Karyn Birmingham has a passion for our community and is affectionately known by some as “Ms. Greendale”. Karyn is the owner/operator of Greendale Original Pedal Cab Tours and a Spirit of Greendale Award winner. She provides guided tours on a solar-powered pedal cab around the original sections of historic Greendale. The cab is available for historical tours, special events and scenic rides.
Karyn’s outstanding service to the Greendale community includes being the current President of GONA (Greendale Original Neighborhood Association) and Secretary of the Public Celebrations Committee. She is also an active member of the Greendale Lions Club, Greendale Historical Society and Greendale Entertainment Association. You may also know Karyn from her past involvement within Greendale as the Operator of the Souvenir Center, Marching Band Chaperone, Jaycettes, Jaycees, Women’s Club, Fire Dept Women’s Auxiliary, Girl Scout Daisy Troop Leader and more!
Kindness and generosity is a way of life for Karyn. She is someone who will literally stop whatever she is doing to talk to somebody and get to know them. If she sees someone in need, she doesn’t hesitate to lend a hand. Karyn has a fun energy and is a joy to be around.
Thank you, Karyn, for sharing your journey and your love for Greendale.
Q: What inspired you or led you to your current career?
A: Back in 1938, my grandparents were one of the first pioneers here. They went through the interview process in March of 1938. My grandpa made $10 too much per year at that time and could not get in! They came back in April when my grandma was pregnant with my mother and that started our family history in Greendale. My Mom is currently the last living original Greendale baby at 81 years old! And that is where the pedal cab tours come in and being able to share the history of Greendale with so many different people coming from all over the world. My ex-husband and I started the Original Pedal Cab Tours. We had it for 5 years, until 2005, and then it went on hold for a while. I really missed being involved with the history of Greendale. In 2014, I was looking online and discovered a solar powered pedal cab and thought that was pretty neat. I put together a customized order. I talked to my mom and dad about it at that time, but dad couldn’t talk very well because he had quadruple bypass and had suffered a stroke. When dad passed away, my mom surprised me by saying, “You don’t know this, but your dad and I had talked about it and we are going to be buying you that pedal cab.” I started crying! Every time I am pedaling or in my car doing cab tours, I share the passion of the history of Greendale and think about my Dad. It’s so rewarding. Every time I go to pick up someone in my pedal cab, I get so excited!
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Greendale, and what do you love there?
A: There’s two. First is Panther Pub. I love their strawberry salad. The atmosphere there is great. It’s such a nice place to walk in and watch a game and see people you know. Second is The Explorium Brewpub. Their BrewHouse chopped salad is great. And the atmosphere is something so hard to explain, but you can go there anytime and there so many different kinds of people from young to old. Anybody and everybody is welcome and can make new friends there.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in Greendale?
A: I was born here and left when I was one year old. My Dad got transferred a lot. I’ve permanently been back here in Greendale since 1989.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in Greendale?
A: Everybody I meet has a story and I literally stop what I’m doing and talk to somebody and get to know them. They have their own story, own personality and that’s the way I look at people. They are all very interesting to me. I can’t pick out just one person.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? And why?
A: Any beach. I love the peace, the sound of the waves, sunsets, and the sand on my toes. If you go to Caribbean, the bluer the water, the better. I just really love beaches. Summer is my favorite but I do love all 4 seasons and to see the beauty of God’s creation.
Q: What is your favorite movie OR what is the first movie you remember seeing in a theatre?
A: The Sound of Music and The Wizard of Oz are my favorites. And the first movie I watched in the theater was Star Wars.
Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people?
A: Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving eachother. Always smile because you don’t know what’s inside of that person and what they’re going through.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: Going through the Panama Canal. I love going on cruises.
Q: What is your favorite music/ 3 bands you would like to see (dead or alive)?
A: It depends on what I’m doing! First I like Carly Simon, Carole King, Karen Carpenter and Barbra Streisand. I love the way their voices are and I can sing to them. If I’m in a car or I’m cleaning, I’ll turn it on and sing with their voices. I also love Styx, the songs of Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake, Whitney Houston, going old school Marvin Gaye and Michael Jackson. Classic R&B. 90’s County. Frank Sinatra. It really depends what kind of mood I’m in!
Q: What current / former local business makes you the most nostalgic about Greendale?
A: We used to come here when we lived out of state. We would come here at Christmas and 4th of July. I would always go to Drews and we would get candy raisins from there. Grebes Bakery was also here in the village. My great Aunt Caroline worked there and we would get cookies.
Q: Choosing anyone alive and a non-relative with whom would you love to have lunch? Why and where would you have lunch?
A: Ellen DeGeneres. I don’t watch her all the time, but if I wake up in the middle of the night, I watch her videos and what she does. She is such a generous and genuine person. I’d take her to Joey Gerard’s because they have really good ice cream drinks over there and it would be a good place to get dressed up and hang out with her.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about Greendale?
A: Driving down Broad street during all the different seasons and seeing all the flowers, different decorations and the flags and so forth. The alphabetical street names are unique. They’re all named after trees, flowers, plants or shrubs. It’s all the history. Also, the decorated chimneys.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?
A: Still in Greendale. Still volunteering. Healthy. Free of debt. All those wonderful things!
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A: I keep gloves, snacks, scarves in my car. Whenever I see somebody, like someone waiting for a bus that doesn’t have gloves on, I will stop and give them gloves. If I see people in need, I give them stuff.
Q: What 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
A: Community, Family and Joshua 24:15 As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. When I leave Greendale, I can’t wait to get back. Everything is here. It makes me feel peaceful and content.
Q: If you were cast into a major motion picture and had your choice of anyone to be your co-star, who would you choose?
A: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. He’s just solid. Such a nice guy and so generous.
Q: If you had a full time staff member that was fully paid for, who would you choose? Chef, Housekeeper, Driver, Coach, Physical Fitness Trainer, or Nanny?
A: Chef. I like to cook but I want to try new things.
