Tourism Partner Profile: Carolyn’s Coffee Connection
By Meredith Jumisko
“Your Gateway to Kenosha’s Lakeshore”, is how Carolyn Kirkby describes her business, Carolyn’s Coffee Connection. It’s a warm and welcoming place to meet family and friends, attend meetings, enjoy live music, work on your laptop, or just curl up with a good book and cup of coffee. It opened at its new location, 1351 52nd Street, in October.
Carolyn’s serves Intelligentsia coffee, fresh-baked goodies, and a breakfast and lunch menu (available online) all day. A children’s menu and carryout are available. Staff will deliver lunch within the area. A group of five orders or more is preferred for this and there is no extra charge. The drive-through is open beginning at 5:45 a.m. You can call ahead with your food order and pick it up at the window.
Carolyn’s originally opened in Downtown Kenosha in April 2006. Business has increased since moving to 52nd Street. Regular customers followed, and many new customers arrived at the doorstep after driving by and watching the construction take place. While the building has the same footprint, much construction took place before opening on Oct. 23d.
Rotted beams were replaced, as was dry wall. The cream city brick was kept and the original floors were Continue reading →
The UW-Parkside Jazz Combo, directed by Russ Johnson. The Jazz Combo features music students: Brad Karas, bass, and Paul Westfahl, drums, with Russ Johnson, trumpet.
Russ Johnson-Brooklyn based trumpeter is an active performer in the jazz, improvised, and contemporary classical music scenes throughout the U.S. and abroad. In addition to leading his own groups, and co-leading The Other Quartet and New Math, Russ is currently touring as a member of Lee Konitz’ new nonet and the SteveSwallow/Ohad Talmor “L’Histoire du Clochard” sextet. In addition, Russ has performed with a long list of musical heavyweights including; Kenny Wheeler, Bill Frisell, Joe Lovano, Richie Beirach, Mark Ribot, Charles Earland, David Liebman, Joe Maneri, The Jazz Passengers, Oliver Lake, Myra Melford, Anthony Davis, Mick Rossi, Elvis Costello, Debbie Harry, Michael Bublé, Curtis Fowlkes, Roy Nathanson, Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson, Brian Blade, Dick Oatts, Aretha Franklin, Tony Malaby, Jenny Scheinman, and Mat Maneri.
Russ is also active as an educator/clinician, having taught at colleges and universities across the U.S. and in Europe, including The Center for Preparatory Studies in Music (CPSM) at Queens College, and is a member of the faculty at the Maine Jazz Camp. Russ currently is employed as Instructor of Jazz at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Kenosha.
Russ Johnson is an Endorsing Artist for New York Trumpet Company, and plays NYTC by Possegger Bb trumpet exclusively.
“Be Exposed!”is proud to announce that award-winning visual artist Rebecca Venn will be among the featured artists at their debut show. Rebecca was born in Owensboro, Kentucky. She graduated with a BA from Brescia College, Owensboro, Kentucky in 1969, and concluded early in her studies that the human figure was her primary interest. As her undergraduate education offered little in this area, she undertook a long period of self-directed study in figurative drawing and painting. Ms. Venn has taught life studio at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and various life drawing workshops. She is a member of Wisconsin Visual Artists, MARN, AHA! and is represented at Artists’ Gallery, Racine, Wisconsin, Seebeck Gallery, Kenosha, Wisconsin, and The Norman Lasiter Gallery in Palm Springs California; her work is included in a number of private collections. Her studio is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Most recently, her work is being showcased at Carolyn’s Coffee Connection as part of the “Secret Gardens” exhibition.
The “Be Exposed!” performance series is a new free monthly event, shining a spotlight on creative people from our own city and beyond. The founders hold a common belief that art and creativity in all of its forms should be easily accessible to everyone. They hope that the series will serve to celebrate the power of creativity and a shared love of the arts. Shows will be held every third Friday of the month, and begin at 7 p.m. at Carolyn’s Coffee Connection. They are free and open to the public. The first show will be held on Friday, February 19th. Please mark your calendars and join us as we celebrate the start of this new series!
As we continue our mission of promoting arts, cultural events, creative Kenosha residents, as well as the creativity of the business owners in Downtown Kenosha and the surrounding area, ExposeKenosha.com is proud to partner with the Kenosha Lakeshore Business Improvement District (BID).
Carolyn’s serves Intelligentsia coffee, fresh-baked goodies, and a breakfast and lunch menu (available online) all day. A children’s menu and carryout are available. Staff will deliver lunch within the area. A group of five orders or more is preferred for this and there is no extra charge. The drive-through is open beginning at 5:45 a.m. You can call ahead with your food order and pick it up at the window.
The UW-Parkside Jazz Combo will perform at 
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