Our Finest Hour
This past Saturday night, around 9 p.m., I was jarred by explosive sounds. At first I tuned them out. All of my adult life, I’ve lived in noisy downtown areas, so it takes more than a few kapow!s to attract my attention. But the sounds persisted, evolving from sporadic booms to crackling pop-pop-pops. When the cat leapt off my lap and huddled in a corner, I was finally motivated to turn my head toward the window. Ah, yes. Fireworks blasting off over Lake Michigan. And so it begins.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
Summer is when Milwaukee comes alive. And those occasional 70-plus degree days that take us by joyous surprise in April are the best illustration of what warm weather means to us. Suddenly Bradford Beach is jam-packed with half-naked revelers. Lincoln Memorial Drive is bumper-to-bumper with carloads of people headed for the waterfront parks.
It’s as if the whole population of our city has been released en masse from some weather-enforced incarceration – and is ready to party! Even when the winter is as mild as the one we enjoyed this year, there’s nothing like the energy that is unleashed as the temperatures heat up.
For our Summer Guide issue, we’ve curated an eclectic list of interesting and enjoyable things to do this season. Thrill-seekers might want to try out hang-gliding or visit a DIY skate park; the rest of us might visit a drive-in movie or stroll through a makers market.
Exploring our state parks (did you know that Wisconsin has 50 of them?) is on the top of my summer bucket list this year, and I’ll be using Alli Watters’ feature story (page 42) as my guide. Here are my top three: I’m eager to swim in the “aquamarine” water of Marl Lake in Harmon Creek State Park; I’d like to behold Big Manitou Falls in Pattison State Park, the fourth-highest waterfall east of the Rockies; and I want to sleep under the stars at Newport State Park, one of 60 “Dark Sky” parks in the United States.
Whatever your plans are, be sure to block out some time for following your whims, wherever they may lead. Try something new! Revisit something old! There is no shortage of fun to be had here in Milwaukee, so make the most of it.
– Carole Nicksin, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher
carole@milwaukeemag.com, @CaroleNicksin
In the Issue
Features
- A Walk in the Park: Our guide to Wisconsin’s state parks is for the completionist: what you need to see in all 50 jewels of the Badger State’s system.
- From the South Shore to the Sunset Strip: Read the untold story of Les Petites Bon Bons, a raucous band of local gay liberation art agitators who became “it kids” of the early ’70s Hollywood rock scene.
- A Scar in Time: An idealistic college grad dabbling in social work meets a troubled youth whose impact has endured for decades.
Your 414
- Pridefest: The lively celebration spells the start of festival season.
- Q&A: Our own “Top Chef” celebrity Dan Jacobs talks about the show, the city he holds dear and more.
- Outdoor Art: Sculptures and murals to view on a warm day.
- Skatepark: Look under the highway for this DIY skateboard haven.
- Summerfest: Local musicians share who they’re seeing at the Big Gig.
- Roundup: A new fest regular means one jam-packed – and loud – lakefront weekend.
- Bingo: Can you mark off all these ways to have fun in the summer sun?
The Dish
- Chill: Discover the coolest ice cream shop in Tosa.
- Sausage: Fire up the grill with this guide to one of our summertime favorites.
- Beer Gardens: Outdoor spaces – on every side of town – that pay tribute to the German tradition
- Taco Trucks: From Burnham Park to Brown Deer, five that will knock your socks off
- Cold Brew: Where to find cold, bold and fortifying coffee this summer
Explore
- Soar: Hang gliding captures the essence of flying like a bird.
- Drive-in Movies: Spend a gorgeous summer night at one of these nostalgic cinemas.
- Local Legend: Few musicians have had the lasting impact of Waukesha native son Les Paul.
- Fly Fishing: Wisconsin musician/angler Adam Greuel explains how this sport is a moving meditation.
Save the Date
- State Fair: All is fair at Wisconsin’s mecca of fried food, farm animals and midway rides.
- Bucket List: It’s not summer in Milwaukee without these events.
- City of Festivals: A sampling of the many parties that give Milwaukee its nickname
- Live Music: Where to catch outdoor concerts every day of the week
- Markets: Find local goods galore at these pop-ups.
- Statewide Festivals: These unique celebrations are worth the miles traveled.
