The first Saturday of May didn’t feel like spring yet - it was cold and overcast - but Brady Street was in full bloom for Flower Power. Merchants and residents decorated their porches, storefronts, and sidewalks to make a bright, bold statement in support of spring. Channel 4’s Mike Jacobs and WUWM’s Bob Reitman judged the entries along with the Shepherd Express’s Art Kumbalek, who said, “I had a good time hanging out in hippie-ville.”…

If you’ve driven past St. Hedwig’s, you’ve noticed the scaffolding out front. The church is getting a makeover. Other renovations are currently going on at The Nomad as well as The Up & Under… Congratulations are in order for members of the Brady Street family this month. First off, Unique Pizza officially opened their doors on April 28th with free samples for anyone walking by. I heard it’s good… Also to Glorioso’s Italian Grocery, which was bestowed with the title “Wisconsin’s Family Business Of The Year”… and to the Tamarack School’s ballroom dance team that took first place in a competition held at the Bradley Center…

The Brady Street Business Improvement District (BID) will be hosting a full day working seminar on Tuesday, June 19th from 9-5 at First Unitarian Church on the corner of Astor and Ogden. More info at www.bradyst.com... Volunteers and ideas are needed for this year’s annual Doggie Parade… There will be a formal dedication of the garden on the west end of Brady Street on Saturday, June 16th. The garden was donated by Mike Mervis and Mary Ellen McCormack-Mervis….

The Astor Theatre in the Brady Street Pharmacy will be hosting part of the Milwaukee Short Film Festival. Most of the films will be shown at the Times Cinema, but there will be a special free Milwaukee Premier of Splitfellow’s “Realization” on Saturday, June 9th, 2007...

If you have a story idea or item for Brady Sreet Beat, contact Tim at 374-7772.