Imagination gains elasticity. Canvassing and voting. Tim Walz rally in Racine. ‘John McGivern’s Main Streets’ (with Emmy Fink). Michelle Obama’s speech in Kalamazoo. ‘His Three Daughters’ (2023).
Another Week: Number 96
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Racine
Here is a list of content tagged “Racine” on MarkCz.com.
Another Week: Number 28
Fireworks are illegal in Wisconsin, ‘John Early: Now More Than Ever,’ ‘Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind’ (2020), Cocaine Bear (2023)
McDonald’s mobile app misery
I don't eat at McDonald's often, but it does hold that promise of convenience when I'm driving from A to B and need something in my stomach fast. Usually these days I order via the McDonald's mobile app, which can be handy when their system works. Sometimes, though,...
More activities as cancer treatments drift into past
While putting the video together for this blog post, I was really surprised to see just how much we have been doing lately. A year ago we were just starting out with our weekly visits for treatments and doctors appointments. It’s hard to believe that that is all behind us. I feel like things are starting to get back to normal.
Party on the Pavement: Ferris wheel, Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin — Ferris wheel on Main Street at 6th Street in downtown Racine during the annual Party on the Pavement street festival. Dewey's Restaurant & Sports Bar is on the opposite corner.
SC Johnson headquarters tour, Racine, Wisconsin
The SC Johnson headquarters in Racine, Wisconsin is a peculiar little enclave. The company's heritage campus includes its iconic, Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Research Tower and Administration Building, as well as the Golden Rondelle Theater, transplanted from the...
Radiation therapy, First Fridays, Marc Maron
I have 17 of my 30 radiation therapy treatments done. So far things haven’t been too bad. I have just the slightest little bit of pinkness starting on my skin. During radiation therapy, it’s important to keep your skin moisturized. As soon as each treatment is done, I apply cream to the radiated area.
Family stickers on car window: 1 woman, 1 dog, 20 cats
Sturtevant, Wisconsin — Family stickers on a car window in the Walmart parking lot: One woman, one dog, 20 cats.
Mitchell School fire in Racine, Wisconsin: Video, photos
Amy was already up at 2 a.m. when the fire truck horns started blasting down our street. Mitchell School was on fire. Mitchell School and Mitchell School are co-located. The entrance to Mitchell Middle School is on Drexel Ave. at Webster St. Just south of that...
Gast & Sons power equipment, Caledonia, Wisconsin
Caledonia, Wisconsin — Gast & Sons power equipment shop at 111 6 Mile Rd., with the setting sun reflecting off a window. Gast & Sons offers sales and service of Gravely and Simplicity tractors and mowers, plus...
First Friday on Main Street, Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin — Main Street, looking north from 5th Street, during the monthly First Fridays event in downtown Racine.
Racine Art Museum: Free First Fridays
Racine, Wisconsin — Visitors investigate the Racine Art Museum during Free First Fridays hours on an August evening. First Fridays is a monthly event in downtown Racine, during which admission to the art museum is free of...
Christmas decorations: Candy cane lights, Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin — Candy cane lights line the driveway of a home decorated for Christmas in the 2600 block of Northwestern Ave., near the RAM's Wustum Museum of Fine Arts.
Wind Point from North Beach Park, Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin — Wind Point, with its white Wind Point Lighthouse at far right, as seen looking north in the morning light from the Lake Michigan Pathway at the north end of North Beach Park, near Michigan Blvd. and Yout...
Beachside Oasis mural ‘Fiesta,’ Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin — West facade of Beachside Oasis (formerly North Beach Oasis) at 100 Kewaunee St. in Racine's North Beach Park on the Lake Michigan shore, featuring a Latino-themed mural entitled "Fiesta." The mural was...
Racine’s Main Street bridge closing for 4 months
The Main Street bridge at the north end of downtown Racine will be closed for four months — December, January, February, and March — beginning this Friday, November 30, according to a Journal Times story. The bridge needs a protective coat of paint, which it last...
Racine on TV: ‘Around the Corner with John McGivern’
For a few months now, we've been watching Around the Corner with John McGivern on Milwaukee Public Television. It usually airs Thursday nights at 7:30 on WMVS Channel 10, and Friday nights at 8:00 on WMVT Channel 36. The show is a breezy...
Daffodils sprouting in Wisconsin in mid-February
Racine, Wisconsin — Daffodil (Narcissus) sprouts thrust out from the soil in my yard near the end of our extremely mild winter.
Abandoned Haunted House Complex, I-94, Racine County
Sturtevant, Wisconsin — The former Vance's Bar along I-94/U.S. Route 41 at 2825 SE Frontage Road, which John D. Vance started as an auto repair garage after buying the land in 1948. An addition opened as a beer joint called...
