Play in the City

Snow Flurries and Scrambled Eggs

December came in like a lion on Saturday.

Local weathermen declared a winter snow advisory as snowflakes the size of cotton balls began to fall around noon. And as the day progressed, so did the storm. Locals were urged to stay home as the night beckoned freezing rain, snow and blustery winds. It was a sure sign that winter is upon us.

On Sunday, I woke up to a panorama of snow covered trees and roof tops, sidewalks and driveways, and the sounds of wind whistling and sleet pelting the windowpanes. Like a giddy school girl I jumped out of bed, threw on my winter coat, hat and gloves, and then descended upon the wintry landscape, dragging Eric along with me. After only several minutes outside, we began to crave a comforting, home cooked meal to warm us up again. So despite the weather, we decided to walk slog through the slush to Comet Café for one of the best brunches in the city.

For ten years, Comet was the smoky coffee shop serving the East Side neighborhood a strong cup of joe and the best sandwiches in town. When I was a teenager, I was a semi-regular there on nights when I was itching to get out of Brookfield. Since then, Comet has gone through quite the metamorphosis – it has blossomed from an awkward teenager to an adult as well.

These days, Comet is more like a trendy diner than a café. And after Comet’s face-lift, the building has split into two sections: a non-smoking cafeteria filled with oversized booths and an eat-at lunch counter; and around the corner, a dimly lit bar providing cocktails and ashtrays. I’ve embraced the new change and find myself frequenting at Comet for its casual food, service and atmosphere. It’s one of my favorite places to linger over a cup of coffee and indulge in a slice of Ho Ho Cake. And it has quite the breakfast selection, which is the perfect thing to warm you up on a cold winter morning.

As we hopped over puddles and dodged mounds of icy snow, we passed dozens of locals who had been forced to dust off their snow blowers and shovels for the first time this season – at that moment I was very glad to be a renter and not responsible for clearing the snow off the driveway.

The Sports Fanatic's Paradise

Packers, Brewers and Bucks games just got more exciting!

Fanatics Sports Central is the new upscale sports bar boasting stadium seating, an X-box tournament room and private booths.

I hate when sports bars are marketed as a “guys paradise.” Maybe statistically sports bars attract more men verses women, but I still get a little offended. I am a woman AND I am a sports fan. I can get down and dirty with the guys, drink beer with the best of them and rattle off just as many sports stats as my bearded comrades. Because I don’t fit the description of the stereotypical woman, I wonder why sports bars can’t be a place for the “sports enthusiast” and not just for the guys...

A month ago Fanatics opened its doors in the Third Ward and with it, opened the gates to a sports fan’s heaven. As I found out after my first visit, there’s definitely a little something for everyone, yes, even for the “typical” woman.

It’s a place where you can go to watch the game on a bunch of TVs, plus explore the many different avenues that’ll keep you busy all night long. For instance, during halftime, you can play a game on their X-box, challenge a friend to pool or darts, or fiddle with an online game. There’s even talk that Fanatics will host leagues, which will include darts, foosball and even Madden and Halo!

As I scanned the bar I was in awe of the many luminous high-definition TV screens and my jaw dropped as I realized the 42 HDTVs were dominated by a 150-inch marvel that can display nine games at once - or just one game, really, really big. And to make everyone happy, it’s flanked by six more screens so that, as on Sunday, the Packers vs. Panthers game could be shown at a theatrical scale while the other NFL games went on around it. I was totally overwhelmed!

Lakefront Brewery Fish & Beer

There's no better way to celebrate a southeastern Wisconsin tradition like the Friday night fish fry than pairing it with another Milwaukee favorite...

Beer.

That’s right. You won’t find many local fish fry lovers who aren’t indulging in a brewski or two, simply because it’s what we do here. And to detest a great beer is sacrilegious if you live in Milwaukee; we are Brew City, people. Thus, it’s no wonder why the Lakefront Brewery tour and fish fry is such a popular event as it attracts droves of locals and visitors to its home along the Milwaukee River every Friday night.

