Approaching the doorstep of 2013, lets not trip over the threshold without getting a chance to look back on the most popular posts appearing on Local Trolley in 2012. First, I want to thank everyone who has used precious bytes of data and bandwidth to take a peek, if only at the home page on accident, at Local Trolley’s content. A lot has happened in Local Trolley’s second year, I find it fitting share a couple of online media milestones.
Numero Uno: I got a smartphone! Not just any old smarty-phone, I got an iPhone… and have talked shit about it from the day I took it out of that lame little white cardboard box. (I still love you though boo). My iPhone has truly made me more adequately social media obsessed and has truly aided me in finding my humble place on the grand scale of social media petty obsessionists. Yet I am undaunted, because at the end of the my AC adapter I still like to write more than I like to attract followers, so my cryptic and unflashy site is for just that, reading, occasionally.
Enough about Local Trolley, let get to the top posts, of the Year 2012.
#5 Brighten the Passage, Design Competition
This post actually appeared on Local Trolley in late December of 2011, and progressively got more popular. Perhaps as more people have attempted to walk from Downtown to the Third Ward, more have wondered why it is so Billy Goat Gruff-like under there, rather than yeah cool Red Hot Chilli Pepper’s Under the Bridge-like. Maybe others are just wondering if the contest is still going on. The Third Ward Association opened a design competition called Brighten the Passage to solicit ideas for how to make being under the I-794 overpass for 150 yards while trying to get to Public Market a bit more bearable. I never heard of a winner of the design competition or of an submission, maybe its time to revisit this one. I think we can at least get the City to move that damn yellow utility van off of the gravel on 4th and Clybourn Street.
#4 Far South Coast, Chef Paz Restaurant
Who wants to argue about Milwaukee’s “Foodies” and their enthusiasm for food? I don’t. Let’s face it, Wisconsin is known for brats and cheese. Milwaukee is know for brats, cheese and some of the best damn no non-sense ethnic food you can find… uh anywhere. I hate to take a stab Madison, but they’re a one of most things kind of town. Here in Milwaukee, for being a little big town, we have multiple decent options for a lot of ethnic food genres. The only thing we are missing is dim sum. At any rate, how cool is having a Peruvian restaurant to brag about, in West Allis no less.
#3 Bronze Age 2.0, Vanguard Sculpture Service, Winter Gallery Night 2012
Not to show too much bias (I’m a blog I can do that), but Vanguard’s Gallery opening was one of the coolest events I have attended in Milwaukee. Throwing fashion and trends to the side, Vanguard stepped out from years of unsung Milwaukee artisan craftsmanship to reach out to the mainstream. Nestled deep in the 35th Street Industrial Corridor, Mike Nolte represents the deep native Milwaukeean original art scene, predating the modern internet and contemporary art ad nauseam by decades. The Vanguard exhibit, Founders, featured bronze sculpture by roughly a dozen artists and a live bronze pouring demonstration.
#2 Making the Mold, Northern Chocolate Company
Our favorite chocolateer tops the list again! I am not the first nor will I be the last to write about the magical cocoa concoctions imprisoned in that beautiful Italianate cream city brick building on MLK Drive just waiting for you to break them out, waiting for you to become a part of the legend. A pure Milwaukee bucket list item, there are a couple of notes you should take before your trip to the chocolate town in Northern Chocolate Company. Give this post read before you go.
NUMBER ONE! Opening Shop, Urban Milwaukee
If there’s a more fitting outfit to grab the top spot, even on the most underground blog in Milwaukee let me know and I will sing their praises with a daisy behind each ear. Urban Milwaukee may be the most established Milwaukee focused online outlet Milwaukee has, and Urban Milwaukee has a store now. With a premier location kiddy corner to Hotel Metro , it’s great to have a place to feel right at home exchanging a few zealous words about Milwaukee in. One of the biggest beneficiaries of Urban Milwaukee (other than fanatic Milwaukeeans) are definitely visitors to the City. Kudos to Jeramy Jannene and Dave Reid you nabbed Local Trolley’s top post of 2012!
Ya! Ya! Sea Triscuit, on with 2013!
Local Trolley 
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