R&B @ Warner Park is dead, long live the Mallards!

First off, I have to recognize the Mallards and their GM Vern Stenman for their proposal to continue Fourth of July fireworks in Warner Park. It's a credit to their organization that they stepped up so soon after Wednesday's announcement of Rhythm & Booms being moved downtown. Despite reports to the contrary, the Mallards' announcement did manage to defuse much of the tension at last night's meeting.

That said, there was still a lot of anger in the room. I give Alds. Palm and Weier credit for keeping their cools and shutting down a few outbursts of outright hostility. But the crowd wasn't buying the official line that this was strictly Madison Festivals' call.

And I don't think the crowd was wrong.

Quick Rhythm & Booms Recap

It's hard to say exactly how much to chalk up to what -- cloudy weather, the move to a work day, cutting back the extras -- but measured by the Mayor's officially stated goals, last night's Rhythm & Booms was a huge success. Compared to the last few years, it was safer, less of a regional draw, and less disruptive to the neighborhood. If those were the real concerns, I think we can go ahead and pencil it in for next year.

We'll find out soon enough if that's the case, or if the folks trying to shut down Rhythm & Booms are going to yank the goalposts again. Two weeks from today -- July 18th -- at 6 p.m. at WPCRC. I'll be there.