I'm fairly new to our fair city, and so many parts of the area excite me, but I have to say I'm more than a little amped at the upcoming week of events to honor those who work downtown. Sorry, I guess that's Downtown.

I have enjoyed working and walking Downtown, we eat at the Waterfront Deli regularly and even stop for happy hour just up the street. But I have also learned Downtown has needed some inspiration in past years, thus the week long celebration of working in the area.

A friend of mine revealed her 15 minutes of fame came a few years ago with a video shot of local workers proclaiming "I work Downtown" as part of the campaign to remind people Downtown Milwaukee is as fruitful and worthwhile as the east side, as the lakefront or as Miller Park.

Downtown Employee Appreciation Week is certainly a nice way to honor some of us worker bees, suited up and squeezed into high heels every week, but it should be noted that we should recognize this employee appreciation with an eye to a bigger picture.

Employment is of chief concern, not only to Milwaukee, but to the nation. So many don't have fruitful, family supporting jobs and so many struggle to hold their family supporting job that we should be cautious celebrating workers before we all have the same, equal and obtainable opportunity to be one.

It's also just a tad bourgeois to honor the bankers, brokers, office workers and more that fill our Downtown businesses. Let's not forget that all work should be honored, including the ditch digging, road building, brick laying, garbage collecting and sewer maintaining that must also be sustained for us to flourish.

 I'm excited to be offered free lunches, contests and daily events because I work Downtown, but I also hope we can keep perspective, the real celebration these days is to be able to work, period.