Ghosts Under Glass At The Domes in Milwaukee

The Mitchell Domes, one of Milwaukee's most recognizable features, will again play host to the annual Ghosts Under Glass event this Thursday and Friday. Milwaukee County Parks and Friends of the Domes partnered to return the Halloween celebration to the city's botanical gardens, the second year that the event has been held there.

In its inaugural year, the Ghosts Under Glass event attracted hundreds of families from around Wisconsin. The experience is a double-dose of fun for both adults and kids, as the younger ones can enjoy a variety of supervised activities, while parents can marvel at one of the country's most spectacular indoor gardens.

 

New this year, the Bloom and Doom Dome will provide the little ones with a not-so-scary haunted pathway through the entirety of one of the building's massive temperature controlled domes. Along the way, children will be allowed to pick their own pumpkin to take home for carving, as well as stop by a number of trick-or-treat spots to pick up sweets.

Balloon animals, jugglers, and various sports mascots from across the city will be in other areas of the Domes for the event. A costume contest will be held both nights, with the winner being chosen by the likes of Bernie and Bango of the Brewers and Bucks, as well as a number of other mascot personalities from Milwaukee based teams.

The usual LED light show that is put on by the Domes throughout the week will be another exciting attraction participants can look forward to both nights of the event. Shows will take place every hour until closing, with the last show beginning slightly before nine.

Ghosts Under Glass will take place from six-to-nine this Thursday and Friday night. Admission is five dollars, with proceeds going to the Friends of the Domes and Milwaukee County Parks. Entrance to the event for children under three is free, though keep in-mind, strollers are not allowed in the buildings.

Kohl Center Basketball And Hockey Games In Madison

The Kohl Center serves as host to the Badgers Basketball and Hockey teams.  As they gear up for a great 2012-13 season, let's take a moment to break down the features that make the Kohl Center such a great place to watch NCAA sports.

For Badgers basketball fans, the venue is one of the best in the nation.  Students tend to sit behind the hoop, in sections 113-117, and the two levels behind that. The media sit at mid court, between sections 207 and 208.  At any given time, there are nearly 17,000 people cheering on their home team.

For Badgers Hockey, the blue line lines up with sections 109, 107, 123, and 121.  The Kohl Center suites are on the second level, and provide fans with a great view of the action. In the uppermost deck, you will find the most affordable seating.  There are no poles obstructing views of the court or ice.  The sound inside the venue can be incredible. Fans of college sports say that the Kohl Center is one of the more intimidating places for opposing teams to play.

Keep in mind that the venue can be configured for concerts.  The main floor can be covered with folding chairs, or set up as a general admission area.  Concerts at the Kohl Center are few and far between, but that also has something to do with the size. Bands will tend to skip Madison, as Milwaukee and Chicago are nearby. Still, there have been many great shows, and there will be more to come.  

Packers Versus Texans In Must Win Game

The Green Bay Packers will take on the undefeated Texans this weekend.  What fans first thought would be a great follow up season, has turned into a nightmare. The Packers are currently 2-3, with the replacement refs no longer to blame for all of their troubles. Losing to San Francisco in the home opener now makes sense, as the 49'rs have proven to be a playoff contender.  Losing to the Seahawks was partly due to Mike McCarthy's inability to move away from the original game plan, after sack number four or five. Yes, the non interception was the nail in the coffin, but the Packers dug their own grave first.

Cedric Benson Out For Eight to Ten Weeks

Green Bay will be heading to Texas without Cedric Benson.  Jermichael Finley, and B.J. Raji are possibly out for this Sunday's game as well. The Texans have lost Brian Cushing for the season, but one player does not a team make.  The Texans are riding high, and about to play the Sunday night "prime time" game. Green Bay still has time to fix their issues, but with fewer players to make it happen.  Benson may have struggled to gain yards, but he certainly knew how to block for Rodgers.  His backups are not in the same league, protection wise. Will James Starks regain his powerful running ability, now that he's going to be part of the active roster?  Can he come back from the nagging injuries that have kept him on the sidelines?

With every win, the Texans feel more pressure.  Green Bay will be coming into that game with a sense of urgency, something akin to how they felt when they faced the Saints. If Aaron Rodgers could find his wide receivers, and the team can muster up a run threat, there is a chance that Green Bay will be 3-3 on Monday morning.

Shaun Marcum Brewers Pitcher Looking For New Contract

Sunday wasn't only the day that the Brewers were eliminated from playoff contention, the day also marked the last time fans will see most likely pitcher Shaun Marcum on the mound for the team. The veteran pitcher will enter free agency once Milwaukee completes its final series of the year later this week, and the Brewers have already indicated their decision to not resign the thirty year-old. Marcum himself said earlier in the year that he would like to stay with the organization, but that it was up to Milwaukee.


At his age, Marcum enters the free-agency pool at a less-than-ideal time. Being both too young to retire, though too old to carry the leverage he once did at the bargaining table, the Missouri native and his agent may find it difficult to find a long term contract. With the Brewers this season, Marcum enjoyed an eight-million dollar contract, comparable to his compensation with the Toronto Blue Jays, where he played the majority of his major league career.
Beyond his age, Marcum is wading into one of the deepest agency-pools in baseball this time of year. Rookie and veteran pitchers are a dime-a-dozen in leagues across the country, and Marcum's past nine years in the league have not set him apart. Ending with fifty-five career wins and thirty-six losses, and a 3.78 ERA, the starter proved to be impressive throughout nearly 1000 innings, though his numbers won't standout on the scouting reports.

Marcum Battles Injuries During 2012 Season

Another thing working against the veteran is his tendency towards injuries. After a breakout 2007 season, Marcum had a mid-season breakdown in 2008, blowing numerous starts, and suffering an elbow injury that ended his season. He sat out the entire 2009 season due to the elbow, returning for the 2010 season opener, replacing Roy Halladay. However, the returning pitcher was unable to reach the same caliber of play that he was at pre-injury, resulting in his trade to the Brewers in December of that year. In Milwaukee, Marcum's physical ailments continued to haunt him, as arm trouble at the end of 2011 seriously impeded his performance. An off-season sore shoulder kept him from participating during most of 2012's spring training. And, the Brewers, weary of the pitcher, took notice.

Marcum started just twenty-one games in 2012, the second-lowest single-season starts of his career, and more than ten less than the amount he played in 2011. He managed just seven wins over the twenty-one games, though was only credited with four losses. His ERA also continued to climb, jumping to 3.70; yet another reason for potential buyers to be skeptical.