Seriously, Lakefront Brewery fills up very fast for such an occasion. It’s probably because it boasts the best fish fry in southeastern Wisconsin hands down – the only thing that could possibly make it better would be if it was all-you-can-eat!

The Lakefront Brewery is a Milwaukee landmark, just like Miller and Sprecher. Even with only 20 years under their belt, Lakefront already has a rich history involving local taverns, city preservations, unique tours, family style dining and most importantly, award winning brews.

Lakefront Brewery makes some of my favorite beers – Cattail, ESB, Eastside and Pumpkin Spice – and has an exceptional tour, which is why I chose it as the place to host my birthday celebration this year.

FUEL Hits Cuvée

Last Thursday, FUEL was given exclusive access to the up-and-coming Milwaukee hot spot, Cuvée, a week prior to its big public opening.

Located on the top floor of a converted industrial building in the center of the artsy Third Ward, Cuvée is a loft-style champagne lounge and full-service bar with over 100 different varieties of sparking wine, which are available for take-out and table service.

In all honesty, I didn’t know a thing about FUEL until my friend of 12 years landed a gig as their member and events manager almost a year ago. Rose and I grew up in Brookfield together and got to know each other well over many years of playing high school and club volleyball.

These days, Rose gets to work with really hip 20-somethings as she sets up socials at new, trendy bars. And when FUEL became the new Young Professionals of Milwaukee back in February, Rose was part of its re-branding and reorganizing.

As I learned more about FUEL, I realized that its concept – to have a talent network for employees and individuals around Milwaukee – is a pretty solid idea. According to their website, FUEL is a membership comprised organization that leads the talent attraction and retention work of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC). FUEL focuses on 4,500 growth-oriented individuals working in the Milwaukee area who are 21 and older and 56 employers of all types who are looking to attract a more diverse talent pool. I think it’s a great way to strengthen the Milwaukee regional business base by, as I presume it does, attracting and retaining jobs and the talent to fill them. And because FUEL attracts a crowd whose age ranges from 21 to 50, it’s a great way to meet people.

FUEL holds two events each month to showcase the Milwaukee region. “One gets us around town and is purely social and the other gives us access to something or someone of high regional interest like our upcoming Green Café Event at Manpower,” Rose explained.

I’m not a member of FUEL, which is okay since it’s not necessary if you want to attend their socials (but to reap the other benefits you have to be a member). So on Thursday night, I decided to check out what their socials are all about and to get a sneak peek into a new bar before it opens to the public; and of course to win a couple brownie points from Rose for attending.

Celebrations in the Third Ward

On Saturday night in the Historic Third Ward, my friends and I met on the riverfront patio of the Milwaukee Ale House to celebrate a friend’s birthday. Our seating near the Milwaukee River spotlighted downtown and local boat docks. As I admired the sailboats floating along, I enjoyed the humid night while tasting the various handcrafted Ale House specialty beers. We sampled the crisp tasting Downtown Lites Honey Ale (city lights in a glass they say, yet I’m not sure what the really means) and the rich, malty amber ale, Louie’s Demise, which is my favorite. This unique experience is one that brings Milwaukeeans back to their roots and visitors closer to the rich life of the city that made brewing famous.

After kicking back, making random conversation, and tasting the fantastic appetizers for an hour or so (I highly recommend the macaroni and cheese bites. They’re fried triangles stuffed with real Mac n’ Cheese goodness!), we moved the party to another unique bar, The Irish Pub.

This pub is new to the corner of Erie and Water Street. It’s a classic Irish owned and fully functional bar that is reminiscent of pubs found in Ireland, so I’m told. I ordered up a Harp and Guinness, which were ridiculously expensive (or I’m just a cheapskate) and ventured outside. Fortunately, the ambience of the outdoor patio made me forget about the arm and leg I left at the oak top bar inside. 

