LaCage Owners Kris and Michael with Mayor Tom Barrett
during Milwaukee's Pride Parade - Kris and Michael
thanked Mayor Barrett for his support within the gay
community as well as the Gay Softball World Series
coming to Milwaukee in August!
A few weeks back we informed you
of our headliner "Diva", Thelma
Houston, after she performed at American Idol.
Now we bring you the rest of the
"Diamond Divas" that will entertain you at the Opening
Ceremonies of NAGAAAFest on Monday, August 31st. The
Opening Ceremonies will take place on the shores of
Lake Michigan, the "Fresh Coast" on the Briggs &
Stratton stage. Admission is FREE to all GSWS softball
players on the rosters (18) and the 2 designated non-players
on each roster. Additional tickets will be available
for sale before and on the day of the event. More
details to come. (PDF)
Thelma
Houston Information PDF
It's
early on a Sunday summer morning and the temperature
is already in the 70's. The forecast is for the upper
80's and high humidity. For most, this dog day of
summer promises to be a lazy one Æ sailing on Lake
Michigan, a backyard barbecue, celebrating a fest
somewhere or sitting it out in the comfort of an air
conditioned home. But for SSBL's Miller Park concession
volunteers, it will be another intense and grueling
day serving beer, brats and fried cheese curds to
appreciative fans.
Volunteer training took place on January 15 at the
Milwaukee Gay Arts Center (MGAC). This year dozens
participated. The majority are SSBL team players and
managers but umpires, friends and fans attended as
well.
Each Brewers' home game requires
at least a dozen volunteers. They'll work six hours
- more if the game goes into extra innings. They'll
staff the front service line with 10 cashiers while
others work in the kitchen cooking brats, kosher dogs,
Polish and Italian sausages, waffle fries, baking
pizzas and pretzels under a constant barrage of orders.
Last year with the Brewers in contention
for first place, the Miller Park usually had a capacity
crowd of 45,000. Volunteer and NAGAAAFest committee
member Peter Nys said. "it's like Bunker Hill...they
just keep coming. There may be a brief moment of calm
but then the next wave comes...it's constant action.
But everybody's in a good mood. After all, it's America's
favorite pastime and the fans are up for a party and
we're the perfect hosts."
More...
About
this time last year, I escaped from the chilly streets
of Milwaukee to the (even chillier) streets of Seattle.
That's where a dedicated team of Milwaukee boys and
girls were making a bid to NAGAAA (North American
Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance) to bring the LGBT Softball
World Series to Milwaukee.
Lucky for everyone, the group's
hard work paid off, and the softball Delegates voted
Milwaukee as the city of choice for the big event!
If you haven't heard, that means that hundreds upon
hundreds of softball players from across the country
and Canada will descend upon Brew Town THIS summer
for a wild week of fun, partying and, of course, softball.
In addition to throwing the games,
the city will also play host to about 100 delegates
from across the country in late January. To find out
more about the meetings being held in January, the
hotties flying into Milwaukee and what all the plans
are, I asked to meet with a few members of the World
Series planning committee: Brian Reinkober, Mona Garcia
and Jeff Weigland. So move over, Katie Couric, this
bitch is about to go journalistic on your ass!
DEAR RUTHIE: Can you tell me who
is coming to Milwaukee in January and why?
More...
Milwaukee Mayor
Tom Barrett speaks at the Winter Meetings Fish Fry
Mayor Barrett
and John from the BEStd Clinic
Co-directors
Brian and Mona with the Mayor
Updated February 10,
2008
Compiled & written by Paul Masterson
SSBL Milwaukee
Wins 2009 World Series Bid
Affordability, Experience,
Mayor Barrett's Support Key In Winning "Fun &
Friends First"-Themed Event
Milwaukee - In the
predawn hours of February 1, in a driving snow storm,
members of Milwaukee's Saturday Softball League
(SSBL) Gay Softball World Series Bid Committee made
their way to General Mitchell International Airport
for a 6:25am flight to Seattle, Washington. Their
itinerary: to attend the North American Gay Amateur
Athletic Association (NAGAAA) World Series Bid Conference.
Their mission: to present SSBL's bid and bring the
2009 Gay Softball World Series (GSWS) to Milwaukee.
They accomplished
their mission: NAGAAAFest 2009 Gay Softball World
Series will be held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, August
31 through September 5.
The 2009 GSWS will
bring thousands of players, fans and friends to
the city. This influx of visitors translates to
millions of dollars of economic impact on the local
economy and a boon to Milwaukee's reputation as
a gay friendly city.
