Easter Sunday Brunch is quite a tradition and, luckily, Oz has so many great restaurants to choose from!

In Port Washington, Twisted Willow is serving up a special brunch menu from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., featuring a build your own Bloody Mary and Mimosa bar, brunch or entree menu, a special children's menu, and a dessert menu that puts any Easter basket candy to shame.  Eating gluten-free?  There are good options on all of the menus!

Port Hotel serves brunch from 10-2 ($26.50 for adults and $9.50 for kids - reservations are recommended at (262) 284-9473), and so does Starters ($13.95 for adults and $7.95 for kids; children under 4 are free - reservations recommended at (262) 261-5255).

From 9:30-3:30, NewPort Shores will have their Easter Brunch.  Adults are $14.95; 12 and under are $7.95; 6 and under are $4.95; and, 2 and under are free.

Saukville's Firehouse Restaurant has an Easter Buffet from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for $15.95/person (Children 10 and under are half price, and children 2 and under are free).  Call for reservations at (262) 284-8886.

Flannery's at Fire Ridge in Grafton has an Easter Brunch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for $16.95/person ($8.50 for kids 7 and under, and free for kids 3 and under).  There is an egg hunt for children, and a chocolate fountain for everyone!  Reservations are required; call (262) 375-2977.

In Mequon, the Nines American Bistro has the Easter Bunny in attendance, as well as a child-sized buffet for the kids and complimentary mimosas!  Adults are $39.50; 12 and under are $17.50; 5 and under are free.  Reservations required at (262) 518-0129 

Joey Gerard’s has both a brunch buffet from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. ($34.95 adults, $14.95 children 3-12 years old) and a dinner buffet from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. ($44.95 adults, $20.95 children 3-12 years old).

No No's in Newburg has a more traditional Easter dinner menu, with options such as Spring Leg of Lamb or Baked Black Oak Ham. They are open from 3-8 p.m.

Are you a bit behind on your Easter Candy shopping?  Get it local!  Chocolate Chisel or CoCa LeNa in Port Washington; Sweet Trio in Grafton; Amy's Candy Kitchen or Ashley's Confectionery in Cedarburg; and, Leo and Lou and Get Happy in Mequon.

​Happy Easter, everyone!

By Mary Boyle

​Stockton.  Columbine.  Sandy Hook.  Virginia Tech.  Sound familiar?  They should.  They're the names we commonly use to remember some of the worst school shootings that have happened in our country in recent years.  We now live in a culture that markets special door locks and bullet-proof mats to our schools to protect our children, but isn't that treating the symptoms? 

It is estimated that, since 2013, there have been over 170 school shootings in our country.  It's bad enough to think of your own child being in that scenario, but what if you were the parent of the shooter?  This is the lens that this disturbing trend is viewed through in American Song, written by Joanna Murray-Smith and directed by Mark Clements, at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater.

Just one year after his riveting performance in An Illiad at The Rep, James DeVita returns for another remarkable, one-man performance as a middle class father in a Wisconsin town, building a stone wall on his land.  As he lays the stones, he remarks aloud how one badly laid brick at the bottom of a wall can affect the entire wall, and would leave the builder forever lamenting:  "If I'd just laid that one brick right, the whole wall would have been straight."

He goes on to tell his tale, wondering if he could recognize and go back and change the one moment that things went wrong.  Was it genetics?  Was it punishment for his wrongdoings?  His son was loved and had a good home.  "We believe we have the ability to shape what comes," he says.  Do we?​

Endlessly thought-provoking and heart-wrenchingly familiar, American Song asks the questions that we may have been afraid to ask, and starts the conversation that we all need to have.  In fact, this production has plenty of opportunity for discussion.  Each performance has a pre-show conversation 45 minutes before curtain, as well as Act Two: a post-show dialogue component that begins with a five minute response from a local specialist and is followed by a 30-45 minute small group discussion facilitated by staff from the Frank Zeidler Center for Public Discussion, for those who wish to participate.

American Song runs now through April 10, 2016, at the Quadracci Powerhouse Theater.  Tickets can be purchased at The Rep's website at www.MilwaukeeRep.com, by phone at (414) 224-9490, or at the Ticket Office at 108 E. Wells Street in Milwaukee.

About Milwaukee Repertory Theater  
Milwaukee Rep is a nationally-recognized company that presents compelling dramas, powerful classics, award-winning contemporary works and full-scale musicals housed in its three unique performance venues:  the Quadracci Powerhouse, Stiemke Studio, and Stackner Cabaret.  The Rep also produces an annual production of A Christmas Carol, which celebrated its 40th Anniversary in 2015, at the beautiful and historic Pabst Theater.  Under the leadership of Artistic Director Mark Clements and Managing Director Chad Bauman, Milwaukee Repertory Theater ignites positive change in the cultural, social, and economic vitality of its community by creating world-class theater experiences that entertain, provoke, and inspire meaningful dialogue among an audience representative of Milwaukee's rich diversity.     ​

What better way to celebrate Spring in Ozaukee than to run around in the barely thawed grass, collecting as many plastic eggs as you can?  Who knows what mysteries one might find inside?  Well, if it sounds like a good time to you, there are several of them to choose from around Oz.

This Saturday, March 19th, in Grafton, kids in preschool through third grade can bring their baskets and join the hunt at Centennial Park.  Pictures with the Easter Bunny will available between 12:30 and 1, and the hunt will begin at 1 p.m.

