An atmosphere that's inviting and welcoming as well as excellent safety measures in place for…read moreCovid. I will definitely return to see an art exhibit in it's beautiful gallery space. There are also many events and opportunities to get involved with to promote arts and community.

Cool Latino and urban art. This stuff is for sale. Nice space…read more This is part of the giant UCC complex which began life as the teen program - the Spot and has since grown into one of the best community centers on the near south side providing recreation, a cafe with a great Friday Fish Fry, a gym, and great programs for elderly folks, but it is also a place with an amazing gallery space that features work by leading Latino and urban-inspired artists. It is worth stopping in to check out if you pop in for a bite at Cafe El Sol (need to review this soon!).

I've attended three Marquette theatre productions at the Helfaer over the last 6 months and have…read morethoroughly enjoyed each production. I love the theater itself, it is small and intimate, not a bad seat in the house. As a grad student I pay the discounted student price: $10 for a professional quality show is a steal. Parking is on the street but even on busier Friday nights there have been spots available on Clybourn-free after 7pm. The Helfaer also hosts non Marquette productions throughout the year so I like to keep an eye on their box office webpage. Overall I find the Helfaer to be an enjoyable, approachable source of entertainment and culture!

The Union Art Gallery at UWM is a great place to see student exhibitions, as well as established…read moreartist exhibits. Tucked away in a corner by the Ballroom, you can keep up with the Gallery online, as exhibits move in and out fairly regularly. Opening nights, artist panels- find out what's in the mind of the artist or curators! Senior Showcase is one of my favorite exhibits of the year, and I've also enjoyed exhibits from established Milwaukee artists Reginald Baylor, John Kowalczyk, as well as artists from Chicago. Keep up with their Instagram or sign up for their emails for what's coming next!

No urban spelunking adventure in Walker's Point is complete without a visit to the Lamer's…read moreBuilding. Located just down the street from Botanas on 5th and National, this 1880 building has been lovingly restored by its owner, artist and sculptor Celine Farrell. It houses her studio, Grove Galleries, as well as rotating exhibits in Comb Gallery and N. Adam Beadel's studio honoring the lost art of Linotype, Team Nerd. The space is beautiful with features including cast iron window frames, high ceilings, exposed beams and hardwood floors. The hand tile work evokes the period and pays homage to its former use as a shoe store. In Team Nerd's space, Beadel has a working letter press from circa 1917 as well as an extensive collection of Linotype letters. He spins the wheel, and one by one his pieces are created, in the same fashion of the period. Next to the press is a vintage paper cutter, circa 1909, that is operated by throwing a large switch with the arms. A bevy of examples of pressed art adorn the walls. On a particular visit to Comb Gallery, owner Khine Cho Hline displays examples of Farrell's cast iron sculptures and prints in the adjoining gallery which features a generous loft space. Behind the gallery is Farrell's studio and the second floor is living space. Farrell is proud to provide tours of the space she elegantly transformed into a showcase of creativity for artists in the area. Her finished result is a treasure in the up-and-coming neighborhood. Comb Gallery is open Thursday and Friday evenings from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. Team Nerd and Grove Galleries are also open by appointment.

This is a solid, solid beerfest for a solid, solid cause…read more Midwinter Brewfest rocks MKE the day after Food & Froth every single year and has been doing so for eighteen now. Held at the MKE Ale House, it's upstairs, downstairs and in the connected underground parking garage... they make it work! You'll see local, regional, and national brews repped at this fest, and at $45/ticket you def get your money's worth. The event ran from 1-5pm this year and it was PACKED, my friends. (And w/ many of the same vendors/breweries as at F&F, too.) Highlights this year: -New Holland's sour (yum, not too sweet, very awesome!) -Three Sheeps' IPA (YES PLEASE) -Pearl St.'s coffee stout The UW marching band plays in the basement every year and this adds to the festive good time vibezzz. A few observations: -bathrooms (man oh man, the wait at peak attendance is rough even w/ the portable toilets downstairs in the parking garage... maybe more of them and on the patio outside would help?) -speaking of outside, a heated tent to break up the density might be a good idea? It's clearly packed to the gills in there, so finding a way to keep attendees AND vendors a little more spaced out would be rad. Just a thought! -the volume on the main stage: those poor vendors in front of the main Ale House stage... the volume was out of control! I think having stand up comedy could be fun in that space, and that would allow beer vendors to still converse with the attendees/save their eardrums.

We have always loved this unique event in Tosa. We tend to go on Fridays to see all of the artists…read moreat the start of the competition but it runs until Saturday afternoon to go through 3 rounds. The layout is pretty easy to navigate and the volunteers are available to help answer questions. They have drinks and food down just about every street so you have some options. Plenty of beer, cocktails, and wine available depending on where you're walking. The tents even have different kinds of beer available so take a lap if you want something different. The voting online is easy and I love that they have a silent auction in case there are any paintings you want to take home. Just really impressed by the caliber of the participants, the venue/setup, and the execution.

This expansion Team in AF2 has a looooooooooooooooonnnng way to go. They do a decent job of…read morepromotion and try to make the experience fun with lots of give aways, hot cheerleaders and tons of other stuff, but the product on display on the Bradley Center field is really bad. I realize that it's early and the team is young, but right now, The $27 I spent on my ticket really wasn't worth it!

What a difference a year makes! the 2010 season was incredible, one game away from the arena bowl!…read moreThis team is a hidden gem in Milwaukee and it's a mystery to me why these games aren't packed. They are way more action packed then any Brewers game you could attend and at a way more affordable price!!! I love this team and I hope they are around for many years to come!

Okay then, Yelp. Here we go again. Doors Open Milwaukee is an annual event when over 100 buildings…read moreopen their doors for free tours. Most tours are DIY, but there are many that are docent-led ticketed tours, for more insight. We've done Doors Open for a few years, and in 2017, decided to focus mainly on the clean water industry, which Milwaukee is becoming known for in industry and University circles. Doors Open Milwaukee had a Water Passport, to see if you could hit up all of the sites. Pack some water, a snack, and comfortable shoes, use the helpful PDF guide or app ahead of time to plot out your stops, or pick up a physical booklet on your first stop. Sites we enjoyed in 2017- Global Water Center Milwaukee County Greenhouses UWM School of Freshwater Sciences Mitchell Park Domes And Wadham's Gas Station An annual event, you can hit up Doors Open Milwaukee every fall. A great annual City event!

I wouldn't miss it! Snoop around 168 buildings you can't usually go into, and it's all FREE!read more