1. Stroll Through Lynden Sculpture Garden
EVAN MUSIL, ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR
Notice that? How the grass is a little greener, the sun a little warmer, the wind a little more calamitous? OK, maybe we’d like to ignore that last one, but regardless it’s a sign of spring! And what better time to enjoy our city’s array of outdoor art? I made for the Lynden Sculpture Garden a few weeks ago for an art-imbued bird walk, and what impressed me most was the 40-acre park’s fine balance between manicured lawn and natural woodland. My favorite piece is Deborah Butterfield’s Hara, a pseudo-driftwood, actually bronze sculpture of a horse similar to the one of hers at the Saint Kate.
2. Support Art Student at MIAD’s Annual Fundraiser
CAROLE NICKSIN, EDITOR AND PUBLISHER
I’m looking forward to Creative Fusion, MIAD’s annual fundraiser, this Saturday night. It’s always a lot of fun – they have a good DJ and you get to see the students’ work while mingling with other guests. But most of all, it’s for a great cause – helping fund scholarships for students!
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
3. Grab a Cup of Ginger Milk From Azal Coffee
ANN CHRISTENSON, DINING EDITOR
Many of us, myself included, are new to Yemen coffee culture. The Arab country has a rich, deep coffee history, and now Yemeni cafes are popping up all over town. The first to open here (in Greenfield, specifically) was Qamaria in early 2024. (You need to order the tres leches cakes they serve there – pistachio and rosewater, respectively, are great!). The other day I tried Azal Coffee, which just opened in the Harbor District (1318 S. First St.). While everybody else was ordering a pistachio latte (which is a specialty at many Yemeni cafes), I craved something mild, comforting and non-caffeinated. Do people drink warm milk anymore? They do, and it often comes with a flavored syrup or powder. At Azal, I ordered the ginger milk, wondering if it might be like golden milk (which has turmeric, and sometimes ginger and cinnamon). Good thing I really like ginger! The milk (dairy or nondairy – I chose oatmilk) was packed with bits of ginger root. I didn’t mind the intense warming/burning sensation, but be prepared!
4. Try the City’s Best DIY Beer at the Cream City Homebrew Competition
CHRIS DROSNER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Joe Yeado, owner of Gathering Place Brewing (811 E. Vienna Ave.), has a soft spot for homebrewers. He was one himself for years before he launched Gathering Place in 2017, and Gathering Place now pays tribute to the hobby (lifestyle, really) by hosting the Cream City Homebrew Competition. Among the open entries, 10 finalists are selected to pour their beer at the taproom and vie for the top prize – making their beer at Gathering Place for the general public to enjoy. I’ll be part of the panel of judges selecting the winners, but everyone is welcome to try samples of the 10 finalists from noon-4 p.m., but come early because the best beers run out early.
5. Try a Barre Class at AfterGlow
BRIANNA SCHUBERT, DIGITAL EDITOR
Last week, I tried a barre class for the first time since college at AfterGlow. (Except for this one time two years ago, where I went to a place I will not name and was so intimidated and stressed because it was loud and hard.) For those who have never heard of it, barre is a mixture of ballet, pilates and yoga, combining ballet barre work, light weights, and repetitive exercises. In college, I loved going to barre at the K, aka the Klotsche Center at UWM. I’d go every week. It was delightful! So when my friend Tina said she was teaching her first class at AfterGlow last week, I was so excited to sign up. The class was reminiscent of the great classes I took in college – a good workout with a nice instructor and no stress whatsoever! Check out their class schedule here.
