#5: Frankly Music at the Wisconsin Conservatory.
Why? Because Frank Almond has gathered a couple of friends (pianist Andrew Armstrong and cellist Robert deMaine) for an evening of trios, both classic and contemporary. There’s an early piece by Rachmaninoff, a piece by living composer Ellen Taaffe Zwilich (the first woman composer to win the Pulitzer Prize) and the much loved Brahms B Major Trio. As always, Almond offers interesting insights into the music before each piece. And as always, the playing is impeccable.
#4: Your Mother Dances’ “Stripped Roundly” at UWM’s Mitchell Hall.
Why? Because Elizabeth Johnson’s company has a history of compelling work, and this concert offers an intimate way to watch dance. No fog machines, fancy lights or elaborate costumes, a bare-bones approach focuses on the music (Chopin, Debussy) and the movement. Johnson is joined by Luc Vanier and some of the company’s terrific dancers, including Sarah Bromann, the Milwaukee Ballet’s Thom Dancy, Maryhelen Wesner, Beth Engel, Jaimi Patterson, Steven Moses, Megan Zintek and Andrew Zanoni.
#3: Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra at the Marcus Center.
Why? Beethoven, Beethoven, Beethoven. Edo de Waart 
and the MSO open the new season with a weekend of all-Ludwig, all the time. Because you have heard the famous symphony many times (Bugs Bunny cartoons, any number of bank commercials), but have you really heard it. The headliner is the classic Fifth, but there will also be time for the ebullient First Symphony, and the heady Grosse Fuge arranged for string orchestra.
#2: “Doors Open Milwaukee” at dozens of locations in Your Fair City.
Why? Because you drive or walk or bus past that cool old building almost every day, and you always wanted to wander around inside. Historic Milwaukee offers an assortment of guided and self-guided tours through some of the city’s most iconic buildings, including City Hall, the US Bank Building, the Pabst Brewery’s mural-adorned Best Place, and the Menomonee Valley City Lights, the city’s old gas works plant.
#1: Milwaukee Film Festival
Why? Because there’s something for everyone at Milwaukee’s annual 11 days of cinema saturation. This year Jonathan Jackson and his crew bring special attention to films from India, from the artiest art films to the best of Bollywood. There’s a kids mini-festival, as well. And several talks about the state of cinema and the ideas presented by the artists behind some of the feature presentations. We’ll be there for The Milwaukee Show, highlighting work of some of the best local filmmakers. And for the panel discussion about urban violence, lead by Mike Gousha and featuring the minds behind the documentary The Interrupters, a likely candidate for the Best Documentary Oscar.
