There's a huge festival going on at the lakefront right now, in case you didn't notice. It's called Summerfest. Since it'd be impossible for this one-woman show to compete with the legions of journalists covering the fest right now, I'm going to keep this blog to three rather random thoughts generated by this year's event.

• People watching at Summerfest is awesome. My favorites so far include: The guy walking around with a Mark Bolan hair-do, no shirt, and really low jeans being held up by suspenders; the guy who whipped his stuff out and decided to take a whiz, while talking on his cell phone, while standing in the middle of the main thoroughfare (even though he almost hit my boyfriend's leg); all the ladies with 5 inch heels; and skinny-pants kids (it brings me back to early middle school, when Guess jeans with zippers at the hem were mega cool.)
• Life-size video games in which participants (mostly teen boys) stand on a humvee and simulate shooting at moving human targets can really get people riled up. So much so that Summerfest officials asked the U.S. Army to shut down its game, America's Army. The Army has since appeased fest officials by changing the game's targets to immobile, non-human forms instead, and the simulation has now resumed.
• If you look hard enough, you can find a band, or ten, that you want to see -- even if you think you don't like Summerfest. For example, this Saturday, Milwaukee's own Billy Bon Scott will play the Zippo Rock Stage at 1 p.m. In my opinion, a Bon Scott-era AC/DC cover band is really just about the best thing you can ever see, besides a real AC/DC fronted by a real Bon Scott. Which is impossible. But I digress. My point is, there is a Billy Bon Scott, a Bootsy Collins or a Less Than Jake out there, waiting patiently at Summerfest, to play for for all of us.

Successful businesses can't be run on love alone -- they need money to pay those bills. Think about this from July 7-13 during what local group Our Milwaukee has dubbed “Celebrate Your Independents!” a week devoted to raising awareness and patronage of home-grown Milwaukee businesses.

Founded by a group of six businesses, including Alterra Coffee, Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops and Brewery Credit Union, Our Milwaukee has grown to include more than 30 local ventures. From clothiers and massage therapists to restaurants and construction companies, it's well worth it to check out the list of partners on the Our Milwaukee website: if you need a product or service, there is a good chance an Our Milwaukee business has what you need.

Still not convinced? Celebrate Independents will also be running special promotions for the week, including: A free movie screening, a drawing featuring prizes from member businesses, and special discounts from participating businesses. The film, Independent America, will be held at the Times Cinema at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 8.

Image by Our Milwaukee

Local firebugs beware -- fines for use of illegal fireworks have blown up since last season, doubling from $100 - $500 per violation to between $500 - $1000 per violation. Furthermore, parents and legal guardians who are caught allowing minors in their care to use fireworks can also be assessed $1000, with failure to pay leading to 40 days in jail.

Fireworks are indeed fun, but not that fun. (Do you read me, neighbors? Because I am indeed reading you loud and clear, at 3 a.m., whilst you're blowing things up in the alley.)

Do yourself a favor this year, and avoid these stiff fines by just attending one of the numerous legal July 4th fireworks displays taking place around the city this weekend.

Stockbyte / Getty Images

Sonic Drive-In has plans to open 20 restaurants in the metro Milwaukee area, according to a recent report in the Business Journal.

The report states that the first Milwaukee-area Sonic could arrive as soon as January 2009, and that the following 19 would be constructed over the next six years. Sonic was started in Oklahoma and now has nearly 3,400 drive-ins in 32 states. Only recently has the chain began tapping into the Midwest market.

Image by Carrie Trousil.