New Year's Eve

I love New Year's Eve.

I love the flowing champagne, the dressing up, the kissing at midnight, the promise of a new beginning, everything.

My last few New Year's Eves have been pretty low-key. For a couple years in a row, Dave and I stayed in and cooked steaks and drank and played games just the two of us (yeah, it's kind of dorky, but such is life when you're in love - it doesn't really matter what you do!) And then last year, I worked. This year I'm excited to be out on the town for New Year's for the first time in a few years.

I'll be spending the evening at Swig, which was just named Milwaukee's Best Upscale Casual Restaurant by Dennis Getto. It's an all-you-can-eat-and-drink type thing and I think it'll be a great time.

The next day, however, might not be such a great time - but I'm trying to keep an open mind.

I'm going to be partaking in a long-standing New Year's Day tradition, the Polar Bear Plunge. Yes, I will be running like a crazy person into the frigid waters of Lake Michigan with a bunch of other crazy people right there with me. The thought makes me cringe, and I can't say that I wouldn't rather be in bed, or out to breakfast, or just about anywhere else that day - but I'm doing it!

Here's the thing, though - I haven't been able to find any solid information about it online. I remember hearing somewhere that it all goes down at noon, but I haven't been able to confirm that. I don't want to miss it (or do I?) but I don't want to get down there way too early, either. And does the Milwaukee Plunge take place at Bradford Beach or McKinley Beach?

If anyone will be there, or knows for sure what time it all happens and where, please post on here and let me know!

Comments

[Matt]

The Polar Bear Plunge goes off at noon at Bradford Beach. Get there relatively early, otherwise you'll be parking quite a hike away. Plenty of people are there by 10:00ish, continuing the party from the previous night. It is always fun being down there, whether you go in the lake or not.

[oz]

Bring something warm for your feet! The sand is cold....

[Erin]

Thanks for the info, Matt! I guess we'll head down by 10 or 11. And thanks for the valuable piece of advice, Oz.

No one has come forward yet to say they're actually doing it, though ....

Anybody?

[kelly]

I was actually kicking around the idea of doing it! A friend of mine did it last year and she said it was really fun and wants to do it again. I will probably back out, so don't count on me...Im on that staying in bed or going out to breakfast train.

[Matt]

Oz is absolutely right! While the rest of my body was OK, (not warm, but "OK"), the tops of my feet were the coldest and most painful part of my body when I came out of the water a couple of years ago. Oh, and wear shoes when you go in too. Have fun!