{image1}May is here, and the OMC buzz staff has more scoop on what's new and what's next in the Mil. Read on, and use the talkback to share your news tips and reaction.

NO COINS, NO PROBLEM
A new three-month pilot parking meter project accepts Visa and MasterCard credit and debit cards along with coins, making downtown a bit more convenient place to park. Four new multi-space parking meters have been installed on Jefferson Street between Wells and Mason Streets. The old meters were replaced with markers indicating the parking space number. When parking, visitors will go to their designated meter, select their space number and insert coins or a credit card for the desired amount of time. On the east side of Jefferson Street, one meter will accommodate eight parking spaces while the other meter will serve five spaces. On the west side of the street, each meters will accommodate nine spaces. The city has installed signage to inform visitors of the location of the new meters and Public Service Ambassadors will be in the area to assist drivers with the process. Time restrictions and hourly rates do not change under the pilot. The program's effectiveness will be evaluated after the pilot with feedback from users and businesses.

TAKE THE TROLLEY
The Milwaukee Trolley Loop will begin its 20-minute loop throughout downtown, Wednesday, May 26. It will operate from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. Operation of the Milwaukee Trolley Loop will continue through Sunday, September 5 and up to two additional summer seasons. The trolley fare is $1 all day, with half-price fares for senior citizens, children under 12 years old and persons with disabilities.

PLEASE BE CAREFUL
Mary Glorioso of Glorioso's grocery was hit by a car on Brady Street on Saturday, she passed away earlier this week. Say a little prayer, go to the shop and say a kind word and remember to drive slowly though our neighborhoods.

LAKE PARK BISTRO MAKES TOP TEN
Bartolotta's Lake Park Bistro was named one of the "10 great places to dine amid outdoor beauty" by USA Today on April 23. North Pond in Chicago's Lincoln Park also made the list. They were the only two Midwest restaurants on the list.

CARS COMING TO BETTY BRINN
When you visit the Betty Brinn Children's Museum this summer, your kids will have the opportunity to tinker around in a new auto mechanic shop exhibit. The exhibit will open to the public on July 5 and is sponsored by Concourse Motors. It will be a part of A Trading Place, one of the Museum's most popular exhibit areas for children ages 10 and younger. The area's other kid-friendly businesses include a bank, café, farmer's market, shipping dock and post office. Cash registers, pretend money and real working phones that connect the businesses encourage children to learn the basics of commerce as they role-play various occupations and trade goods and services for their hard-earned dollars.

TROCADERO PATIO NOW OPEN
The full Trocadero patio is now open for your enjoyment.

SKATE SHOP COMING TO THE WARD
The Historic Third Ward is getting even more hip as a new skateboard and apparel shop called Moda 3 will open soon.

THE ENCORE IS COMING
Summerfest will host a new end-of-the-summer bash September 2-4 at the Lakefront. It's hard to say goodbye to summer, so "The Encore" -- as the festival has been named -- will help give you move on to autumn. Summerfest organizers also announced a new program, the $5 Big Gig Value Card, that offers an affordable admission option for the 11-day music festival that takes place at Maier Festival Park, Thursday, June 24 through Sunday, July 4. Read OMC daily for details.

ED'S BUZZ
The former Ed Debevik's and Judy's Family Restaurant space on Jefferson Street in the East Town downtown neighborhood will become another restaurant soon and construction has begun. Rumors have the owners of a popular Walker's Point restaurant a part of the new deal.

HE'S ALMOST FREE
Former Milwaukee Alderman Jeff Pawlinski is scheduled for release from federal prison on June 6.

GROCERY BUZZ
The former Kohl's/soon to be upscale Pick 'n Save Marketplace on Van Buren is "is tentatively scheduled to open at the end of June" according to Lori Smith, Manager of Customer Care for Roundy's. Meanwhile, Sentry has taken over the closed Kohl's on 92nd and Lisbon and another Sentry is slated to move into the old Kohl's on KK in Bay View.

VEGAN BUZZ
DFM Productions held the World Premier of the romantic comedy, "How to Live With a Vegan Without Killing Them" on Monday, May 10 at the Rosebud Cinema Drafthouse. Written and Directed by Thomas Koch, "Vegan" is the story about differences in lifestyles and the effect that has on relationships. The film, produced entirely in the Milwaukee area, has been accepted into several film festivals in the United States and Canada. Milwaukee band, Exit, has several songs in the movie.

BAY VIEW BUZZ
Word is that the condo plan for Becher and KK has been sunk, at least temporarily. On the other hand, the retail building with a Starbucks and two eateries is a go for the southeast corner of KK and Oklahoma.

MICKEY D'S GOES HEALTHY
On May 11, McDonald's Restaurants in southeastern Wisconsin began its pr push to lessen the effects of the "Super Size Me" movie by offering free "Step-o-meters" (pedometers) with the purchase of a "Go Active! Happy Meal," which includes any premium salad and a bottle of water or fountain drink. Also included is a "Step with It" booklet, developed by Bob Greene, Oprah's personal trainer (not the newspaper columnist). Through McDonald's "Go Active! Happy Meal," an estimated 10 to 15 million pedometers and walking/fitness booklets will be distributed to Americans.

