Vivarium is a new live music venue on Milwaukee's lower East Side, and I saw the band Luna there in…read moreabout the third week of Vivarium's existence. Run by the Colectivo crowd, it looks just like the Back Room, high ceilings adorned with metal trusses, fake and real plants, and no soundproofing. Checking in with the app the employees were super nice! Really refreshing. If you follow live music in Milwaukee you've already heard about the talking crowds and bad sightlines from the Buffalo Nickels show and a co-worker said the same about the Charlie Paar show. We were there early so got a good spot closer to the stage, but even close up the stage could stand to be higher. Luna was sounding good but the guitarist was noting a ghost in his equipment, band members seemed to be wincing from sound issues. Something for the club to figure out. Went to watch from the back and the room sound is really good. Sightlines are horrible back there, as the stage needs to be higher. The crowd was so talkative during the whole show, my friend noted people are disengaged from the bad sightlines, so that makes sense. Stand in front of the truss with the wifi device for a better engaged crowd, good sound and better sight lines. Bar offerings are good, bathrooms are clean and stylish. A solid three stars (OK) with room for improvement.

BF and I visited Vivarium to see the band Enter the Haggis. It was the third show at the new venue,…read moreso everything is clean and nice. The interior decor appears to have been moved directly over from the Back Room at Collectivo, with the same ceiling treatment and plants - both real and faux. The bar is also pretty much the same, with mixed drinks, wine, beers and non alcoholic options. Seating at this show was all folding chairs, but the staff brought out more when they saw the size of the crowd in attendance. Perhaps it was our average collective age. There are a few loveseats and high stools along the right side of the room. It is not a fantastic acoustic space, with it's abundance of hard surfaces and no soft finishes, but it is intimate and allows you to get right up by the musicians. The bathrooms, at least the women's, are large with plenty of stalls and flattering lighting. This is a good replacement for the Back Room - essentially a carbon copy - but you have some chance of parking successfully over here as the street is less busy. There are also plenty of restaurants around for pre-show eats.

A super rad and nostalgic evening with Yelp Wisconsin at Up-Down Milwaukee!! I absolutely loved…read morearcade games growing up and it was something I really enjoyed with my dad. Being at Up-Down brought back so many memories and brought out the kid in me again. I loved playing Pong, PinBall, Skee-Ball, and PAC-Man! The space at Up-Down is very cool. There was so much to see and something on every wall. I loved the posters, quotes, lights, and the nostalgic shows playing on the televisions. The two bar areas were nice and they offer quite the selection. I didn't get a chance to have any pizza but it looked like a good cheesy thin crust. I'll have to try it on my next visit!

I have been multiple times to Up-Down and always had so much fun! Fun arcade vibe. ADULTS ONLY!!…read more(you need your ID to get in, they still ID-ed my 60yo dad, so don't forget your wallet!) There are so many games to play, from physical games like skeeball to multiplayer arcade games. My personal favorites are: - Super Mario Bros - Burger time - Basketball - Any Pin Ball - Dance Dance Revolution - Alien shooter game Drinks are good, they have mixed drinks, beer, seltzers, etc. They also have a little window to order food from and the pizza is surprisingly very good, you can order by the slice or get a whole box. Service has always been good, even when you're drunk and a machine accidentally eats several of your coins- ALSO you get soooooo many coins to play games. I don't think I've ever finished a batch of coins in one night.

Black Cat Alley is an eclectic art experience in Milwaukee. It's what Black Alley calls "an outdoor…read moreart gallery" or simply said a collection of cool murals. I love seeking out new street art, so I added this alley to my Milwaukee itinerary. You can say it was right up my alley. LOCATION: I Uber'ed to the East Side to the Axe Bar (AXE MKE) which is right next to the alley. You'll find the alley behind the historic Oriental Theater at the intersection of North Avenue and Ivanhoe. Entry from Prospect Avenue and Ivanhoe are both available. Personally, I get lost everywhere and found it right away entering from the Prospect Avenue. The locals must not all know about this alley because my Uber driver was unfamiliar with this location. The area has some cool businesses, grab some food nearby! ART: Free and open 24/7. You'll find 21 murals by 24 different artists in the alley. You'll find the stories behind the art on Black Cat Alley's website or via QR codes next to the art. All murals are vibrant and creative. It's an equivalent of a museum where you'll linger by the art and try to find some meaning. The art is by global artists from places like Germany, Colombia, and others. My favorite mural was Catalina Bayona's "We Are All Immigrants" depicting wild animals and migration. It's very powerful when you think about it a little longer. All art is photogenic but be sure to check what releases you'll need for any commercial use. I wish that every city had art alleys. It's such a creative way to beautify cities. I look forward to my next visit to Milwaukee and another visit to the alley. I'll read up more about the art here before my next visit.

[Please keep in mind I travel a lot and hunt graffiti everywhere so this review is a direct…read morecomparison to other graffiti areas.] It's a small alley dedicated to graffiti. Some professional, some tagging. Some look like they were commissioned, some you can tell some were definitely done on the fly. It's not the best graffiti but I appreciate that Milwaukee has a small dedication to one of my favorite things- graffiti. Also- it's a safe alley. We went early in the morning and got donuts nearby. Drove by again a day later and a boba place is right around the corner.

Our Guide, Mike, gave an exceptional tour! Saw so many activities, food places, and historical…read moresights in Milwaukee we never knew existed... and we live close by!! Highly recommend this tour, especially if you're looking for the best of what Milwaukee has to offer !!

We had the best time on this tour! Mike was funny, informative and friendly!…read more I would recommend this to anyone visiting Milwaukee or if you even live there and want to know more about the city's history and architecture. This isn't only a on the bus tour, you also get to hop off at some spots. We had so fun!! We would do it again! Thanks Mike!

