1. Go to the State Fair!
CHRIS DROSNER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR
When our staff was staking claims to their editor picks this week we were embarrassed that nobody mentioned the Wisconsin State Fair LAST week. I’m a late-in-life appreciator of the fair, but now I’m all in on the combination of pig races, outsized vegetables, cream puffs, adorable farm animals (those soulful cow/horse eyes!), chill live music and weird foods, mostly fried. And people watching! Gamify it with a sheet of State Fair bingo; many are available but a friend who posts one to Facebook every year is the best. You gotta update it with the trends, you see.
2. Behold the Jazz at Jazz in the Park
ARCHER PARQUETTE, MANAGING EDITOR
In middle school I was in a musical called We Haz Jazz against my will, and almost every time someone says the word “jazz,” the chorus of the title song reverberates in my head like some hellish chorus of the damned: “We haz jazz, jazz, jazz!” My character was Francisco, and I gave him a whole backstory that had nothing to do with the musical. When Francisco wasn’t jazz-dancing with his buddies, he was a stone-cold enforcer for the local mob, well known for his lack of mercy when it came to collecting funds from sad sacks with gambling debts. But he had a soft spot for lizards and owned twenty-three – he would give his life for those scaly little guys. I miss you, Franciso, you cold cat, you.
Anyway, Jazz in the Park is a lot of fun. There’s always a nice crowd for the outdoor concert series at Cathedral Square. This week, a Grateful Dead tribute is playing, which isn’t really my thing – but frankly, I usually go more for the food, drink and chance to hang out than the actual music.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
3. Find a Rummage Sale
EVAN MUSIL, ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR
What’s better than getting a bargain? Meeting new people. My partner and I endured Saturday’s humidity to walk around Martin Drive, scoping out some good deals. I found a few shirts, and she found a cute dish of a mouse dreaming of cheese. But most importantly, we found good conversation with the neighborhood’s residents, who were welcoming and spoke highly of the diverse, altruistic community they’ve built. It’s a great way to get to know the city.
4. Eat Decatur Dairy Cheese Curds
BRIANNA SCHUBERT, ASSOCIATE DIGITAL EDITOR
I have a new obsession. It’s Decatur Dairy’s cheese curds. I discovered the small Brodhead, Wisconsin-based cheese company’s curds at the Tosa Farmers market a couple weeks ago. And then I went back for more this weekend. Because you see, they have so many different flavors of cheese curds to choose from – like dill, buffalo, French onion, garlic and herb, ranch and more – and I need to try them all. So far, I’ve had the plain original curds and the dill curds. I simply must keep going back for more. The farmers market runs through Oct. 12, so I (hopefully) have time to try them all!
