The Pfister Hotel Selects Ed Makowski as Next In-House Storyteller

The historic Pfister Hotel in downtown Milwaukee has named Ed Makowski as its third ‘Pfister Narrator.’ In the role, he will spend time in the hotel’s lobby, interviewing visitors and guests and sharing their stories on the Pfister’s blog (blog.thepfisterhotel.com). As narrator, he will be posting blog entries at least twice-per-week over a six-month period.

“I’m excited to try my hand as Pfister Narrator,” says Makowski. “For years I’ve written and recorded poems and stories that recreate the unique interactions I’ve picked up along the way. Having a position where I’m not only invited, but employed to collect stories… I don’t think I could dream a job I’d rather have. I’m excited to get to know the rhythm and spirit of the Pfister Hotel, it’s guests and employees.”

Makowski is a poet, writer, and dabbler in visual arts. While publishing as Eddie Kilowatt, he released the poetry collections Manifest Density (Full Contact, 2006) and Carrying a Knife in to the Gunfight (Full Contact, 2007). Density was included in Best New Poetry of 2006 and Carrying won the Carma Writer’s Award. His poems have been published in many print and Internet journals. Makowski contributes interviews to Milwaukee’s NPR station 89.7 WUWM, where he also curates the Lunch Counter storytelling series. He looks forward to bringing that series to The Pfister, where he will be recording regular segments.

Makowski was chosen to serve as narrator based on his writing style, experience and personality, from a significant pool of qualified applicants by a review panel, which included publisher of The Business Journal Serving Greater Milwaukee, Mark Sabljak; Tom Strini of ThirdCoast Digest: Bobby Tanzilo of OnMilwaukee.com; Judith Moriarty, a longtime local writer; and representatives from the hotel, including The Pfister’s first-ever narrator Julie Ferris, and Stacie Williams, the outgoing narrator.

“We had another great pool of applicants to choose from for this round of our narrator program,” says Joe Kurth, general manager of The Pfister Hotel. “We’re looking forward to adding Ed to our hotel staff and seeing what new stories will be told. Our guests have a special connection to The Pfister and interesting stories to tell—it has been wonderful sharing their unique experiences and backgrounds with the rest of Milwaukee and beyond.”

Makowski will begin his residency as narrator on Nov. 1, 2011. More information about the Pfister Narrator program can be found at www.ThePfisterHotel.com/Pfister-Narrator.