Music Club
The Jazz Estate
Everything about this East Side gem exudes vintage charm, from its well-curated cocktail list to its tufted bar stools to its eclectic live music lineup.
2423 N. Murray Ave.; jazzestate.com
Music Venue
Pabst Theater
Built in 1895, this grand concert hall is the fourth-oldest continuously operating theater in the United States. And it looks – and sounds – as good today as it did over 100 years ago.
144 E. Wells St.; pabsttheater.org
Local Musician
Amanda Huff
This up-and-coming electronic artist, whose husky vocals are her greatest instrument, sounds a bit like Billie Eilish by way of Norah Jones. And we’re happy to call her our own.
Athlete
Giannis Antetokounmpo
The impossibly long steps. The thunderous dunks. The uncanny feel for the game. The innocent, 100% natural charm. The smile. (And also the “mean muggin’” Giannis face.) The repeated statements that he wants to stay in Milwaukee and win a title here. And the notion that he’s likely to keep getting better. (We love you, too, Yeli!)
Team (Non-Brewers/Bucks)
Milwaukee Admirals
The Ads’ level of hockey brings fast action that’s easy to follow, but we’re all in on the between-period antics like bungee-launching a fan on the ice like a human bowling ball.
Milwaukee Essential
Summerfest
It’s the absolute apex of summer in Milwaukee: that moment around dusk, after one great set by a band you didn’t know and before another by a band you did, when the cool breeze is coming in off the lake, and everything is perfect.
639 E Summerfest Pl.; summerfest.com
Golf Course
Brown Deer Park
The layout at Brown Deer is unmatched among its county course peers, with some 60 bunkers and a stream creating challenges across the 18 holes. Tiger Woods aced No. 14 during his professional debut in 1996.
7625 N. Range Line Rd.; mke.golf/browndeer
Photos Courtesy of: Jenna Kashou; Noah Witt; Milwaukee Bucks
Editor’s Pick
Best New Arrival
Saint Kate — The Arts Hotel
In the future, the cultural cognoscenti in Milwaukee will catalog their reminiscences in terms of whether they occurred B.S.K. or A.S.K. That’s the impact that this wonderland of the arts promises to have on our community. There is art on the walls, music in the air, theater in the black box space. The message is that this city loves and supports culture in all its forms. The presence of the Museum of Wisconsin Art, in a sparkling 1,700-square-foot gallery space, supercharges the overall impact. In addition to the cavalcade of culture in the public spaces, Linda Marcus, the mastermind behind Saint Kate, enlisted five artists to turn guest rooms into installations. While all are things of beauty, the knockout punch is delivered by Lon Michels, who covered nearly every surface with his bold patterns. The dots look like a leopard print by way of The Flintstones, and prove that no one was playing it safe in the conception and execution of Saint Kate.
139 E. Kilbourn Ave.; saintkatearts.com
Editor’s Picks: Trending
Emma Daisy Gertel
This painter and muralist, who recently completed an 80-foot mural in Westown and wrapped a collaborative project with artist Reggie Baylor, may be having her best year yet. We can’t wait to see what 2020 has in store.
Brema Brema
He’s only 22, but this photographer has already exhibited his work at the Museum of Wisconsin Art’s new Downtown outpost. And his moody streetscapes have earned him more than 65,000 Instagram followers.
Janelle and Matthew Gramling
She’s a ceramicist; he’s a furniture maker – partners in life and art. We love the sculptural chairs and quirky candleholders in their home goods line, Persistent Object.
Readers’ Choice Winners & Runners-up
Music Club
★ The Jazz Estate
★ Cactus Club
★ Caroline’s Jazz Club
Music Venue
★ Pabst Theater
★ Riverside Theater
★ Fiserv Forum
Local Musician
★ Amanda Huff
★ Abby Jeanne
★ Trapper Schoepp
Athlete
★ Giannis Antetokounmpo
★ Christian Yelich
★ Markus Howard
Golf Course
★ Brown Deer Park
★ Milwaukee Country Club
★ The Bog
Milwaukee Essential
★ Summerfest
★ Milwaukee Art Museum
★ Milwaukee County Zoo
Dog Park
★ Estabrook
★ Bay View
★ Minooka
Team (Non-Brewers/Bucks)
★ Milwaukee Admirals
★ Milwaukee Wave
★ Brew City Bruisers
More Best of Milwaukee 2019
Here it is: The cream of Cream City. You chose the winners in dozens of categories, and we added a few that we couldn’t help but chime in on.