Racine history: 1861 Joshua Pierce home
We were talking gardening with our neighbor Katie last month when she mentioned that her daughter, Mary, has an interest in Racine history and has been researching our neighborhood's past online. I handed Katie my business card and told her I would be very interested...
Historic house: Joshua Pierce House, Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin — The Joshua Pierce House at 2800 Taylor Ave. Built in 1860-1861 in what was then Mount Pleasant, this "large and beautiful home” is where Pierce, a "thrifty farmer" and Mount Pleasant's road commissioner,...
Joshua Pierce House from Pierce Boulevard, Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin — The Joshua Pierce House at 2800 Taylor Ave., viewed from Pierce Boulevard to the home's north. Built in 1860-1861 in what was then Mount Pleasant, this "large and beautiful home” is where Pierce, a...
White-tailed deer at Mitchell School, Racine Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin — A pair of white-tailed deer stands at the corner of Webster Street and Drexel Avenue in front of Mitchell School. They came east from Taylor Avenue, wandered around a few backyards on Webster Street and...
White-tailed deer crossing Racine, Wisconsin street
Racine, Wisconsin — A pair of white-tailed deer cross the 2800 block of Webster Street on a Saturday morning. They came east from Taylor Avenue, wandered around Mitchell School for a while, and eventually headed back west...
Joseph and Mary in melting snow, Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin — The heads and shoulders of Joseph and Mary emerge as snow melts around a plastic outdoor nativity set in front of a house on Pierce Boulevard on the eve of Valentine's Day — two weeks after the "Blizzard...
Blizzard of 2011: Snow storm video, Racine, Wisconsin
Here's our YouTube video of the Blizzard of 2011 as we experienced it here in Racine, Wisconsin. 23.5 inches of snow fell here from Tuesday evening until Wednesday morning (February 1st and 2nd), the greatest snowfall anywhere from this storm. If we sound dead tired,...
Blizzard of 2011 – Racine, Wisconsin: First video
Here is our first look at the results of the Blizzard of 2011. (We have since posted a more complete Blizzard of 2011 video.) This clip was shot at about 7:45 this morning from one of our bedroom windows, near Mitchell School in...
Blizzard of 2011 vs. snowblower, Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin — Using a snow thrower to cut paths to nearby houses, our neighbor Tim begins to plow through the record snowfall that piled up during the Blizzard of 2011, just one snowstorm in our cold and snowy...
Pumpkins for sale, Racine County, Wisconsin
Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin — Pumpkins, fresh from the pumpkin patch, for sale a week before Halloween at the roadside stand of Piper Farms, LLC, 4615 Lathrop Ave. in Racine County.
Organic produce: Piper Farms roadside stand, Wisconsin
Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin — Organically grown produce for sale in Racine County at Piper Farms, LLC, 4615 Lathrop Ave. Pumpkins, squash, fingerling potatoes, and sweet potatoes are available at this roadside stand.
Ernst Klinkert Barn, Piper Farms vineyards in Racine County
Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin — The Ernst Klinkert Barn is seen from a distance, beyond the vineyards of Piper Farms, LLC, 4615 Lathrop Ave. in Racine County. The Bluegrass style barn was built in 1889 by Racine brewery owner...
Leaf collection? Mulch leaves into lawn, garden beds
Fall leaf collection is very peculiar here in Racine, Wisconsin. People rake or blow their leaves into rough piles in the street which sit there for days or weeks. At some point, a front-end loader may or may not come by to scoop the leaves into a garbage truck....
Antique farm equipment: 1915 Belle City threshing machine
When we attended the annual Kenosha County Dairy Breakfast back on June 19, I was fascinated by this piece of antique farm equipment — a 1915 Belle City threshing machine. I uploaded a couple of still photos of the overall threshing machine (seen above) and its "Belle...
Mitchell Middle School double rainbow, Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin — A double rainbow shines over Mitchell School's west entrance and American flag following a summer rain shower.
President Obama in Racine, Wisconsin
When news broke last weekend that President Barack Obama would be holding a town hall meeting here in Racine on June 30, the area media struggled to understand its purpose. On a national level, there is currently no sharper political analyst than MSNBC's Rachel...
President Barack Obama, Memorial Hall, Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin — President Barack Obama answers a question during his town hall meeting at Memorial Hall. See also: My blog post and videos.
Memorial Hall: President Barack Obama in Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin — An audience at Memorial Hall listens to President Barack Obama during his town hall meeting. See also: My blog post and videos.
Air Force One from Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin — Air Force One, as seen from Lake Ave. near 7th St. outside Memorial Hall, about 90 minutes before President Obama's town hall meeting here. [includeme...
