1. Enjoy a Summer Night at the Milwaukee Night Market
EVAN MUSIL, ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR
Picture this – a market, but at night. That’s exactly what the Milwaukee Night Market promises and delivers, and they’re throwing their third market of the year this Wednesday. Up and down Wisconsin Avenue, just west of the river, dozens of vendors and food trucks share their offerings under glimmering string lights. I’ve heard this market is a good time, and I’m always game to stroll down a street closed to cars. And look, I hate to say it, but the twilight of summer is approaching – so I’m going outside when I can. If you miss this one, though, you’ve still got one more chance on Sept. 11.
2. Don’t Just Bowl … Falcon Bowl
ARCHER PARQUETTE, MANAGING EDITOR
Last weekend, I finally visited a place that’s been on my list for a while – Falcon Bowl in Riverwest. Back in 2022, it looked like the local institution, open since 1915, was going to close, and Tea Krulos wrote this evocative story for us about the last night of league bowling. He described such an infectious atmosphere that I had to see for myself. Fortunately, Falcon Bowl survived, reopening under new ownership, and I finally made my way to the bar/bowling alley/experience. It was very much what Tea had portrayed – six vintage alleys underneath the bar, no frills, dripping with character, nurturing of its hipsters. It was a dang fine way to spend an evening, even if I’m so terrible at bowling I very nearly hurled my ball into a neighboring lane. I can see why Falcon Bowl has inspired such love for so many years, and here’s hoping it continues to do so for many years to come.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
3. Enjoy What’s Left of Patio Season
SOPHIE YUFA, EDITORIAL DESIGNER
I’m currently trapped in a never-ending cycle of rewatching “Sex and the City.” (I can’t speak highly enough of that cinematic masterpiece.) But with the season’s change not so far on the horizon, I’d recommend taking advantage of as many outdoor patios as you can. I especially love the ones at La Merenda, Lakefront Brewery, Blue Bat Kitchen & Tequilaria, and BelAir Cantina in Tosa.
4. Make Homemade Basil Pesto
ANN CHRISTENSON, DINING EDITOR
I love these weeks of food preservation – going to the farmers market, coming home with a jungle of ingredients and finding an immediate – or future – use for them. My freezer is currently packed with peaches from this season’s incredible Georgia peach harvest. And basil – I seem to be getting it from everyone I know. What else can I do but make caprese salads and pesto? This pesto recipe from Sally’s Baking Recipes makes about 3/4 cup and it’s perishable so now I have a bunch of little packets of the frozen sauce stashed in the freezer. I’ll be making more this week. If you like pesto and have never made it, it’s one of the easiest, most gratifying things to do. And making an excess of it – securing its place in future meals via the freezer – will give you a wonderful reminder of summer when there’s nothing growing but climatic discontent.
5. Take the Kids, and Yourself, to Elm Grove Village Park
CHELSEA MAMEROW, ART DIRECTOR
As a parent of three and a Wisconsinite, I consider myself fairly well-versed in the beer garden playground mashup. While there are many ways to rate them, here’s what I am looking for: proximity of beer service to playground, quality of beer offerings and children’s entertainment options. Elm Grove Village park hits high marks in all three of my top categories with a Third Space beer tent directly adjacent to a playground with swings, climbing options for both tots and bigger kids and (the real star) two sand volleyball pits always scattered with plastic shovels and buckets ready to keep your kids busy for hours. There are also basketball and tennis courts close by for older kids and if you’re there on a Friday or Saturday evening, you can even catch some live tunes.