The patio was something I’ve never seen before. It wasn’t that the outdoor set-up was  architecturally magnificent, it was simple; and it certainly wasn’t swanky, but humble and comfortable. The patio was built next to a large parking garage that normally would be an ambient blemish, but on this summer night it was magnificent. The entire wall was covered with lush vines that crept and covered every concrete wall and metal brace making the parking structure resemble a fortress that blocked the patio from the bustling nightlife.

As our large group of friends sat at the black iron tables on the wooden deck, I felt like we were in the backyard of an Irish lad’s home. This guy really enjoyed his Gaelic Storm albums and kept “Bring Yer Wellies” on repeat all night. I willingly clapped along to its traditional Irish melody and acoustic instrumentals. You can’t help it, or at least I can’t, but that’s because I think I have ADHD. 

After two Irish car bombs for the birthday boy, we were out of money  and liveliness. The time was up for playing catch-up with long lost friends and discovering the unique bar and restaurant scene in the Third Ward. Still, this night wasn’t just a Birthday celebration; it was a celebration of a perfect summer evening spent in Milwaukee. Like a good beer, we savor these nights for as long as we can. 

Kil@wat

Stemming from the ZenDen post …

There’s a new restaurant inside the Wyndham called Kilawat. I was listening to Jane and Kidd on 99.1 WMYX just now, and Kidd said he tried it recently and the food and service were phenomenal. And Ann Christenson, food critic for Milwaukee Magazine, said that the décor and ambiance made her feel like she was somewhere like Las Vegas.

My list of must-try restaurants in Milwaukee is about as long as my leg, but I do believe this one will have to be placed somewhere near the top.

If anyone has experienced Kil@wat, I’d love to hear about it!

Popeye's on Lake Geneva

One of Milwaukee’s many selling points is its proximity to Chicago.

A less-oft-mentioned selling point is its proximity to one of the Midwest’s best little tourist towns, Lake Geneva.

Growing up just 20 minutes from LG, I’m quite familiar with it. It’s a charming place on a beautiful (and very deep) lake, and the town boasts lots of little shops and ice cream parlors and arcades and restaurants. There are also several fun bars and clubs and a lot of touristy things to do like renting bikes and jet skis, hitting the beach and going on boat rides and dinner cruises.

In addition, there is a 21-mile path that winds around the lake, allowing the public to get up close and personal with some of the fabulous mansions that border the lake.

On Saturday I had lunch in Lake Geneva with mom and Kathy and Amanda at one of my favorite places there, Popeye's.

Popeye’s sits directly across the street from LG’s main beach and boasts lovely lake views, a very lively atmosphere and some darn good food.

And I’m not just saying all this because I spent three of the best summers of my life working there.

It’s true – I got a waitressing job at Popeye’s in the summer of 2001 and returned the following two summers, spending many of my days and most of my nights making friends, running around waiting tables, serving up delicious food and drinks and earning some mad cash.

(*Here's a little proof: embarrassing photo #1 of this post.)

Popeye’s is huge – it seats hundreds of people at a time, and on any given summer evening, the place is jam-packed and the line to get a table is out the door. Tables turn quickly, though, and the food is worth it! For a fun date or a place to go with a big group, it’s just a really fun restaurant.

They make whole chickens on a spit outside, and they serve most anything else you can think of – burgers, pastas, seafood, steaks, sandwiches. They’re famous for their cheddar-broccoli soup, their spinach and artichoke dip, and that chicken, which is juicy and seasoned to perfection.

On Saturday, Amanda and I shared their baked brie, which – I’m embarrassed to admit – I LIVED on the last summer I worked there. Butter and cheese with almonds, over bread. Does it get better?! Then we shared a cheeseburger, too. It was all so good! 

Popeye's holds a special place in my heart for another reason, too. Had I not worked there, I never would have met my husband!

