Saturday = Market Day

Anyone who has lived in Madison knows that Saturday morning is all about the Farmer's Market.  Naturally, when I moved from Madison to Milwaukee, one of the first things I researched was the local farmer's markets.  While none of the Milwaukee County farmer's markets are as big as the Dane County Market around the Capital Square, they are still pretty fantastic.

Since I already was in the habit of going to the farmer's market on Saturday mornings, I was thrilled to find out that the South Shore Farmers Market is on Saturday morning.  One of the things I like best about this market is the park itself.  South Shore Park is nestled up by the lake, in the Bay View neighborhood.  On the way to the market and back I always appreciate the stroll along the lake. The market runs every Saturday from June 19 to October 16, 2011.   The market is open from 8 a.m. until 12:00 noon. 

The market itself is small and hosts about 20-30 vendors.  However, it has such a variety that you can get your complete list of needs at one time.   There is a stand for veggies, plants, cheese, coffee, meat, eggs, baked goods, soup, and more.  There is also always live music, which along with the lakefront views sets the tone for a beautiful morning. 

Fabulous Fun Free Friday!

Happy Friday everyone!  I hope everybody had a good week and is ready to let loose.  Today's free fun is the Great Lakes Distillery tour!  


Great Lakes Distillery is a local micro distillery found at 616 West Virginia Street in the 5th Ward. They are a small producer of hand-craft distilled spirits. The distillery uses traditional methods to make their spirits as pure as possible.  You may have had their Rehorst Vodka or Gin in the past, or perhaps their Roaring Dan's Rum.  


The folks at Great Lake take pride in their small business and try to educate you about the world of spirits. I could go on and on about how wonderful this place is but then I would be ruining the tour.  The tours run Monday through Thursday at 2 and 4pm, Friday at 2, 4 and 6pm and Saturday 1, 2, 3, and 4 pm.  The tour is free and there is a spirits tasting for 3 dollars.  When I was there, I tasted two vodkas, two types of absinthe, a gin and a rum.  There is also a bar where you can order traditional drinks.  Make sure to try the Lemon Drop martini in the bar, FANTASTIC!


Stopping in at Great Lakes is a "must do" in Milwaukee.  It is a unique learning experience and a great way to support local business.  I never used to be a vodka girl, but I am a Rehorst vodka girl now!

Take me out to the Chinese-American Sports Bar!

Tonight is the last of the Brewers/Cubs three game series and tomorrow marks the start of the Brewers/Astros three game series.  Because Brewer's games are the most widely covered subject in writing about Milwaukee, I am not going to talk about the game itself other than to say get the expensive tickets.  I had gone to 4 games and wasn't that enthused about baseball at all until I discovered the power of the 100 and 200 level seats.  For me this is a game changer - I have vowed never to sit in the 400 level again. But enough about baseball, lets talk pre-gaming.

Being the Wisconsin Badger that I am,  I consider going to a game without pre-gaming to be somewhat sacrilegious.  When it was suggested that we pre-game at a place called "Long Wongs" I was skeptical.  "Why not Kelly's Bleachers,  Rounding Third, or something appropriate for baseball?" I asked.  But my doubts melted away when I walked into Long Wongs, Milwaukee's ONLY Chinese-American Sports Bar (at least that is what their sign says).

Long Wongs is located in Story Hill across from Miller park.  It features chinese-american food, a bowling alley, table tennis and an extensive beer list.  What makes this an ideal pre-gaming spot is that they have a free shuttle to  and from the Brewer and, most importantly, games, $1 eggrolls.  Piping hot, freshly made dollar eggrolls are offered before every home game.  The service here is also stellar, and the staff always have smiles on their faces and are quick on their feet.   I don't know what else to say about this place other than to check it out yourself.  It's one of those places you can't describe to other people but when you discuss with anyone who has been there they say, "Oh yeah I LOVE that place!"

