Summerfest and Britney Spears: reunited, and it feels so good

 

Since sifting through dull newspapers, hyperbolic blogs, and overflowing RSS feeds for meaningful news can be an arduous process, News Net catches and compiles both the amusing and the significant reports that were overlooked over the weekend. Here are some things to think about as the workweek begins.

• Just when you thought Summerfest didn’t have any more surprises up its cut-off sleeves, it goes and announces another big act. According theJournal Sentinel, none other than Britney Spears will headline a four-act bill July 9 at the Marcus Amphitheater. The former Mrs. Federline will be joined by Nicki Minaj, Jessie And The Toy Boys, and Nervo. Spears last played the Big Gig way back in 2000.

• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was in Milwaukee Friday to screen a new film he’s produced called On The Shoulders Of Giants. The film centers on the Harlem Rens, a basketball team from the ’30s that thrived in the face of racial prejudice. And just in case your dad thinks Abdul-Jabbar only tries during the playoffs, the former Milwaukee Buck would like to remind you that he’s been hearing that crap ever since he was at UCLA. He’s out there busting his buns every night. Tell your old man to drag Walton and Lanier up and down the court for 48 minutes.

• If accordion lessons, 12 pairs of suspenders, and a thoughtfully well-groomed beard just aren’t fulfilling your old-timey needs, rejoice: A new men’s hat store, The Brass Rooster, has opened in Bay View. ThirdCoast Digest paid a visit to the new haberdashery.

• Remember all of the good times you had in high-school art and gym classes? Yeah, neither do we. Luckily, today’s students won’t either, as MPS is set to all but eliminate these pesky subjects. TheJournal Sentinel has more on this terrific, not-depressing news.

• Milwaukee Public Television debuted a new video about our city’s tireless bicycle messengers.

• OnMilwaukee.com took a look at a brand-new Facebook phenomenon: poking. Have you guys heard about this? OMG!

• We’re ashamed to admit it, but we completely overlooked yesterday’s annual Pug Fest. Thankfully, Milwaukee’s helpful Yelp commenters can fill you in on all of the zany pug action. “Pugs rule Humans dr00l!”