1. Food Lovers Guide
MELISA MACKEVICIUS, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
As a former chef, I love all of our dining coverage. But, this package in our December issue, was perfectly timed. With beautiful ideas for how to make an epic charcuterie board, how the top chefs of the city shop, tips into their home cooking life and lots of great tidbits on how to be a better foodie. And I’m definitely planning on trying chef Adam Pawlak’s port wine mac and cheese!
2. Pulling a Winner: The Unlikely Story of Pull Tabs in Wisconsin
ARCHER PARQUETTE, MANAGING EDITOR
Having the fragile ego of a short man, it almost physically hurts me not to pick one of my stories for this. But I must say, Tea Krulos brought the fire with this feature – and it’s pure MilMag, too. One of the things this magazine does best is diving deep into the eccentricities of Wisconsin life, and Tea did exactly that with this history of pull tabs, those little lottery-esque cards you can gamble on at bars around the city. (Except it’s not technically gambling! Read the weird, fascinating story to find out more.)
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
3. The Best Medicine
KATIE WILLIAMS, ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
The profile on Dr. David Margolis was very memorable to me. What an amazing person with such a profound impact on kids and their families – and most of us only know from seeing him in the stands at a Bucks game.
4. Rise and Dine
CHRIS DROSNER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Since Archer mentioned one of my top picks in the pull tabs story – truly, the best story ideas are birthed in a dive bar – I’ll go with “Rise and Dine,” Ann Christenson’s package of stories about breakfast that fronted our August issue. It’s a lot of fun building our feature packages, but it’s a special treat to work with Ann on them – not just because of the yummy subject matter but also her creative approach to thinking about stories. This one really sang – and I usually skip breakfast!
5. Driftless Dreams
ANN CHRISTENSON, DINING EDITOR
Some of my favorites were chosen by others, but another fave of mine is John Gurda’s story from our June Summer Guide, “Driftless Dreams.” It’s not a flashy story – Gurda’s never are – which is sort of perfect. Charmed by a piece of land in Wisconsin’s Driftless Area, Gurda decided to, as he put it “reclaim my rural heritage.” This was in the mid-’70s. So he buys said piece of land, full of hopes and dreams, and things proceed to go haywire. He makes the reader feel like they’re planting trees and painting the property’s farmhouse right along with him. It’s a sweet story that captures place and season.
6. Art on the Inside
ABBY YEMM, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
“Art on the Inside” by Archer sticks out to me – such an interesting story and something I knew nothing about previously. Helped broaden my perspective and thinking, which is always a plus.
7. The Heart of the Suburbs
SOPHIE YUFA, JUNIOR DESIGNER
I adore this feature. I love the nods to all our different neighborhoods, written by none other than (gasp) people who live there! Very wholesome.
8. A Swiftie and a Film Buff Discuss the Oriental Theatre’s “The Exes Tour”
BRIANNA SCHUBERT, ASSOCIATE DIGITAL EDITOR
I can’t agree more with all the stories other folks have mentioned – it’s really cool to see so much great journalism coming from the magazine you work for. I am super proud! And over on the digital side of the mag (it’s me, hi!), we’re publishing important stories, too. But sometimes, we like to have a little fun. Like this story Archer and I wrote about the Oriental Theatre showing films by Taylor Swift’s exes. We pounced at the opportunity to blend my love for Taylor Swift with his affection for film, and the result was sharing some of our chaotic conversations with all of you.