Belle City logo on antique threshing machine
Brighton, Wisconsin — 1915 Belle City threshing machine displayed during the 2010 Kenosha County Dairy Breakfast at Crane Dairy, This threshing machine, along with other farm equipment, was manufactured by the Belle City...
Mitchell School, Racine: Hoar frost and American flag
Racine, Wisconsin — Hoar frost covers trees at Mitchell school on a cold January morning.
Bull Durham ghost sign: Belle Harbor Lofts, Racine
Racine, Wisconsin — Faded Bull Durham smoking tobacco wall ad on the north side of Bell Harbor Lofts Apartments, 134 Main St. in downtown Racine.
Reefpoint Marina, Racine, Wisconsin: Fuel dock
Racine, Wisconsin — Fuel dock at Reefpoint Marina on Lake Michigan.
4th of July parade video: Racine, Wisconsin 4th Fest Parade
The 4th of July parade video above was shot entirely on a Flip Ultra HD and edited with iMovie HD 6. For best viewing, click the full-screen button and set the quality to 720p HD. There was something about this year's Fourth Fest Parade that was absolutely...
Beach volleyball: Racine’s North Beach hosts EVP Tour Saturday
Note: This post pertains to a June, 2009 beach volleyball event at Racine's North Beach. For listings of current and upcoming Racine-area events, please see our Calendar of Events & Festivals. We were standing near a couple of the...
Pancake Day / Lakefront Artist Fair in Racine, Wisconsin
Update: Since this post was written — in advance of Pancake Day 2009 — the Kiwanis Club of Greater Racine has established a Facebook page with information about Pancake Day, which wiil be held on Saturday, May 2, 2015 (it's always on the first Saturday in May). For a...
Out of the Pan Cafe & Catering, Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin — Restaurant interior: Out of the Pan Cafe & Catering at 550 State St.
Deli Station: Racine’s new Jewish-European delicatessen
Update: Deli Station is closed Deli Station closed in late January, 2010. See the Journal Times story and the LTHForum.com discussion for more information. You can now get a delicious Peppered Beef sandwich in Racine, Wisconsin. The Corned Beef is just as good,...
Snow in Wisconsin: December 19, 2008
This was the view outside my window at about 9:20 this morning. I think I'm going to send it to Charles Osgood and ask him to use it as the last minute of this week's CBS Sunday Morning. The snow has since stopped, so now we're going...
Early voting in Racine
I voted. Amy voted too. We voted early. We have been receiving the notices from the Obama campaign and seeing how they urge people to vote early. They even have a Web site, VoteForChange.com, to help Americans find out how to vote early. Still, I wasn't completely...
ABC World News: Racine, Wisconsin’s minute in spotlight
ABC's ABC World News with Charles Gibson devoted this past week to a "Great American Battleground Bus Tour" gimmick which purported to give Gibson and his viewers insight into real, live heartland voters in cities like Dayton, Bowling Green, Indianapolis, Davenport —...
Apple orchard near Burlington, WI: Brightonwoods Orchard
Just a quick reminder that we're now well into apple season, and that one of the best places in our area to experience this fleeting magnificence is Brightonwoods Orchard near Burlington, Wisconsin. Brightonwoods is not an orchard you...
Women’s beach volleyball, North Beach, Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin — Women's beach volleyball pros compete at Racine's North Beach Oasis during the 2008 Extreme Volleyball Professionals (EVP) Pro Tour World Championships. [includeme...
Geranium greenhouse, Mileager’s, Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin — At Milaeger's garden center, a greenhouse full of red and pink geraniums just beginning to bloom.
Olde Madrid: Racine, WI restaurant offers tapas, paella
Olde Madrid (OldeMadrid.com) 418 6th St. Racine, WI 53403-1218 (262) 619-0940 Having enjoyed tapas and paella over the years at Don Quijote in Milwaukee, Cafe Ba Ba Reeba and especially Emilio's Tapas in Chicagoland, we were excited when Manny Salinas and Natalie Pope...
New York Times: Racine, Wisconsin is a travel destination with art
Racine was featured in a New York Times travel story yesterday as something of a Mecca for art and artists and architecture: New York Times: "On Lake Michigan, a Port of Call for Art," by Mary Billard It's a very nice piece, and as...
Summer 2007 update: Long time no post
Greetings from my air-conditioned bunker as summer 2007 clatters apart overhead like an unbalanced engine. Amy's at work, I'm on hiatus, and out in the backyard the heat and humidity are mounting over the soggy vegetation — a prelude to an afternoon forecast of...
