The Kinnickinnic

The Kinnickinnic River is one of the three major rivers that flow into Milwaukee harbor (the others are the Menominee and the Milwaukee) and the only one with a south to north watershed. Near here, it runs east along the southern edge of Lincoln Village, then turns north near Baran Park, and continues its course, flanked by warehouses, marinas, and the Barnacle Buds fish restaurant towards Lake Michigan.

There's a lot history associated with the Kinnickinnic River and there are some big projects in the works for its preservation today, but let's start with the basics. Kinnickinnic is a hard word to spell, so that is probably why so many Milwaukeeans refer to Kinnickinnic Avenue (which anchors the Bayview neighborhood) as "KK Avenue." But what is Kinnickinnic and what does it mean?

Kinnickinnic, also known as bearberry, is a plant that grows in northern climates like Wisconsin's.

It is edible, but the fruit is tasteless. The leaves of the Kinnickinnic were prized by Natives for their healing properties. These leaves were made into teas and contain a powerful, antiseptic astringent used to treat kidney and bladder ailments. Many Natives also mixed the leaves with other ingredients and smoked them. "Kinnickinnic" is the Algonquian term for "mixture."

El Salvador Restaurant

There are many great ethnic restaurants along Lincoln Avenue, but the El Salvador Restaurant is located just off Lincoln, at 2316 S 6th Street. While they offer a variety of traditional home-style Mexican entrees (tacos, burritos, the obligatory tortilla-chips-and-salsa meal starter), Salvadoran fare is their specialty. So, what should your first Salvadoran meal look like? One word: PUPUSAS.

Pupusas are small corn pockets folded around a filling: beef, queso, refried beans, or a traditional vegetable mix that includes squash. El Salvador pupusas are flavorful, not spicy, and come with a side of fresh pickled cabbage and red and green ketchup-y sauces that you squeeze from big plastic bottles.

I ate my first pupusas while visiting Nicaragua in 2005, and I'm glad so I can get my pupusa fix right here in Lincoln Village. But when the pupusa craving strikes, be advised: El Salvador is only open Wednesdays-Sundays.

Wintry Fun at Kosciuszko Park

Ice skating on the Kozy Park lagoon was back this January for its second year after a decades-long hiatus. Urban Anthropology and the City of Milwaukee's Neighborhood Improvement Development Corporation (NIDC) partnered to have the frozen lagoon landscaped and provided free skate rental and free hot chocolate to the public for four straight weeks, Monday and Tuesday evenings.

 

Bayview Compass "Ice Skating Returns to Kosciuszko Park" Jan 12, 2010 

...Urban Anthropology, Inc., which spearheads Healthy Neighborhood program activities in the neighborhood, is a community-based membership association dedicated to the celebration of cultural diversity and a holistic approach to urban problem-solving.  The re-opening of the ice rink is part of the group’s “Beautiful Blocks” program, which also includes activities such as creating an idea book and holding workshops to help property owners improve the curb appeal of their homes. Urban Anthropology also is sponsoring a five-week Winter Wonderland after-school program that teaches youth about the history and cultural origins of winter sports, including ice-skating at the Kosciuszko lagoon rink. Read the full article here.

Skating's over 'til next year, and according to Wynter, Milwaukee's own weather predicting groundhog, winter will be over sooner rather than later, too. Wynter did NOT see her shadow on February 2nd, and neither did Jimmy, the Sun Prairie groundhog.