1. Take the Kids to Mini Fest
BRIANNA SCHUBERT, DIGITAL EDITOR
Mini Fest is a festival of arts and crafts for kids and families, with workshops led by artists and entrepreneurs. This year is its second in Milwaukee (it started in Chicago in 2019), and last year I had the opportunity to volunteer at it in the shrinky dink station. It was such a lovely day filled with glitter glue, giggles and good times. I loved walking around to see all the different art workshop kids could participate in, and I’m so curious to see what they have in store this year, too. Definitely check it out if you have kids – I can’t wait to take my new niece when she’s a little bit older! Mini Fest is at Zócalo Food Truck Park (636 S. 6th St.) on Saturday, July 12 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Get tickets here.
2. Say Bonjour to Bastille Day West
EVAN MUSIL, ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR
Everyone knows the big French fest called Bastille Days at Cathedral Square Park, with its big ol’ Eiffel Tower and its bevy of treats and buskers. But did you know there’s a smaller French fest that happens every year in Washington Heights? I didn’t until I came upon it driving home last year. The unrelated Bastille Day West (July 11 on Vliet Street) is its own special occasion, with a fashion show, an “escargot” slow bike race, plein air painting and an Eiffel Tower model contest – even the towers are tinier. But this neighborhood fest gets packed and buzzing in a way only neighborhood fests can. Consider this a pregame.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
3. Sip Serendipity
ARCHER PARQUETTE, MANAGING EDITOR
Many days, I wake in fog. I stumble from my bed in a haze of confusion. What is going on? Why am I here? Is there purpose to these mortal wanderings? Where are my pants? As I undertake my morning ablutions, I cannot banish thoughts of life’s futility and pain’s inevitability from my mind. But I must fight them in order to remain standing. Another day tires on.
Then I drink a good beer, and life gets better!
This weekend, I tried New Glarus’ seasonal Serendipity fruited sour ale. I’m a fan of sours – and this one was quite nice. The mix of apples, cranberries and cherries creates a quite pleasant beer experience, if I do say so myself. The seasonal brew is available through August, and if for one plan to enjoy a few more.
4. See “Everyday heaven” Before It Closes
“Everyday heaven” pairs Rafael Francisco Salas’ surreal paintings with portraits by turn-of-the-19th-century photographer Charles Van Schaick. They both examine rural Wisconsin and have an “existential quality” suggesting “the fading of life and passing of time,” says curator Debra Brehmer. The exhibition runs through July 12 at Portrait Society Gallery. – Evan Musil in the July issue
