Moda3, the lifestyle shop at 320 E. Buffalo St. in the Third Ward, dumps 50,000 lbs. of snow on the streets on Sept. 22 for its annual "Boardfest."
Pro snowboarders JP Solbberg, Danny Davis, Pat Moore, Travis Kennedy, Joey Sexon, Simon Chamberlain and others will be in town for the event which will feature snowboard rail and open skate competitions, food, drink, a huge sale and a fashion show from Burton.
Boardfest is one of the city's coolest events, and nothing brings suburban kids and their families to Downtown like Moda3. Check it out.
On the East Side that same day, tomatoes will fly as the new "Tomato Romp" takes to the streets.
A big Best Bloody Mary competition, plein air artists, salsa and marinara tastings, and a Spain-style rotten tomato fight are just a few of the activities planned for Tomato Romp! on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Perfectly, it's presented by Maglio & Company and proudly sponsored by OnMilwaukee.com.
The day kicks off at 11 a.m. with the regular East Side Market and the first ever North Avenue Bloody Mary Competition, featuring the neighborhood's favorite bars and restaurants. Those of you who are legal drinking age can purchase an official Tomato Romp!
Bloody Mary punch card at The East Side Market and receive a free 7-oz. sample from each participating bar (10 bars are already confirmed) and a beer chaser from Lake front Brewery. Judging takes place at 3 p.m. with the crowning of North Avenue's Bloody Mary Champion and the fan favorite.
The Second Annual East Side Plein Air Art Competition runs from 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. All participating artists will be asked to paint a unique east side scene "en plein air." Paintings will be auctioned off and on display at Beans and Barley through Oct. 2.
Tomato Romp! is an official "Harvest for the Hungry" donation site for Second Harvest Wisconsin. You are to donate excess produce to Second Harvest Wisconsin. The Second Harvest truck will be at the festival from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Of course non-perishable food items are also encouraged.
Throughout the day the sidewalks will be filled with various buskers and tomato themed theater groups, including Milwaukee-based Insurgent Theater who will be entertaining crowds with a menu of Shakespearian sonnets, monologues and of course tomato throwing!
The day caps off with a smaller version of La Tomatina, Spain's annual rotten tomato fight at 3:30 p.m. This should be awesome! The fight takes places in the parking lot between Von Trier and Beans and Barley. Safety goggles and a waiver are required. Up to 60 goggles will be made available, so get there early.
And, before you start to freak out please know that the tomatoes to be used will be rotten, they will stain, might smell but no edible food will be wasted in this sure to be crazy East Side brawl.
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.
