1. Swing by The Polish Flat Antique Shop in Riverwest
EVAN MUSIL, ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR
Full credit goes to my partner for finding this shop on the corner of Chambers and Fratney. (She’s a first-rate cool-place finder.) This vintage and antique store just opened last weekend – kind of. The owners held a few outdoor pop-ups earlier this year, and they’ve been selling household items and knickknacks longer than that. But this is the first time The Polish Flat opened its own brick-and-mortar. It’s small and packed with delightful trinkets. No regular hours yet, but they’re planning to announce more browsing times on their Instagram this month.
2. See A Christmas Carol at the Pabst Theater
BRIANNA SCHUBERT, ASSOCIATE DIGITAL EDITOR
I’ve seen Milwaukee Rep’s production of A Christmas Carol several times over the years, my earliest memory being a class trip in middle school after we read the book. I’ve also seen it with my family several times and even saw family-friends perform in it a few years ago. It’s a tradition I enjoy very much, and even though I don’t go every year – like many folks do – I always feel like it’s a fantastic way to kick off the holiday season. Every time I see it, it blows me away, sweeping me into the magic and lore, making me feel like a kid again. And seeing it last weekend was no different. It was spectacular, funny, beautiful and charming as ever. See it at the Pabst Theater through Dec. 24. Get tickets here.
Tell us who you’d pick to be a Betty this year!
3. Check Out the New Book Flights Across America
CHRIS DROSNER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Joel Geier of Glendale is a bigger beer geek than you. Or at least a bigger brewery geek. He’s visited more than 1,300 breweries and … can we just pause on that for a sec? That’s more breweries than even existed in the entire country in 1996. Or, put another way, it’s like visiting every brewery in Wisconsin in 2023, times FIVE. Anyway, you learn a lot about not just beer scenes across the country but also how to visit breweries, do’s and don’ts, red flags and much more. For years, Geier has been sharing his adventures through his Brewery Travels social media, but now he’s written Flights Across America, a book that communicates his expertise in a thoughtful and approachable way. The book launches Dec. 16 with a Q&A with Geier (I’ll be bringing the Qs!) at Lakefront Brewery. Come down and pick up a copy as well as a pint of Lakefront’s excellent new-ish Blackbird black IPA.
4. Become a Gyro King at Gyro Palace
ARCHER PARQUETTE, MANAGING EDITOR
This weekend, I witnessed impotent rage and strange fury. How, you might ask? Well, I got caught behind the Santa Cycle Rampage in Walker’s Point. The whimsical bike race, filled with dozens of Kris Kringles cycling down the road with police escort, prompted one of the drivers alongside me to lose his mind, honking as though the world was soon to end if these Christmas-lovers didn’t get out of his way. His anger upset me, and so I did what I often do when upset – searched for food. Thankfully, I was right by Gyro Palace, the gas station-adjacent gyro spot with a drive-through. I didn’t use the drive-through, as I’m prone to a clumsiness so monumental it would make Mr. Bean blush. Instead I went inside and ordered a good old gyros plate. Now let me tell you – Gryo Palace is not a fancy place, but it is a delicious place. Damn, I can enjoy a good gyro, and that one was filling and fantastic. In fact, it was enough gyro that I dang near skipped dinner. I will return, and I will return soon.
5. Follow the Ornament Trail
Remember those giant magical holiday ornaments doting Downtown last year? The Ornament Trail is back, with all 15 artist-made designs returning in new spots. Each ornament carries its own meaning, reflecting the many cultural traditions in Milwaukee that make up the most wonderful time of the year.
– Evan Musil in the December issue
