better gift for anyone, anytime.
Developments: The arena moved forward. Transportation did too, while Marquette University continued its community march with major land acquisitions and the announcement of a new sports medicine complex.
Media make over: What’s happening at The Washington Post is really impressive. Great on mobile, engagingly well done on its app and a new mix of highly readable content everywhere. Kudos, Jeff Bezos and company.
App: It's the most convenient new app on my phone, so I love the MKE Parking app.
Passings: Rest in peace, Marc Marotta, Don Walker, Steve Eichenbaum and Jim Tietjen. You all served this world and our greater Milwaukee community in wonderful ways. You’re all missed each and every day.
Potential game changer Downtown: The October sale of the Downtown Milwaukee U.S. Postal Service building.
Feel good list to end the year: Milwaukee making a list of only 10 "hot travel destinations" for 2016. I love it!
Good/"bad" news of the year: I really love Waxwing. It’s a great place to buy gifts. But part of what I love is that it's small and easy to find something cool and then quickly move on with my day. This year, the store announced that it’s moving to a much larger space. I'm sure it will be a good move for the owner, but I’ll miss the cozy nature and selfishly the easy access to Draft & Vessel next door. I do, of course, wish the new Waxwing all the best and still look forward to shopping there in 2016.
Movie: "Inside Out." So very good. Kudos, Pixar.
Gadget I fell in love with: I love my PopSocket, an expanding phone grip and phone stand. So does my phone.
New sign: The Riverside Theater sign does Milwaukee and Wisconsin Avenue proud. Love it.
Best new Downtown lunch line: Xankia. Go if you haven’t. It’s great.
Until next year, cheers!
A life-long and passionate community leader and Milwaukeean, Jeff Sherman is a co-founder of OnMilwaukee.
He grew up in Wauwatosa and graduated from Marquette University, as a Warrior. He holds an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University, and is the founding president of Young Professionals of Milwaukee (YPM)/Fuel Milwaukee.
Early in his career, Sherman was one of youngest members of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, and currently is involved in numerous civic and community groups - including board positions at The Wisconsin Center District, Wisconsin Club and Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. He's honored to have been named to The Business Journal's "30 under 30" and Milwaukee Magazine's "35 under 35" lists.
He owns a condo in Downtown and lives in greater Milwaukee with his wife Stephanie, his son, Jake, and daughter Pierce. He's a political, music, sports and news junkie and thinks, for what it's worth, that all new movies should be released in theaters, on demand, online and on DVD simultaneously.
He also thinks you should read OnMilwaukee each and every day.
