Milwaukee!!! Whoo hoo!

[Qadgop_the_Mercotan]

@Joey_P

Where is that, never heard of it.

Renaissance Book Shop 834 N. Plankinton Ave

[Joey_P]

@Qadgop_the_Mercotan

Renaissance Book Shop 834 N. Plankinton Ave

That would be why I’ve never seen it*, I’m usually on the other side of the river. I drive ‘past’ it about 3 times a week but I’m just on Broadway instead of Plankington. In fact, the Grohmann Museum, that I mention upthread that I drive past all the time is 1000 N Broadway. Pretty much straight East of this bookstore, right on the other side of the river.

*Well, that and I’m not much of a reader so I wouldn’t have much reason to be scouting out strange book stores.

[johnpost]

@Motorgirl

What’s to do in Milwaukee? Are there any Happy Days/Laverne and Shirley sites (not joking!)?

there is a Fonzie statue downtown on the river. sort of a holy site for show fans i would guess.

[diggerwam]

Restaurants: La Perla on National, Roots somewhere up in Brewers Hill and most romantic restaurant ever Pasta Tree on Farwell.

Oriental and Downer movie theatre always showing something an indie movie.

Times Cinema shows old movies (Planet of the Apes, Raging Bull, Lawrence of Arabia, etc).

When you get to town pick up the 2 alternative papers, Shepherds Express and the Onion. Those will give you a lot of tips of where to go.

Milwaukee is my favorite town, I’d move back right now if I could. Instead I just visit 4 times per year.

[Motorgirl]

Lost track of this thread for a couple of days and it has ballooned on me!

Reading now…

[Cell_Guy]

I would only go to Miller Park if you’re a diehard baseball fan. The team is overrated, the ballpark is okay, and the May schedule isn’t anything to get excited about.

You could always do the Miller Brewery tour, but that’s a little overrated as well.

[Markxxx]

Don’t forget Milwaukee is the gateway to Racine

[Stranger_On_A_Train]

@johnpost

there is a Fonzie statue downtown on the river. sort of a holy site for show fans i would guess.

Actually, it is sort of a creepy Romero zombie version of the Fonz. Kind of frightening, actually.

If you’re going to do a beer tour, Sprecher (north of downtown, on Glendale Road) is the one to do. It is a microbrewery–one of the first in the United States–that really does make excellent beer and a variety of sodas as well. They aren’t stingy with the drink tickets, either, so give yourself time to recover.

Most of my other high points have been hit, but I’ll always pimp for Apollo (excellent Greek food on East Brady, conveniently located catty-corner to Nomad World Pub. There is also Paddy’s just off of North Ave, just a bit to the north of Beans & Barley; look for a place a block up on N. Murray; looks like a house, but is about the best Irish pub you’ll find short of the Emerald Isles. Avoid the International Clown Museum and Art’s Performing Center (across from the Performing Arts Center, and yes, it is exactly what it sounds like).

Stranger

[Qadgop_the_Mercotan]

@Markxxx

Don’t forget Milwaukee is the gateway to Racine

Kringle!!

[Motorgirl]

I’m baaaack! I leave for Milwaukee in about 2 weeks, and when writing out my packing list I realized I accidentally abandoned this thread.

And now for my post-by-post analysis…

[Motorgirl]

@kenobi_65

Karl Ratzsch’s is an excellent German restaurant, not too far away from your hotel.

The Safe House is a campy bar and restaurant with a 1960s spy theme (and likely hasn’t been significantly remodeled since that time). Not for everybody, but I think it’s pretty fun. Also fairly close to your hotel.

Karl Ratzsch’s looks really interesting. My account manager owes me a dinner & drinks. I’ll try to talk him into that place!

Based on Joey P’s warnings about getting lost, I think I will skip Safe House this trip. I get lost very easily. Too bad because it looks fun.

[Motorgirl]

@SmellMyWort

You’re within walking distance from the river. There are cruises you can do that stop at 3-4 breweries.

I was very excited about this, but it looks like most cruise companies don’t start tours 'til June (don’t blame them) and/or only on weekends, and I leave on Friday morning. Sadness. If I go back to Milwaukee I will make sure I include a Saturday.

[Motorgirl]

@blondebear

The Harley Davidson Museum is less than a mile from your hotel.

