Yesterday I got an instant message from a former co-worker who now lives in Williamsburg in Brooklyn.
"I've found a bar in Brooklyn that gets Lakefront on tap," he wrote. "They get miscellaneous beers from their distributor, so they give me a heads up whenever its Lakefront."
So, I checked out the Web site for The Habitat, 988 Manhattan Ave., in Greenpoint and I found this outdoor, hunting lodge-style bar, which also serves American-style, small-plate dishes and hosts seasonal events like Oktoberfest, a chili cookoff and does up a faux cabin façade as a gingerbread house at Christmas.
Co-owner Nicole Orlando says that The Habitat customers are grooving on Lakefront these days.
"We are currently pouring Lakefront White and so far it is selling decently," she says via e-mail. "We have previously poured Lakefront IPA which was very popular -- a personal favorite of mine -- and also the Snakechaser Stout, also pretty popular."
She also confirms that her beer supplier has been key in introducing Brooklyn to Lakefront.
"We change our (12) taps often but our rep from American Beer always recommends (Lakefront) beers. He knows his beer well so we always trust his judgment. To be honest, people are usually familiar with Lakefront so it is obviously a recognizable brewery out here."
So, if you find yourself out in the Big Apple craving a taste of Commerce Street, check out The Habitat.
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.
