MKE on the QT

As I approach my eighth anniversary of living in Milwaukee, I feel fortunate to have landed in this very special place. Whether it was divine intervention or dumb luck, I’ll never know. 

I had never been to Milwaukee prior to coming to interview for this job. During my 36-hour stay, I conducted an unscientific poll, asking anyone I encountered if they liked living here. The results were unanimous: People love this city. I even recall getting a few blank stares in response, as if to say, “What on Earth are you talking about? This is Milwaukee. Of course I like it here!” 

I joined the ranks of the passionate almost right away, which was a new experience for me. In New York City, my former home, it’s mostly visitors who express unadulterated love for the city. Residents are more ambivalent – sure, I loved many aspects of life in New York, but my warm and fuzzy feelings were tempered by the tough slog of day-to-day life. 

Once I settled into Milwaukee, something else became apparent: The citizens of our city are unusually civic-minded. Upon reflection, it makes sense. If you love a place, it follows that you would want to care for it and do what you can to make it better.  

In this issue, we spotlight a number of people who are uber-passionate about this place we call home and are working hard to bring about positive change. These are the 2024 Unity Award honorees, each of whom is doing something unique to help improve the lives of different groups of people, knowing that a rising tide lifts all boats. Learn more about them starting on page 54.  

And in our cover feature, we profile the mayor and the county executive, and hear how this current regime marks a sea change for our city.  

A few months back, I had the opportunity to sit down with Mayor Johnson for a get-to-know-you session. I took advantage of this opportunity to discuss his plan to grow our population to a million. Sure, more people would certainly boost the economy, among other things. But Milwaukee is so nice the way it is, I told him. Not too crowded. Not too much traffic. In contrast to the tough slog of New York, Milwaukee is so easy and chill. Maybe, I suggested, our city motto should be: “Milwaukee – Shhh, don’t tell anybody!” 

The mayor smiled. Then he shook his head no. And he’s right, of course. Our city is too good to keep it a secret.

– Carole Nicksin, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher
carole@milwaukeemag.com, @CaroleNicksin

In the Magazine:

Features

• Black Power: After generations of white leadership, two young Black candidates won the top seats of local government in 2020. Was it a blip, or a lasting change in Milwaukee’s power dynamics?   
• The Unity Awards: Hear from our 2024 Unity Awards cohort on their change-making efforts, in their own words.
• The Bureau: Take a peek inside Milwaukee’s FBI outpost – what its agents are working on, what they’re packing, and what’s inside that lakeside fortress of an office.   
• Peril at the Door: An excerpt from the children’s graphic novel Death’s Door: True Tales of Tragedy, Mystery, and Bravery from the Great Lakes’ Most Dangerous Waters by Barbara Joosse and Renée Graef 

Your 414

• Bikes: Go hog wild at the Mama Tried motorcycle showcase, race and parties.
• People Places Things: The UWM Student Union gets a makeover, plus Wisconsin’s Black arts expo, a collaborative music project and more.
• Competitive Eating: Katina Eats Kilos conquers the world’s food challenges on YouTube. 
• Polar Plunge: A deep dive into the cold-water fundraiser for Special Olympics Wisconsin
• Spring Arts Guide:  Your curated roundup of the best cultural events around Milwaukee 

The Dish

• Slurp: The comforting Vietnamese soup you should be eating all month
• Tidbits: Romantic dining, how much to tip (at restaurants, cafes, food trucks), openings and closings, and more
• Review: New cub-on-the-block The Wolf was indisputably worth the wait.
• Community: There are good reasons why St. Sebastian’s Friday fish fry is so well-known.
• Drink of the Month: Slip into this cozy cardigan of a German beer. 

Insider

• RNC: Considerations if you’re thinking about putting your place up on Airbnb
• Politics: A wrinkle in the Brewers stadium deal surprise
• Business: Downtown’s high-tech hub hiding in plain sight
• Communication: Bringing deaf and hearing perspectives to sign language interpretation

Explore

• See: The Madison exhibit “Orchid Quest” will kick the winter doldrums to the curb.
• Family: Five unique destinations to keep the kids entertained
• Weird Wisconsin: Some of the state’s quirkiest collections – from mustard to Harry Houdini