I worked there with a guy who lived with Dave at the time in Whitewater, which is where I went to school at the time, too. On October 4, 2001, I went to his house for a little get-together and the minute I walked in the door, I spotted a very handsome and shy-looking guy sitting the couch. I ended up sitting next to him for the evening and we chatted and … yada yada yada … the rest is history!

(For the record, since we're talking about it, we met at 19, dated for 10 months, broke up and broke each other's hearts, and got back together in June of 2003 and have been smooth sailin ever since. That's our story.)

(*And while I'm at it, here's embarrassing photo #2 of this post.)

But … I digress. I was talking about Popeye's. And Lake Geneva.

Even when you live in a friendly, accessible city with lots to do like Milwaukee, it’s nice to know you have options when you want to escape for a day, too. Lake Geneva is about an hour away and a fun little day trip. And if you go, I definitely recommend giving Popeye’s a try!

You can tell ‘em Erin sent you. J 

Food drive at Chipotle

Dave and I have been home from Mexico for two weeks now, and in that two weeks, I haven't eaten ANY guacamole. After eating it seven days straight and then stopping cold turkey when we arrived back in the U.S., I was way past due for a fix.

Chipotle is a favorite dining destination of mine, and they have some of the best guacamole around. Knowing that they're currently giving away FREE BURRITOS sealed the deal for me today – we were heading to Chipotle for lunch.


Through Wednesday (Nov. 22), every Wisconsin Chipotle is holding a food drive that will benefit local food pantries. Simply bring in two non-perishable food items and get a mouth-watering burrito, bol (burrito with no tortilla), salad or order of tacos free.

Dave and I brought in our four items this afternoon and indulged in chicken burritos and chips and guac. MMMM!



I normally like to steer clear of chain restaurants when I can (Starbucks doesn't count!) just because Milwaukee has SO many great dining options. But for Chipotle, I'll make an exception any day.

A few things about Chipotle that true fans are aware of but that you may not know: all of their chicken and pork is naturally-raised, which is why it tastes so good. No hormones or steroids for those animals, and no cages, either.

Also, Chipotle USED to be owned by McDonald's when it was first getting off the ground, but earlier this year, it cut all ties with McD's. (It drives me crazy when people say, "how can it be quality food? It's owned by McDonald's. Um, no it's not.)

So there you have it. Chipotle rocks, and it especially rocks when it gives away free food while allowing you to do a good thing for the poor.

If you're jonesin' for a free burrito between now and Wednesday – and you know you will be – dig into your pantry or get to the grocery store - and then get to Chipotle!

Jean Pierre and Grant Park

There's a small bakery/café in Shorewood called Jean Pierre that I've wanted to try ever since we moved here in August. It's a quaint little restaurant with yellow awnings out front that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in the dining room and the outdoor seating area, and also serves specialty coffees and pastries from behind its counter.

Dave and I walked down to Jean Pierre on Sunday morning for breakfast to finally check the place out. It was pretty busy when we walked in and from the looks of it, there was only one guy waiting on the entire restaurant, but we were seated and served very promptly. Our table was in the back dining room against the wall, and when I looked around I saw that everything about the place is just cozy – the yellow walls, the rustic wooden tables and chairs, the French paintings and décor. People looked at ease and happy as they visited over their coffee and Sunday papers – I told Dave I think we should make this a regular thing. (I wanted to take pics of the dining room but I didn't want people to think I was crazy...)



The waiter was great, filling my cup full of coffee right away as we looked over the menus. Everything sounded delicious – Belgian waffle with apple nut syrup, sun dried tomato quiche, bagels, muffins, eggs, pancakes – it was hard to decide. Dave went for the waffle and I went for a cheese, ham, spinach and mushroom omelet with toast and fresh fruit. Our food came fast and wow, was it fantastic. I think it was the best omelet I've ever had. The fruit was so fresh, and the toast was served dry – with butter and jelly on the side - which I liked. No greasy diner food here!