New Mural in Town

If you are driving down Pittsburgh Avenue in Milwaukee, you might notice the neighborhood is getting a bit more colorful.  The Couto brothers, a dynamic painting duo, along with their creative partner, Owen McGonegle, are giving back in Milwaukee, a city they say has inspired their work.  For the last week or so, the brothers and some helpful volunteers have been working to prime, paint a base coat, and now paint the mural that is changing the face of 1st and Pittsburgh.  The project is being funded completely out of their own pockets and from donations.   While the mural isn't done yet, it's worth a drive, stroll, or bike past to check out their awesome work.  I can't wait to see the finished product. 

"This is not 'Nam. This is bowling. There are rules."

One of my favorite things to do with my out of town guests is to take them to Koz's Mini Bowl.  To borrow from a Yelp review Koz's Mini Bowl is "pure awesomeness".   Located at 2078 S. 7th St. Milwaukee, Wi this south side pub is not your typical bowling alley.  


At Koz's everything is mini.  There are four 16-foot lanes, grapefruit-size bowling balls, and smaller than usual pins.  For a bowling novice like myself, who prefers Wii-Bowling to the real thing, this place is paradise.  What really sets Koz's apart, is the pinsetters.  At the back of each lane, above the pins, sit the brave pinsetters who dodge flying pins and rogue balls.  My favorite pinsetter is a guy named, "Peanuts," who almost lost his nose when my under-leg move failed miserably and I sent my ball up the ball return ramp.  This is a dangerous job folks, so when you go, don't forget to tip your pinsetter!

Why else does it earn that "pure awesome" title?  Where there is a door painted to look like "Mr. Ed" is in the bathroom, they decorate with antlers, the drinks are reasonable, PBR is on tap, and the bartenders are friendly.  There is also a well stocked jukebox.  I recommend bringing cash because nothing gets your bowling groove on like a 1990's power ballad.  


I was told that you should take the game seriously when you are there because if you end up on their 300 club wall you get a nifty prize.  I have never came close to that score, so I can't advise on that, but I would love hear what it is if any of you "strike" success.


Bottom line, Koz's Mini Bowl is a perfect mix of small dive bar, bowling alley bar and your grandparent's basement all mixed together to make one fun night out.  I highly suggest calling and making a reservation because they book up fast and I don't want you to miss out on the fun!


     
For those of you who are questioning the title of today's post, it's from the movie The Big Lebowski.  If you haven't seen it you should, if you have seen it you should probably see it again.  "The Dude abides"

Get Moving Monday!

Happy Monday to you all!  After a fun filled weekend it is back to the grind... and back to the workout plan, but working out in Milwaukee doesn't have to be a drag!  One of Milwaukee County's greatest treasures is the Oak Leaf Trail.

The Oak Leaf trail is over 100 miles of multi-use trails that weave through all the major parks in the Milwaukee County Park system.  One of the great things about this trail is that, unlike other trails in Wisconsin, this one is open to all forms of activity.  Feel free to bike, skate, run or walk on these trails.  The trail is made up of for the most part, off-road paved trails and park drives.  Municipal streets are used when necessary to keep the route continual.

This trail is especially beautiful as you head south from the Bay View-South Shore Park area and down along the lake.  On a hot day, this is where I escape to get both my workout and my tan on.  Being this close to the lake, the breeze cools you and the view keeps you motivated to keep pedaling or treading on.  Next time you are lacking motivation to get in motion head out on the trail and enjoy the sites.

Why is it the Cream City?

Today I am taking a break from Milwaukee activities to explain the tag line in my blog title.  Inquiring minds were wondering why they call Milwaukee the Cream City. 

Some might assume that the cream has to do with Wisconsin being the dairy state or even that creamy froth found on top of the state's favorite beverage, beer.   In all actuality, the name comes from the cream-colored bricks that many of the cities buildings were made from.

Along the shore of Lake Michigan, there is a type of weather resistant clay called red lacustrine.  After this clay is fired into bricks it turns a creamy yellow color.  The bricks became popular quickly due to their weather resistance and color-fastness.  This started a brick-building boom.  This local building material has been used in Milwaukee since the late 1830s.  By the 80s, Burnham Brickyard employed 200 men and kicked out a whopping 15 million bricks a year making it the largest brickyard in the world.  