Backyard gardening: Playing in the dirt
It will yield you brambles and thistles, as you eat the produce of the land. By the sweat of your face will you earn your food, until you return to the ground. as you were taken from it. — Genesis 3:18-19, The New Jerusalem Bible We've been spending a lot of time on...
Pancake Day, Festival Hall, Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin — Kiwanis Pancake Day patrons eat and greet inside Festival Hall along the Lake Michigan shoreline in downtown Racine, Wisconsin. An annual fundraiser sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Greater Racine since...
Pancake Day, Racine, Wisconsin: Pancake griddles
Racine, Wisconsin — Pancake Day cooks, including Miss Racine 2007, Brittani Madala — cook pancakes on specially-designed pancake griddles at Festival Hall in downtown Racine, Wisconsin. An annual fundraiser sponsored by the...
St. Patrick’s Day: Irish breakfast, Racine parade, Irish stew recipe
I'm not even a little bit Irish, but I love St. Patrick's Day. I love Irish history and literature and music — especially James Joyce and Van Morrison — and for me, St. Patrick's Day is the official threshold of spring. The peaty smell of the thawing soil and the drab...
Braunschweiger or liver sausage, Kemen brand liverwurst is best
It was about a year ago that Amy's sister Donna, who now lives "up north," stayed with us. She had been instructed by her husband to bring back some honest-to-goodness Braunschweiger, which, like honest-to-goodness Mexican food, cannot be found in their vicinity....
Hummingbirds and hummingbird feeders
The radio show I work for is in Mexico this week — and so, with luck, is the little bird at my nifty HummZinger hummingbird feeder in the photo above. The weekend after Labor Day, he was right outside my window. As I have mentioned before, Amy and I are backyard...
Wind Point Lighthouse, Wind Point, Wisconsin
Wind Point, Wisconsin — The Wind Point Lighthouse on Lake Michigan, viewed from the southeast. Here's the text of the lighthouse's Wisconsin Historical Society sign: THE WIND POINT LIGHTHOUSE To assist navigation...
At home in Racine
It seems strange now, but growing up in the city immediately south of here, I never got very familiar with Racine. In fact, I spent four years attending middle school in Racine, but never saw much of the city beyond The Prairie School campus out on Wind Point and the...
Golden Chicken: Racine fried chicken restaurant mascots
Racine, Wisconsin — Chickens from the Golden Chicken carry-out restaurant ("A Treat in Eatin' You'll Keep Repeatin') wait in the staging area in the 2200 block of North Main Street before riding in Racine's Fourth of July...
4th of July parade, Main Street, Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin — Uncle Sam, walking on stilts in the 2006 4th of July parade, passes Monument Square on Main Street in downtown Racine, Wisconsin. Officially known as the Fourth Fest Parade, the event was listed as one of...
Memorial Day: Suddenly, it’s summer
Here in southeast Wisconsin, we no longer have the gentle, blossom-scented springtimes of my youth. Thanks to the New Weather, we now get six weeks of 40-degree fog one year, suffocating heat and humidity the next. This time around we had a hurricane or two,...
Main Moon 2: Chinese restaurant in Racine, WI
View Mark Czerniec's Racine & beyond in a larger map Main Moon 2 4915 Washington Ave Suite I Racine, WI 53406 (262) 638-9888 (262) 638-9988 (262) 638-1388 (fax) With two Racine locations, Main Moon serves this city's most popular...
Romiti Construction, General Contractors, Racine
Sturtevant, Wisconsin — He came out of the Menards store to find us admiring and photographing his vintage Dodge pickup truck in the parking lot. He said he was its only owner, and it still ran great. The emblem on his hat...
Barney’s Memphis Style Ribs restaurant (Racine, WI)
Barney's Memphis Style Ribs 2920 Taylor Ave Racine, WI 53405 (262) 636-0051 Update: Barney's Memphis Style Ribs closed in November 2006 and was replaced in March 2007 by Teddy & Vic's Pig n' Out Barbecue. The Pig n' Out menu looks similar (right down to "The...
Houmann’s Fish & Seafood (Racine, Wisconsin)
Houmann's Fish & Seafood 1026 Liberty St Racine, WI 53404 (262) 633-2477 Update: The Houmann's retail store described here CLOSED (at least for the time being) on October 7, 2006. Empire Fish in Milwaukee is one excellent alternative. [includeme...
Racine Produce: Mexican grocery in Racine, WI
Racine Produce 3701 Durand Ave Racine, WI 53405 (262) 554-5100 Update: Racine Produce is closed Racine Produce closed in October, 2009. See the Journal Times for more information. For a good selection of reasonably-priced produce, try Kenosha Fresh Market. [includeme...