I loved Jean Pierre – I wish it hadn't taken us so long to try it out! Next time, we'll be hitting it up for dinner to see if it compares to breakfast.

After breakfast, we drove out to South Milwaukee to Grant Park. With my sore legs and Dave's hangover, we really were in no mood for playing in the park, but I had to do a little research. I can't say what for yet – don't want to jinx it! – but I will soon. I'd heard a lot about Grant Park being one of Milwaukee's best parks so I was eager to see it.



It was huge! There were several entrances off the main road, and tons of open space and picnic areas. There's also a golf course, a beach, and several jungle gyms. I searched until I found the Seven Bridges Trail, which I'd heard was a great hiking trail. We found that it was closed due to some renovations, but – despite Dave's yelling at me – I ignored the Do Not Enter signs and scoped out the view from the bridge and took some pics. The trail looks beautiful – I can't wait to go back when it's open again.



The rest of the day was pretty uneventful – but after discovering two more Milwaukee gems, I figured I could call it a day! 

The Riverwalk Bistro

Downtown Dining Week wraps up today.

Dave and I took advantage of the promotion on Sunday evening for dinner. I really wanted to try Osteria Del Mondo or Nanakusa, but both were unfortunately closed on Sundays. So after looking at the different menus on the Downtown Dining website, we decided on the Riverwalk Bistro.

It’s a fairly new place in the Third Ward on Water Street that has outdoor seating along the Riverwalk (obviously). Dennis Getto (Journal Sentinel food critic extraordinaire) called the Riverwalk Bistro "One of Milwaukee's Best New Restaurants of 2005" - and he knows his stuff - so we went with it.

We got there for our 6:00 reservation and the dining room was empty except for one table of four. It was so cute inside though with intimate little tables along the banquettes lit by candlelight that when the hostess asked if we wanted to sit inside or outside, I actually said “well, can we just see the outside?” thinking that we’d stay inside.

But once we saw the patio – which was hopping with people – we decided that we must sit outside. We were led to a small wrought-iron table up on the walkway and the early evening sun shined bright on us as we looked over the menu.



Once we decided what we wanted, we just enjoyed the absolutely perfect weather while we sipped our drinks and waited for our food to arrive. A lot of people walked by our table on the walkway as we sat there, but they weren't a bother at all. The couple sitting just a few feet from us, though, was a bit of a bother. They were obviously on a first date, had had a little (or a lot) too much to drink and were laughing incredibly obnoxiously as they tried to impress one another. I think Dave and I both wanted them to fall into the river, and when they finally ordered some food, we were relieved because they had something to do with their mouths now besides talk.

Anyway, for our first course we had fried calamari and bruschetta. The calamari was quite tasty but the portion was much too large, even for two people, and the bruschetta was more like cheese bread with soggy tomatoes on top than actual bruschetta. We were hungry, though, and so we polished all of it off.

The entrees were much better than the appetizers. I had an awesome piece of barbecue pineapple salmon that was served with jalapeno mashed potatoes, field greens and grapes. I loved it. Dave had an oriental chicken salad that had these yummy noodles mixed in and was topped with a soy dressing.



For dessert, we had both ordered chocolate cheesecake but our waiter came out to tell us that they had run out and therefore were substituting a chocolate indulgence cake. Hey, anything with the word "chocolate" in it and I'm there. The desserts came out and they looked like they'd be pretty great, but they were just alright. I should have just eaten half and saved myself the calories but what can I say? I love to eat, even if the food doesn't wow me.



The setting of the restaurant right on the river was great, and one of the owners even stopped at our table at one point to see how everything was, which was appreciated. We had a very pleasant evening, though we probably won't go back anytime soon. There are so many restaurants in Milwaukee that unless a place really blows me away, I won't be back until I've exhausted my other options – which could take years.