Keep your flash mobs, I prefer the idea of the Cash Mob. That's an event where folks get out and support local businesses by opening their wallets.
Occupy Riverwest is going to "cash mob" (if that's a verb) two indie booksellers – People's Books Co-op, 2122 E. Locust St., and Woodland Pattern Book Center, 720 E. Locust St. – today from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
According to the event's Facebook page, "We will be appearing to spend our hard earned money comfortably knowing that when we spend money at a small locally owned business the likelihood of those dollars staying in the community in which they were spent are far greater than if we spend them at a big box retailer."
As someone who has spent all but a couple years of my life working at locally owned indie businesses, I think this is a fabulous idea.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
