Welcome to the "soft launch" of the brand new Milwaukee based website BrewCity101, an affiliate to the popular Madison website Dane101.

What is BrewCity101?

We are an on-line publication written by contributors from around the Milwaukee area, founded by Adam Schabow, Jesse Russell and Shane Wealti. We are about the people, the events and issues that shape Milwaukee, and the region around it. We feature a cast of contributors who write, report, and opine about local news, politics, music, sports, food, media, theater, thrift shopping, blogs, film, and more. We are Milwaukee.

Who the Hell Are You and What Do You Know About Milwaukee?

Good question. After 15 years of living in Madison, I recently moved to Milwaukee to start a new life. And although it’s exciting, I have to be honest; it was hard for me to leave Madison for the big city Milwaukee. It was all a bit intimidating for me. But like a giant nacho platter, I plan to pick away at this great city, little by little, until there is nothing left. I am off to a good start. After a few months living here, I am already starting to love Milwaukee and plan to put every effort into making sure that love grows even more.

How Did This All Start and Where is it Going?

Back in Madison, I played in bands (The Shabelles), wrote articles (Dane101 & The Wisconsinite), put on events (Freakin’ Halloweekend) and hosted an internet sketch talk show called DrunkDial101. When I decided to move to Milwaukee, I knew I couldn’t stop doing these type of things. It was already in my blood. That is when my editor and publisher Jesse Russell at the popular Madison website Dane101, proposed the idea of starting up a Milwaukee based version. I loved the idea with the assertion that BC101 will not be Dane101, because Madison is Madison and Milwaukee is Milwaukee. It can’t help but be something different. Luckily, I already have a terrific cast of Milwaukee based writers and artists that are interested in volunteering their time to help out. Of course, we are always looking for more contributors, but I will get to that later. As of right now, visitors to the site will not only be getting stories, articles and opinions from those already rooted in the Milwaukee scene, but will also be getting a perspective from a new Milwaukeean, unraveling the mysteries of this great city.

Why Choose Milwaukee Film Festival for the “Soft Launch”?

There are many reasons why we wanted the “soft launch” of the website to coincide with the opening of The Milwaukee Film Festival. First of all, logistically being new to Milwaukee, it seemed like a great way for me to learn the downtown area. Weird, I know, but true. I also figured I could explore the different aspects of the city through local film. For instance, I could learn about the local music scene by going to see The Death of Triforce, which documents a basement festival. But honestly, the simple reason why we chose this weekend for the launch is that we all love film and we just didn’t want to wait another year to cover this festival.

What Exactly is a “Soft Launch”?

Our “soft” launch of the website means that things aren’t quite finalized yet. You may find limited text in certain pages. You may find color schemes changing. Basically we will be tinkering with the website trying to make the site as pretty and practical as possible. Thanks to the unrelenting efforts of Tech Guru Specialist Shane Wealti, we are in the process of making all of that happen. Of course, like any new endeavor, there will be a few missteps, but we promise to work out the kinks as quickly as possible to get back on track.

Posting Comments

If you are reading something that grabs your attention or sparks criticism, please post a comment. We believe the only way to understand the other side of the argument is through dialogue. In fact, in many cases, an article can be a jumping off point to a more interesting conversation between the writer and the readers. Of course, here at BC101, we are always open to suggestions. So if there is something you think we should be doing differently, please send suggestions to editor@brewcity101.com. 

In Closing – You Should Write for Us

If you are a writer (journalist, blogger, novice writer) or photographer and looking for a venue to reach a bigger readership, BrewCity101 can help. There is much freedom on what topics you would like to cover. Of course, special access and press passes can be obtained for reviews of events, music shows, festivals and more. Anyone wanting to contribute can do so by contacting me at editor@brewcity101.com.   Like Dane101, the contributors will ultimately shape what this website is going to be. And although this undertaking is a bit nerve racking, I’m excited about the opportunity and planning to work hard on making sure we approach each subject matter with a unique and refreshing twist.

Thank you and we hope you enjoy our new website, BrewCity101!