1. Park Under the Milwaukee Art Museum
CHRIS DROSNER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR
It had been a long time since I’d been to MAM before stopping by on Sunday to see An-My Lê’s “On Contested Terrain” exhibit, and it was worth the trip. Lê’s photographs are thought-provoking, and she has a particular knack for capturing beautiful skies. I discovered new favorite artworks in the museum’s regular collection as well. And while it was not the headline of my visit, holy cow, MAM has an amazing parking garage. The one-level basement lot has the same architecture as the famed Calatrava addition above, and it is spotlessly clean. It’s not particularly pricey, considering its location, and it’s heated, too, which allows you to leave your coat in the car time of year. I am not remotely qualified to deem it the best parking lot in the city, but it’s definitely the best parking lot in the city.
2. See The Commercialists Play A Charlie Brown Christmas
CAROLE NICKSIN, EDITOR & PUBLISHER
If you’re still not quite finding that ye olde holiday spirit, this should do the trick: head over to the Jazz Estate to see The Commercialists performing the Vince Guaraldi compositions from A Charlie Brown Christmas. Some songs capture a wistful melancholia, while others (“Linus and Lucy,” for instance) are utterly danceable. And they are all filled with nostalgia, taking you back to the first time you watched the cartoon on TV in your PJs. The holiday decorations and libations at the Jazz Estate enhance the experience. There are only a few dates left (the 21st is the last performance), but the same group will be doing the show on a larger scale at Turner Hall on the 23rd. Don’t be a blockhead! Get your tickets now!
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
3. Eat Local
ANN CHRISTENSON, SENIOR DINING EDITOR
Supporting local is a mantra I espouse in this magazine all the time. Particularly, of course, restaurants. Case in point: Damascus Gate, the wonderful Syrian establishment on the South Side (807 W. Mitchell St.). I recently picked up carryout and fell In love with the food all over again. So many good things here, from the fatayer (savory spinach or cheese-filled pies) to the grilled meat platters served with rice, hummus and very thin, tender flatbread. If I’m not in the mood for meat, I opt for the vegetarian appetizer platter – a generous spread of hummus, baba ghanouj, moussaka (a grilled eggplant dish), tabbouleh and falafel.
4. Go See the Winter Wonders Holiday Lights
ALLISON GARCIA, DIGITAL EDITOR
Outside the (gorgeous) Boerner Botanical Gardens is an amazing holiday light show that is a must-see for anyone looking to get in the holiday spirit. I went last year and I’m eagerly awaiting my visit to the lights later this week. This year, there are more than 1 million lights along the 1.5-mile route. Plus, there’s drive-by Santa visits every night and holiday gift bag giveaways. P.S. tickets are a little pricey ($25), but this Groupon helps.
5. Read The Father Christmas Letters by J.R.R. Tolkien
ARCHER PARQUETTE, MANAGING EDITOR
That’s right. J.R.R. Tolkein, the big man himself, the granddad of all fantasy literature, the author of what is clearly still the greatest fantasy epic written, The Lord of the Rings, wrote a cute little Christmas book. Between 1920 and 1943, Tolkien wrote his children stories about Father Christmas’ life on the North Pole with his Polar Bear friends. The epistolary stories were written from the point of view of FC himself, or re-told by his elf secretary. These letters were all published in a single volume after Tolkien died. It’s a charming children’s book, and if you’re a Lord of the Rings fan, it’s worth mentioning that Father Christmas does in fact battle goblins.
