1. Check Out Milwaukee Brewing’s New Taproom
CHRIS DROSNER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR
After two years, Milwaukee Brewing Co. once again has its own space in its namesake city, and it’s pretty great. Milwaukee Brewing (& Distilling) is now under the umbrella of Eagle Park Brewing, but the new space – the former Tonic Tavern on KK just south of Lincoln, in the heart of Bay View – feels like its own, comfortable thing: exposed brick, garage-type doors and a full array of MKE beers. The easy interface between the long front patio and bar makes it a great late summer/fall hang. 2335 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.
2. Relax at the Whitnall Park Beer Garden
ARCHER PARQUETTE, MANAGING EDITOR
Last Monday, some associates of mine wanted to hang out. This was unusual for me because I am an off-putting and, to be frank, terrible-smelling man. Most people do not want to spend 30 seconds in an elevator with me, much less an evening. I panicked. The pressure was on. I did not wish to disappoint these kind people who were willing to give a little smelly man a chance. I thought perhaps I would cook them some of my Sicilian-style Scabazeeli, or take them to my favorite park bench and demonstrate how the construction on the legs is superior to usual county standards. But then they said they wanted to go to a beer garden, and I was struck by despair. No Milwaukee beer gardens are open on Monday, I thought. They were bound for disappointment. But then, salvation! It turns out that Whitnall Park in Greendale is open on Mondays. And not only is the beer garden open all week, it is, in fact, quite nice. The spacious park fills up with a nice crowd; there’s a solid craft beer and cider menu at decent prices; and there’s a grill serving food. After a few minutes, my associates’ noses began to twitch and they suddenly both remembered late dentist appointments that they had to rush off to, but I still enjoyed my time at the beer garden quite a bit.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
3. Listen to Diamond Life’s Neon Dreams
EVAN MUSIL, ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR
What’s wonderful about our city having a diverse music scene is that there’s always something new to listen to. While working through local artists, I was introduced to an overlooked gem – no pun intended, but I’m going to run with it. Diamond Life’s debut Neon Dreams came out in May, and it’s got Italo Disco-inspired bops galore. The record pulls from the darker side of the charmingly chintzy sound, with fuzzy synths and moody chords. But its pulsing bass lines and four-on-the-floor drums make it unmistakable: this is an album to dance to. As a big fan of the genre, I give it a thumbs up.
4. Make Zucchini-Cheese Pancakes
ANN CHRISTENSON, DINING EDITOR
Growing season is winding up – I love and hate it. For the last few years, I’ve been growing tomatoes in pots on my back porch. This year, I expanded to include bell peppers and – using a large rectangle-shaped plastic bin – cucumbers and zucchini. I didn’t expect much from the zucchini but I’ve already picked one giant squash, and in an effort to do something different than the inevitable zucchini bread, I used it to make savory zucchini pancakes. I riffed on this recipe from King Arthur Baking Company, using good briny feta instead of Parmesan cheese and lots of fresh dill instead of basil and oregano. They’re great served with a dollop of sour cream!
5. Read Levels of the Game by John McPhee
ARCHER PARQUETTE, MANAGING EDITOR
This might shock you, coming from a magazine editor, but I love magazine journalism. Long, thoughtful pieces that use both the tools of reporting and literature awaken the nerd in me – I’m analyzing structure, critiquing quote choices, questioning thematic resonance. Most recently, I finally read this classic of longform journalism by longtime New Yorker writer John McPhee. Published over two parts in 1969, Levels of the Game revolves around a tennis match between Arthur Ashe and Clark Graebner, two of the best in the sport at the time. Ashe and Graebner are drastically different. Graebner comes from a wealthy background, is prone to emotional outbursts, plays textbook tennis, and is white. Ashe comes from a poorer background, is calm to the point of detachment, plays a riskier game, and is the first Black player to win a major men’s singles championship. McPhee takes their match and turns it into an analysis of America in the late ’60s, a time of incredible cultural upheaval – and somehow, the guy makes that giant feat of writing seem easy.
