Play in the City

Decisions, Decisions.

Milwaukee comes to life every summer, offering a wealth of things to do. In fact, there’s so much going on this weekend that I'm finding it difficult to pick and choose.

With Milwaukee's summer festival season still moving in full force, this weekend brings Bastille Days, Gathering on the Green, Greek Fest and South Shore Frolics – all great events. Additionally, after a long and anticipated wait the Harley-Davidson Museum finally opens to the public while the Brewers head into the All-Star break with a three-game series against Cincinnati. Plus, there are a number of farmers markets that I’d like to check out this weekend as well.

What’s a blogger to do? I’ll let you know what I decide.

Have a fun weekend!

TGIF!

I'm always looking forward to the weekend, but I haven’t been this excited for it in a really, really long time.

See, the last two weeks have been very grueling, mostly due to several unforeseen events. In particular, many changes have taken place at my day job – my boss quit; we were bought out, and so on. Thus, I’m the only person left to do marketing duties around the place, so I’ve been working my butt off to get things organized and planned for our HUGE convention in Los Angeles in about a week. Needless to say, I’ve been burning the midnight oil every night this week to keep up-to-date on work, blogging and extracurricular activities, but all I really want to do is take a nap.

Like I said, ALL I WANT IS SLEEP. But, this weekend doesn’t really allow much time to catch up on my Zs. I have plenty of work to keep me up late again tonight and on Saturday morning I’m walking for the Lupus Foundation, and then trucking out to the very swampy Wisconsin Dells for my good friend Rose’s bachelorette party – it’s the first bachelorette party I’ve attended, so I’m very excited. Then, I’m obviously spending Sunday with my pops for Father’s Day up in West Bend and I play volleyball that night in Mequon, and once I’m home, I will be back to the grind until I conk out.

Luckily, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. L.A., baby! That’s where I will be by the end of next week. Working, yes, but it will be easy work – minimal mental and physical exertion – mixed with carefree evenings spent experiencing the city’s nightlife. What's most exciting, though, is that Eric is coming along! That’s the icing on the cake. So, after the three-day convention, he and I will be able to hit the beach and run amok around Universal Studios, and do all of the Hollywood touristy things for a couple of paid vacation days. THAT’s what keeps me going.

Well, that’s where I’m at. TGIF! I hope you have a great weekend. Make it relaxing...!

Weekend Highlights 8/3-8/5

This weekend I’m taking a mini-vacation across Lake Michigan to Chicago for Lollapalooza. I’ve been anticipating this three-day music festival since, well, last year’s Lolla weekend. I’ve been privileged to see several of the bands – Spoon, Silversun Pickups, Son Volt, Blue October, G. Love & Special Sauce, Jack’s Mannequin – already this year at Summerfest.

Even though I’m thrilled to spend a relaxing weekend in a different city listening to some of the best bands around – Muse, Modest Mouse, Interpol, Spoon, The Rapture, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, My Morning Jacket, Kings of Leon, The Cribs – I’m disappointed to be missing an exciting weekend in my favorite city, Milwaukee.

Therefore, I decided to give all of you a quick weekend preview. Maybe you will have the opportunity to check out some of the events throughout Milwaukee. Feel free to fill me in on your weekend happenings also. I’ll do the same when I return to the lower eastside on Monday night to share some of my Lolla fun (even if it’s not Milwaukee related).

Without further delay, the following are weekend highlights:

• See "An American in Paris," starring Gene Kelly, beneath the stars for free on Friday! Bring a picnic dinner with your favorite wine to the lakeside of the Milwaukee Art Museum and dine to the '40s-style jazz music of Suzanne Grzanna before the movie screening at twilight (just before 9 p.m.).
• Many Wisconsinites wait all year to get their annual six-pack of cream puffs. Wisconsin State Fair is here, Milwaukee. Can you believe it? As usual, there are too many animals to list without breaking into song, a ton of music, amusement rides, pig races (a must!), and food other than cream puffs; for instance, an overabundance of food on a stick. If you don’t like a wooden rod probing your meat, I’d opt for the buttery corn on the cob.
• Celebrate African World Festival’s 25-year anniversary all weekend-long on the Summerfest grounds. This year, the fest is featuring retro music acts that will bring the funk to Lake Michigan. If you aren’t interested in 80’s funk or R&B, checkout the on-going choir competition, you’ll be impressed!
• Summer Sizzle, a free outdoor festival in the city's most happening neighborhood, is back this weekend. The Historic Third Ward will feature two stages of great jazz music, a variety of mouth-watering food (amazing BBQ), shopping and much more.
• If you missed the Bocce Ball tournament at Festa, go to Bay View on Saturday for Bocce Fest! This will be the perfect opportunity to show your skills and compete against other Bocce enthusiasts. If you haven’t experienced the sport of Bocce, no worries, there are lessons available throughout the day.

By the way…

One thousand Cousin's Subs box lunches will be given away at the Chase Tower (Water Street and Wisconsin Avenue) at noon this Friday. It's part of the big Downtown Employee Appreciation Week. You deserve it, people!

Don’t plan to go to Bar Louie for happy hour this Friday however. Alas, the pub was forced to close its doors for several weeks until the liquor license is renewed.

Cream puffs, music and lawn bowling are just a snippet of what’s happening in Milwaukee this weekend.

Regardless of what you do, have a fun and safe weekend!

Weekend Happenings

A couple of you asked me to share my upcoming plans. Well, friends, there’s a lot going on this weekend, so much that it will be tough to squeeze everything into three days!

It’s the perfect night for a FREE concert and movie. Starting at 6:30 p.m. at Wilson Park, I can enjoy a concert by David Drake followed by the movie “Open Season," you know the one with the grizzly bears? I can’t think of a better way to unwind from a long work week than spending Friday evening outdoors relaxing, and perhaps, eating a picnic dinner as I enjoying free entertainment. 

If I don’t make it to the concert at Wilson Park, there’s a FREE alternative rock show at the Northern Lights Theater in Potawatomi Bingo Casino. Beginning with Nine Days at 8 p.m. and followed by headliner, Stroke 9. Just in case you’ve forgotten these bands, I’ll jog your memory. No alternative rock fan would forget "Absolutely (Story of a Girl)” by Nine Days; and you must remember the lyrics “don't expect to get your bloody black backpack back” from Stroke 9’s 1999 hit, “Little Black Backpack.” I’m always looking for live music, especially when it’s FREE!

Saturday is a day for the arts. First, I’m attending the 45th annual Lake Front Festival of the Arts to checkout featured work by artists from around the world. It’s my first time going to this art show, needless to say, I’ve been anticipating this for years! As I’m told, artists will exhibit and sell their work along Art Museum Drive, directly in front of the Milwaukee Art Museum. The Festival of the Arts began today at noon and runs until Sunday evening. I won’t miss this opportunity to be inspired!

Meanwhile, in the East Town Market at Cathedral Square, four of Milwaukee’s finest chefs will be battling for the title “The Best Chef in East Town.” My mouth is already watering! I’m assuming this event is almost like a live viewing of BRAVO’s Top Chef (one of my obsessions). In which case, it’s amazing to see what skilled chefs can create on a budget and with limited time, especially because it takes me decades just to make spaghetti. 

Finally, Sunday is Father’s Day. I’ll be spending the early afternoon with my dad fishing on Green Lake in West Bend. I hope you make Sunday a special time for your father as well.

As you can see, there’s a lot going on this weekend to choose from. Hopefully you’ll get to experience some of these events for yourself. If you do, please feel free to share with me! Until then, have a great weekend!