By the end of the 1870s so many buildings in Milwaukee were built using the bricks that it was hard NOT to notice the overwhelmingly cream colored cityscape.  This is where the "Cream City" got her name.

Hey Mambo! Mambo Italiano!

This weekend has always been one of my favorite weekends in Milwaukee because it's Festa Italiana.   To me, Festa Italiana means one thing.  Four nights of FIREWORKS!!  Fireworks are a pretty big deal for me, so obviously I am a happy camper.

The fest itself costs $13.00 for entrance, a fee I find to be slightly high, but I am willing to pay.  Once inside the Summerfest grounds, you are greeted by a large replica of the Statue of David and surrounded by every other cliche Italo-Americano thing you can think of.  Cannoli, Gelato, Lambrusco,  you name it, this fest has it.

A popular thing to eat at Festa is an arrancini.  Arrancini are rice balls with meat and cheese in the center.  They are served with sauce.  In the words of Joey Tribbiani - rice, good; meat, good; cheese, GOOOOOD. Prior to attending Festa, I have rarely seen these delicious treats in the US.  They are EVERYWHERE at Festa.

The line-up for musical entertainment at Festa Italiana can be hit or miss depending on what you like.  This year they had the Monkees (yes! the hit band from the 80's), a Fleetwood Mac cover band, many Rat Pack types, and Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.  They also have stages with fashion shows, cannoli eating contests, and cooking shows.  I was unable to see the cooking shows this year but they looked pretty cool, so I hope to go next year.  Festa Italiana also features a large carnival ride section so for those who are brave can dare the zipper or the tilt-a-whirl.

What I like best about Festa Italiana is two things.  Number one the people.  The volunteers and coordinators for this festival are so gracious and happy to share their culture with you.  Second, is the cultural aspect.  There are italian dancers, and tents with all kinds of educational and cultural material.  I believe they really want this festival to be about learning.

Finally, I have to touch on the fireworks again.  Are they as awesome as the Big Bang on July 3rd... no, but they are pretty fantastic and they are EVERY NIGHT.  Thursday through Sunday there are fireworks at 10:15.

This year, I learned that there is a gondola on the lake, that you can ride in during the festival.  You can specifically rent it so you will be on the gondola during the fireworks.  How romantic.  How awesome... sign me up next year for sure!

Discovery World

Discovery World, a set by .michael.newman. on Flickr.

Here are the photos I was talking about of the park! Thanks Michael for sharing!

Fun FREE Fridays!

I have decided that Friday will be about free things to do in Milwaukee.  Let's talk about Milwaukee's Pier Wisconsin.  The Pier is where Discovery World is located.  Because this is FREE Friday I won't go into the wonders of Discovery World today, but look forward to doing so in the future.

In front of Discovery World there is a park, for the sake of this entry we are going to call it Discovery World Park, because I believe it really doesn't have a name.  I am pretty good at internet searches, and I haven't found one yet.  The park is full of surprising, fun, interactive art, which I have walked by at least a dozen times and have never thought to interact with it until a child taught me.

The most obvious piece of art is the "disco trees" — that is what my friend Jo calls them.  They are 30' tall structures that look like leaves moving with the wind.  From below you can change direction the leaves face and change the affect the wind has on the structure.  The leaves make a light, pleasant noise when the wind amps up and the metal flutters and ripples almost like it's mirroring the water.  Through research, I found out the name of this work is not actually disco trees but Wind Leaves and it was designed by Ned Kahn.  Wikipedia has a nice article if you would like to read more about them.

Next, my personal favorite, is the leaf-shaped musical instrument that is played by dropping pebbles through the metal netting and between a plinko-like matrix of nails.  Jo wanted to name this one the plinko-leaf-flute.  I prefer just plinko-leaf for now but I intend to go back in daylight and find the real name.  Anyway, what makes this so awesome is the sound it creates.  Its like a huge rain stick.  Speaking of which, I played it quite a few times, like 30.  So maybe that is why we are finally getting some good rain today.  While searching the web, I found others have called it the pebble chime.  Its funny, because while we were standing there a kid was tossing rocks through it and I thought to myself, I know he shouldn't be tossing rocks at art but man that makes a cool sound.  Then I watched a little longer, and found the sign that said he was doing exactly what the sculpture was made for.  While researching online, I found many other people had done the same thing, often about to stop their children from "throwing rocks" until they realized their toddler had out smarted them.