Looks like several people have recommended this. It is now on my Must Do list.

[Motorgirl]

@Joey_P

The Milwaukee Public Museum is great way to kill 2 hours as well as the Milwaukee Art Museum. You can check their websites (might need to wait until you get closer to the date) to see what exhibitions will be going on while you’re in town.

Check and check! Both on my list of things to do if I get free time.

[Motorgirl]

@mkecane

All within a ~20 minute walk or 10 minute cab ride:

-The Lakefront Brewery tour is good if you’ve got a free Friday or Saturday afternoon. If you go Friday, they’ve got a good fish fry in the evening, too.

This is on my list. We also have a conference event at the Milwaukee Ale House, so if I don’t make it to Lakefront I will at least begoing to one brewery.

-Eisner Museum of Advertising. I’ve never gone as it’s one of those things you know about, but never really take initiative to see.

-Milwaukee Art Museum. It’s open til about 5pm most days, but into the evening on Thursdays.

-Grohmann Museum @ Milwaukee School of Engineering- I saw its Man at Work exhibit last fall, and it was pretty interesting. The college is near some good restaurants and nightlife, too, if you want to go out afterward.

-Lakefront State Park, near the Art Museum. There’s not a whole lot there, just a walking/riding path, but it gives great views of the city.

Put 'em on the possibilities list, thanks!

-Milwaukee Brewers. I think Miller Park is overrated, but the tailgating outside it is great. You might want to see if anyone at the conference is organizing something for a group outing.

-Bradford Beach if it happens to be warm. Just for the people watching, really.

Still too cold in May for me to do either of these things. I refuse to go to Fenway before June 1, too.

-Grand Avenue Mall. See a real live ghosttown!

Spooky!

[Motorgirl]

@Qadgop_the_Mercotan

Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility, our downtown prison. Send me your full name, date of birth, and dates and times you’d be available for a tour, and I’ll see what I can set up. Warning. I can probably get you in, but getting you out might be more problematic.

Trying to decide how to politely decline your kind offer. Not that it wouldn’t be a fascinating tour, but I don’t think I have the stones needed.

Kopp’s custard, several locations throughout the area.

Stop at an Alterra coffee shop for about the only decent espresso I’ve ever found in the city. A thousand times better than Starbuck’s, Caribou, or Seattle’s Best.

I’m all over these suggestions!

Contact the Marquette University Library to see what part of the Tolkien manuscript collection might be available for your perusal. Looking at JRRT’s spidery handwriting covering page after page, alongside of his own drawings, is really trippy.

If I did this without my husband I’d be putting my marriage in jeopardy.

Three Brothers serbian restaurant on the near south side, for genuine bureks and other slavic cuisine.

Interesting. Never had Serbian food before.

Check out George Webb’s restaurant (many locations) to taste their ‘chicken flavored’ noodle soup and tell the time on their twin clocks.

Hmmm.

The Domes. AKA http://county.milwaukee.gov/MitchellParkConserva10116.htm

That looks really interesting.

Albanese’s on Keefe. Great mom and pop italian-american cuisine.

Balistreri’s in the heart of Tosa. Get the fried eggplant strips and their pizza. http://www.balistreris.com/

Added to the list of possibilities. I like to arrive in a new location with a list with 50-60 times the number of restaurants that I can possibly get to in the time allotted. I like choices!

[Motorgirl]

@The_Devil_s_Grandmother

It’s been a while since I was there, but there’s a chocolate shop that was amazing. Looking at a map, it might have been Northern Chocolate Company.
The only other surviving memory of that trip was a visit to Pegasus Games in Madison. Fun place.

Put the chocolate company on the list!
I love game shops, but find it frustrating to visit them while I am traveling because I can’t cart much home with me.

[Motorgirl]

@Hampshire

Ambrosia Chocolate Factory. Made famous by Milwaukee’s very own Jeffery Dahmer.

Spooky and sweet!

[Motorgirl]

@Qadgop_the_Mercotan

Renaissance books is the quirkiest bookstore I’ve ever been in.

Spookiest, too.

Worth the trip.

Renaissance Books - Wikipedia

“Spooky” is turning out to be the theme of this trip.

[Motorgirl]

@samclem

While I asked for restaurants in Milwaukee back in 2002, there was a great list.

Thanks for the link. Researching…