This place is such a fun mix on the usual Friday or Saturday night activity for a date or a small…read moregroup. I went here on a date and it was an absolute blast. He signed us up for a time on a Friday night and it was completely packed. We got there early to grab a drink and scope out the props for our hole. They have a full bar and so many fun and random props to create your hole. It's a lot of fun to see the creative side of everyone. You have around an hour to design your hole and another hour then to play all of the other holes. My one tidbit on this was I think we could have used a little less time to design and more to play the holes, because we weren't able to finish all of them. Overall, I would definitely come back here. I think I would recommend not to have too large of a group, because that's what makes it take longer for each hole.

Vibe - weird. It's in a basement and smells like it…read more We had a work function here and the communication wasn't the best with our Bars and Rec reps as we found out as we arrived that they would have food out then we'd do a demo and start golfing. The spread was laughable for the price paid. The pizza was probably the best value. What sucks the most is that they take everything away after an hour and a half, even the "safe to leave out" things like pretzels. You can't leave food out that we paid for, especially if it's not a health concern? Maybe provide boxes so people could take things home? Wasteful and disappointing. The pizza and garlic bread got the best reviews. Cheese and veggie tray were what you'd expect. The staff behind the bar were friendly and quick to help, but I wasn't a fan of the demo provider. Spoke quietly and was upset that the group couldn't hear him though it was pretty full in the event space with another party who was already underway. The idea was unique enough but you'll need extra time to set up the courses. Overall, not impressed with this venue. Recommend any other Bars and Rec instead.

We went for a 30th birthday and it was absolutely wonderful! They had wonderful staff who were very…read moreexperienced with VR and made great game suggestions! There was a great selection of NA and alcoholic drink options. 10/10 would recommend for a party, it was nice having the whole space to our group and they had many different game options for people not participating in VR.

If you're looking for a great place to kill some time with a teenager I highly recommend RSVR. As a…read morefirst timer staff was knowledgeable and patient in getting us acclimated to the gaming system. Visiting Milwaukee and having a teenager you may think what to do? With numerous games to play and in a bustling district a wonderful time was had. Will visit again and enjoyed our time. Keep up the great work.

Come in for the delicious popcorn. Stay to watch a great film! The Oriental Theatre is a unique…read moreMilwaukee movie theater making an impact with independent films, the film fests it hosts, events, and more. I have enjoyed coming here and being a film member since Milwaukee Film took over. The theater building is unique and creative with the main theater holding some very unique architecture and decor. They have a second floor but for some reason it is very rarely open. That is a disappointment. The theater has snacks and drinks for purchase, with some pretty good popcorn and the brewer's/nutritional yeast makes it great! There is no parking onsite; street parking only. For events, it is best to come early.

Once a good activity on a cold New Year's day? Going to see a movie at the O. The O is such an…read moreamazing historical landmark. Even though they have split it into 3 separate theaters, it still retains its charm. Some people love the new dream lounger setups at some other local theater chains, but I find the regular seats very comfortable. And besides you don't have to deal with people eating a 4 course meal, with all the lip smacking. People come here to actually watch the movie. Today we saw the new release of "Song Sung Blue". If you are going, bring a big box of tissue. It is a beautifully made movie, great screenplay, acting, and directing. So, so, good!

Even though the Villa Terrace is an art museum, the real superstar here is the Villa/property. From…read morethe moment you step into the courtyard - complete with an impressive sculpture of Mercury - you're going to feel as though you were transported to a small Italian village. It's an exquisite time capsule of a place. And the views of Lake Michigan are the cherry on top. Your entrance ticket grants you access to both floors, the courtyard, the outside terrace and the grounds that you can walk down. There's small art exhibits that get rotated out every few months and plenty of community events including yoga, sound baths and a cafe in the warmer months. This place also moonlights as a wedding venue (in case you're about to tie the knot!) Entrance is $15 pp but there are free days offered throughout the year including during Milwaukee's annual museum days. And if you have a Milwaukee County library card you can checkout a pass for Terrace Villa which is how we got to experience this hidden gem.

We went there during the Milwaukees Doors Open, it has beautiful view over looking Lake Michigan…read more Going downhill you will also find a big lawn area and garden. In the villa, it has so many rooms that is also a museum.

The Milwaukee Night Market is one of my favorite events in the summer/fall in MKE. The music,…read morepeople, variety of food, crafts & clothing booths make it so easy worth while. I love that you can park in the Avenue parking structure for $3 for 3 hours! Such a steal when trying to figure out where do that downtown. Everyone who works the event is so friendly, it's extremely clean and well organized. You need to check this out! Only a few nights a summer!

This is a cool little thing that I'm glad we have, as long as people don't make trouble. They block…read moreoff several blocks of Wisconsin Ave with tons of vendors, giving it a farmers' market type vibe. Having traveled throughout Southeast Asia, I'm glad we have something comparable to the fun, safe experiences I've had over there. I just wish we could gather in large numbers as peacefully as they do over there.

Dandy in Wauwatosa is an absolute gem! Whether you're hunting for unique vintage treasures or…read moresearching for an incredible event space, this place delivers. Their selection of vintage goods is thoughtfully curated and reasonably priced, with everything from mid-century furniture to quirky decor pieces you won't find anywhere else. The event space is equally amazing--full of character, charm, and a vibe that would make any gathering feel special. We attended a holiday market hosted in the space. The proprietors are friendly and welcoming. Highly recommend checking out Dandy for shopping or hosting an event. Can't wait to stop in again soon!

Extremely over priced. Very disappointing customer service. Super cluttered and overwhelming…read moreorganization. Do not recommend and will not be back.