THE BUCK AND BOZO COME TO TOWN
On Friday May 28, the International Clown Hall of Fame, located in the Plankinton Arcade at the Shops of Grand Avenue, is hosting an induction of the original Bozo the Clown, along with a few others famous cut-ups. The Buzz hears that this is the Academy Awards for the clown world! The event will be at the Tripoli Shrine Temple. There's a cocktail reception, dinner and entertainment from some of the best clowns in the world. Buck Wolf, an entertainment producer at ABC in New York, will host the event. In 1996, the Hall honored Larry Harmon as the first Bozo the Clown, but as Buck Wolf discovered, the Hall got it wrong. You see, Harmon didn't invent Bozo but he was the first to franchise Bozo to TV stations across the country. The true first Bozo the Clown was Pinto Colvig -- best known as the voice of Goofy. He appeared on Bozo childrens' records in 1949 then went on to TV and finally to that great bigtop in the sky in 1967. Wolf stumbled onto the Bozo blunder when he wrote a story referring to Harmon as the first Bozo and readers of his column alerted him to the mistake.

PARROT TO FLY
The Painted Parrot will move from its current location at 81st & Greenfield to 81st & National Avenue at the end of May. They'll open their doors at the new location in early June and have expanded their menu to feature more Caribbean-themed entrees.

KIDS'S ART
First Stage Children’s Theater is offering a unique opportunity to own one or more of the six illustrations gracing the company’s 2003-2004 season brochure. First Stage is now holding an online auction through midnight on Thursday, May 27. The auction can be accessed at firststagedev.e-net.com Proceeds from the auction will benefit First Stage’s arts and education programs. The artwork was designed by Oakland, Cal. artist Carol Aust. Each piece measures 12 x 18 inches, and is comprised of acrylic paints on wood panels. Aust’s work, which is displayed in private collections throughout the United States, consistently features strong and vibrant colors, along with figures that are both engaging and vulnerable. The art is currently on display at the Katie Gingrass Gallery, located in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward at 241 N. Broadway.

NEW OWNERS FOR THE BIG CUP
The Milwaukee Coffee Co. (Blue Dawg Bagels) on 50th & Vliet has been purchased. Details as we get them.

PANCAKES FOR EVERYONE
The Original Pancake House is opening at 16460 W. Bluemound Rd. They have locations in Madison and Monona, and 23 other states, now. The Original Pancake House was founded in Portland in 1953 by Les Highet and Erma Hueneke.

MORE MIMMAS FOR EVERYONE, TOO
The Megna family is opening Vuttceria Pizzeria on Brady Street in early June. It's shaping up to be a very modern design with a wood fire oven and an imported Italian Pizza Chef.

TENT SALE
This year, Milwaukee shoe manufacturer Allen-Edmonds will hold its Tent Sale from June 10 to 20. Since the Tent Sale began 20 years ago, Allen-Edmonds has held the annual event around the Fourth of July holiday. This year, the company decided to change the dates in an effort to avoid the busy traveling holiday. Good call.

GOT A GARDEN?
The Brady Street Area Association will sponsor a neighborhood garden tour later this summer and is currently looking for gardeners in the area who want to participate. Please call for more information, (414) 271-1244.

NEW STEAKS FOR YOU
A new steakhouse is said to be moving into the Cathedral Place building at 545 E. Wells St. We'll keep you updated as our reporters learn more.

FAMOUS
Famous Footwear is the latest new tenant announcement for the Shops of Grand Avenue. It should open later this summer.

UWM SOCCER SET TO TRAVEL
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team takes its show overseas this summer for the program's first-ever European Tour. On May 24 the Panthers travel to the Czech Republic and Germany for a 10-game stint versus some of the top teams in the two nations. In addition to the games and training, UWM will do some sightseeing in the region. Good luck to head coach Louis Bennett and his team.

WINGTOUR
Milwaukeewingtour.com is a new addition to the city's Web work. It's co-founder Tara Pfeifer tell us that "It's a place for wing consumers to go and find honest, informative reviews of wings at taverns and restaurants around the Milwaukee metro area."

HOP EXPANSION
The Wicked Hop, on the corner of St. Paul and Broadway in the Historic Third Ward, is off to a great start and it's already looking to grow. The place is packed nearly everyday, and the owners are quickly expanding into the vacant space just south of their new restaurant and bar.

FADO
Cristina Branco, Portugal's foremost fado singer and her band, along with Canadian singer songwriter Jane Siberry, will fill the Pabst Theater with their amazing voices on Friday, October 8 at 8 p.m. Tickets go on sale Friday, May 21 at noon at the Pabst Theater Box Office or by calling (414) 286-3663. Fado is roughly the musical equivalent to the American blues. Usually a single voice bewails the vagaries of fate -- particularly the fickleness of lovers -- accompanied by one or two acoustic guitars. Like the blues, the expression of sorrow in fado offers the performer and audience a sense of cathartic release. Fado melodies often merge Arabic influences (that traveled from North Africa into Portugal during the Middle Ages) with characteristics found in indigenous Portuguese and Spanish folk music.