Finally the part that I couldn't believe I have missed time and again are the benches.  Each wooden bench also has a leaf like shape and faces inward, they are beautiful and they are comfortable and I thought that was that.  But NO - there's more!  Each bench has a set up drum sticks that allow you to play them like a xylophone!   The best part about this xylophone bench, is the noise is at a pitch and volume that is very pleasing and not at all irritating to those who may want to sit, peacefully and watch the wind leaves.

For free you can have LOTS of fun and make LOTS of noise at this little park.  As soon as this rain stops I suggest you head on out!  I found a flickr account with awesome photos of this place.  I have asked permission to post and as soon as I hear back I will add the photos.

Happy Friday!  Cheers!

All that Jazz

Every Thursday, from June to September, Cathedral Square hosts a free event called Jazz in the Park.  Jazz in the Park is an outdoor summer music series which usually features a mix of jazz, funk, R&B reggae and blues.  The performers range from locals to global performers. The music starts at 6 and ends at 9 but you can (and should) come early to snag a seat and partake in the happy hour drink specials.  You may have heard that you can carry in your own wine and beer, this used to be true, but is no longer allowed.  In recent times, I believe since 2009, they have asked that you "leave your adult beverages at home" and purchase them at the concert because the proceeds from sales help offset the cost of the event.  There are many vendors, and I do believe the prices are "fair.  I encourage you to pack a picnic and a blanket but those coming straight from work or who prefer to buy their meals at the concert there are vendors selling food as well, not to mention the Metro Market is just down the street with an amazing deli.   So grab a blanket and some friends and come on down to the social event of the evening!

What to DO with all that DEW?

Today the dew point in Milwaukee is 77 and the "feels like" temperature is 106.  So let's talk about the 5 best way to beat the heat!

1.  Milwaukee is widely known for having some of the best frozen custard stands in all the nation.  My personal favorites are Leon's and Kopp's.  Leon's has a great retro feel and is walk up only.  If you need to escape from the outdoors Kopp's is another option.  Both places have a variety of flavors that are sure to tempt your taste buds and cool you off, even if only for a few moments.


2.  Take a stroll down to the lake.  You may be a little shy to head outdoors and away from your beloved AC but the temps down by the lake are usually a good 10-15 degrees cooler than they are 3 blocks in.  Grab a blanket and head to Veteran's, Grant or South Shore Park and cool off in the breeze from Lake Michigan.

3.  Head to the beach!  Milwaukee has five major beaches, many of which are reminiscent of those you find on the ocean.  If you are looking for a "spring break" experience head to Bradford Beach to join in on Milwaukee's very own daily impromptu beach party.  If you are looking for a quieter location, try any of the other four.

4.  Cool off at Cool Waters Family Aquatic Park in Greenfield!  There are obstacle courses, kids areas and plenty of cool water for everyone... it's like a mini Noah's Ark.

5.  Head to the library.  If you just can't take another moment out in the sun head any of Milwaukee's beautiful libraries, grab a book and bask in cool, dry air from the AC.  This week they even extended their hours as a "cool spot"!

Hello World!

Hello!  I am Maria.  I moved to Milwaukee, WI a year ago today, and over the last year I have been amazed at all the of the amazingly cool things that are going on in Milwaukee on a daily basis.  When my boyfriend and I would tell people of our adventures, they would often be surprised to hear that such a place, bar, restaurant, museum, festival, etc was in Milwaukee.  I have decided its high time to share the fun!  My goal is to post one cool thing to do in Milwaukee every single day.  Some days there might be more, somedays maybe less, but I invite you to join me in exploring all the Cream City has to offer!

Cheers!