Port Washington has two Egg Hunt Events on the 19th.  Kids ages 2-9 should go to the Possibility Playground at 10 a.m. for the Hippity Hoppity Easter Egg Hunt and Easter Bonnet Contest (even pets can get dressed up!)!  Photos can be taken with the Easter Bunny at the park, and families can enjoy live music by Shana Harvey.  Then, "hop" to downtown Port, where many of the local businesses will be handing out additional treats between 11 and 1 p.m.

From 1-2 p.m. at the 1860 Light Station, kids can bring their baskets and enjoy another Egg Hunt, thanks to the Port Washington Historical Society.

Kids in Belgium who are 10 or younger can meet at Heritage Park at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 26th for their hunt.  Riveredge Nature Center in Newburg has three different hunts the same day, at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m.  This is a candy-free hunt and prizes will be awarded to all participants. After the hunt, discover the wonders of Wisconsin’s egg-laying animals and color eggs using natural dyes. This event will appeal to the whole family. For everyone’s enjoyment, group sizes for the hunts will be kept small, children will be divided according to age, and bag limits will be set. Pre-registration required ($7/non-member child & $5/member child).

Happy Easter, everyone!

Anyone familiar with the music scene around Oz may well have heard of the Ozaukee County Jam Band.  Since the 1970's, the band has incorporated numerous musicians around the area, playing rock and blues to audiences of all ages.

At the core of the band is Michael Sipin, a guitarist who once hailed from Oz, but now resides in West Bend, and who has been in too many bands and played with too many musicians over too many years to count.  What makes the Jam Band interesting, though, is the family ties.

Michael's son, Mike, was just a baby when the OCJB made their first appearance in the early 70's.  Michael's brother, Tom, played bass guitar in the band, and little Mike had his first crack at a drum set during a break in one of the band's performances, when he was just a toddler.  The crowd applauded, and a drummer was born.

Back in 2000, the OCJB reunited at the encouragement of one of its prior members, Jim Bohn, from Grafton, and even released a CD of original music entitled Old Dog, New Tricks.

Now, the band is back together again, with three of its original members:  Michael Sipin on guitar, Tom Sipin on bass, and Paul Fonder on sax and flute.  This time around, though, Michael's son, Mike Sipin, will be on the drums.  Furthermore, one of their first shows will be for a good cause in the county they're named for.

This Sunday, March 6th, the Ozaukee County Jam Band will play for a Mel's Charities Pig Roast Event to benefit the Grafton American Legion Rose Harms Post, as well as other Ozaukee nonprofits.  The event will take place at the Grafton American Legion (1540 13th Avenue in Grafton) from 1-5.  The band will be playing from 2-4, and Mel's delicious pulled pork sandwiches will be available to purchase.  

As Mel's Charities says, "Great times for Great Causes."  This event is sure to be a great one - don't miss it!

By Al Luening

Representatives from all walks of life populated the halls of the Ozaukee County Family Enrichment Center facility this past Saturday. A gathering of donors and providers paced about, introducing themselves to one another, shaking hands and thanking each other for the work they do, two very important jobs to the families of Ozaukee County that utilize the center for the much needed services they provide: Birth to 3 services, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ozaukee, and Interfaith Ozaukee, to name a few. Walking through the door, I was greeted with warmth, kindness and a simple request of “enjoy yourself.” Probably not hard to do with an evening of food and wine sampling planned.
 
Rather than dive right into the evening’s fare, I felt it best to see what else was going on. Sauntering the halls, careful not to step on the upwardly turned floor lights that gave an elegant “gala” appearance to the whole building, I had no problem navigating the layout, as all areas were clearly labeled and politely frenzied with activity and a hum of commotion. After glancing through some of the raffle prizes and handsome silent auction items, the aromas had beckoned my palate enough.
 
The Cheel boasted flavors from the Himalayas to the Rockies; a great mix of uncommon flavors in familiar concoctions. The Eggplant Bharta was a deliciously spicy awakening of the senses, that could best be described as a chili, but far more complex than that. A rich combination of smashed and simmered eggplant, garlic and ginger, combined with tomato and cilantro. The dish paired very well with the smoky Chardonnay offered by The Glass Palette, which generously provided all the wine pairings for the event.
 
Casa Tequila was the next stop on the journey, where an unexpected side of Mexican food greeted the visitors. Surprising Banderillas (pork medallions, red pepper, potato and chipotle sauce) went very well with an Italian Toscana, as did the Chicken Bites with pecan sauce; both dishes were unexpected and very flavorful.
 
Shully’s Cuisine was the third room of food and wine sampling. I decided to skip the wine pairing here, since I was “saving room” for an IPA that I noticed as I walked past the Beer Pub room. Shully’s provided a vegetarian pasta dish that was light and rustic, with homemade flavor. I spoke to a couple donors here who managed a donor fund. They spoke about the increased necessity for support for these services and how Gala events like this help to support these very important facilities that are needed by more and more families every year. It was a conversation that exhibited the passion that many of these donors have toward this cause.

"Big" Al Luening is no stranger in Oz.  A husband to a great lady, a father to two great girls, a musician, and a graphic designer; Al may be a Milwaukee boy at heart, but now he calls Grafton home.