Finely Crafted 

Crafting has always played a supporting role in my career, although I never intended it that way. As a kid, long before I even knew what journalism was, I loved making things and had a certain aptitude for it. (Although my first-grade teacher, Miss Richman, thought otherwise.) Later, when I was making a living as a freelance writer, a good portion of my income came from writing craft instructions for Martha Stewart Living magazine. In another position, I was the editor of a monthly craft column. I even consulted on a start-up crafts website. Crafting, you could say, has been good to me. 

So when our art director Chelsea Mamerow came up with the idea to make award ribbons for our Best Of/Readers’ Choice story, I got the itch to heat up the old glue gun and get going. 

What I had forgotten was how precise and exacting you need to be when making something that will be photographed. In this type of situation, good enough is NOT good enough – nothing short of perfection will do. Two hours into my attempts, I had started over more times than I’d like to admit. I measured and re-measured. I tossed aside the glue gun in favor of tape, because tape allowed me to make countless adjustments. And then, just when I was about to admit defeat, I came up with something … passable.   

Chelsea, it seems, had an easier time of it. Her gorgeous creations adorn the cover and the opening spread of the Best of Milwaukee feature (page 50). Good job, Ms. Mamerow! Maybe Miss Richman was right after all.   

On the upside, I surprised executive editor and resident Packers fan Chris Drosner by suggesting that we do a feature on the team’s new quarterback. I am not a fan of football, Packers or otherwise, but I was hearing a lot of chatter about that Rodgers guy heading east, and some guy named Love taking his place. Chris embraced the idea (although he did seem a bit chagrined that he didn’t come up with it himself), and the resulting story from longtime Packers beat writer Jason Wilde starts on page 66.   

Reading all of the above, you might get the sense that working at Milwaukee Magazine is a lot of fun. I’m not going to lie: It is. I hope that you enjoy the results of our efforts, the stories you’ll find on these pages.   

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

In the Magazine:

Features:

• Our Best: It’s what you’ve been waiting for all year: our annual Best of Milwaukee, including the results of the Readers’ Choice poll.  
• The Great Reset: After 30 years of Hall-of-Fame-caliber quarterbacking, the keys to Packers Nation are now in the hands of Jordan Love. His teammates and coaches believe he’s ready to succeed.   
• The Last Commencement: The announcement that Cardinal Stritch University would close left the small Catholic college’s community shocked – and scrambling for what’s next.
• Fall Arts Guide: The inside scoop on the best cultural events happening around Milwaukee this autumn   

Your 414 

• Pets: What your furry friend can expect at Petfest 
• People Places Things: Get to know a Milwaukee mermaid, discover what’s new at Doors Open MKE and more
• Live music: The secret is out – Sofar Sounds puts on some of the coolest covert concerts around town.
• My Style: Creative director and streetwear enthusiast Vato Vergara channels a groovy, ’70s-style feel with his outfits.
• Public art: Meet Gabe Yeager, the mural matchmaker behind Downtown’s renaissance of color. 

The Dish 

• Savor: Delicious brigadeiros on the East Side – via Brazil
• Tidbits: The turkey leg that’s smothered with love. Plus: meaningful meals, a THC seltzer and news nuggets.
• Review: From smashburgers to handmade pastas, the new Trade Hotel’s restaurants aim to impress. Do they?   
• Review: A family with Sicilian blood – and a long history in the Milwaukee restaurant biz – is slaying with its terrific pastas and meats.      

Insider 

• Mental health: A psychedelic drug offers treatment options.
• Business: The founder of the Cheesehead hats packs it up.
• Real estate: Remote workers are changing resort towns.
• Suburbs: Fox Point ponders the value of its swimming pool. 

Explore 

• Visit: A 50-mile sea of red is where our state fruit, the cranberry, is grown.   
• Corn Mazes: Four local spots for fall fun 
• Travel: Take a day to soak up the diversions on Armitage Avenue in Chicago’s Lincoln Park. 

In Every Issue 

• Editor’s Letter  
• MilMag This Month  
• The Big Picture  
• The Guide
• John Gurda’s Historic Milwaukee 

Comments

comments