1. Grab a Treat From Poppy Bakery
ANN CHRISTENSON, DINING EDITOR
Braving the line outside Poppy Bakery (2021 E. Ivanhoe Place, former Sip & Purr cafe) was the best decision I made all weekend. Sunday, June 8 was the official opening of the brick-and-mortar shop, which started two years ago as a popup at the Brookfield farmers market. I waited close to a half-hour to get up to the counter, but it was worth it. One of the staff scaled the long queue with samples of the bakery’s chocolate chip cookie and focaccia to help keep the mood light (and sweet). When I made it inside and up to the bakery case, I wanted some of everything – they had craggy-edged buttermilk biscuits, bacon brioche buns with goat cheese and chives, shiny iced cinnamon rolls, big wedges of sour cream coffeecake, and thick-sliced sesame banana bread with a curvy domed top. Nothing was petite. I made my three choices without too much hemming and hawing (I’m a born hemmer and hawer), but then again, there were a lot of people waiting behind me. The raspberry rhubarb bostock (a French pastry made of brioche and frangipane – an almond cream that is one of my favorite things ever) was dense yet soft and not aggressively sweet. More bread/cake-like, with a roof of slivered almonds and a few bright-pink pieces of rhubarb peeking through the top. Earnestly sweet, the strawberry rhubarb brioche bun was a soft, rich bread cloud under crispy clumps of poppyseed crumble. The goal is to reach the rewarding center of chamomile cream and fruit jam (which I did, right when I got home). My third choice I saved for later – a dense, dark brownie square. It’s so rich I’m taking my time with it, a whole week, maybe, of nicks whenever I need a chocolate hit. This bakery might prove to be dangerous! The next stop is biscuits and sweet butter. See Poppy Bakery’s Facebook page for updates and hours.
2. Explore the Night Market
ARCHER PARQUETTE, MANAGING EDITOR
This Wednesday, Night Archer will pay a visit to the Night Market. (He’s a lot like Day Archer, just with tighter pants.) This free outdoor market, which convenes on June 11, July 16, Aug. 13 and Sept. 10 from 5-10 p.m. has become a fixture in Westown over the years. It brings together vendors, artist and plenty of people to hang out, dine, drink and enjoy a Milwaukee summer night.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
3. Revisit Our Now Award-Winning Dive Bars Feature
CHRIS DROSNER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR
When we were planning last October’s cover story on Milwaukee’s dive bars, we were all feeling the pressure. This is a topic that A) has been covered quite a bit and is B) really central to the cultural identity of our city and, really, state. It’s why, as the story it became – “High Dive” – was announced as the winner of the “Leisure/Lifestyle Interests” award at the City and Regional Magazine Association conference Friday night, I nearly fell out of my chair. I’ve been telling people I’ve been doing research on that topic for 40 years, but the entire team spent a lot of time on the interviews, fact-finding and vetting that went into that package of stories. (I know it sounds fun, but going out bar-hopping on another Tuesday night when you’d rather stay in … folks, that really is capital-W Work.) Shout out first to art director Chelsea Mamerow, who made the package as beautiful as the topic deserves, and to all the contributors who have bylines and credits in the package. (Many friends and co-workers spent their summer days and nights chasing down Milwaukee’s best bars with me or on their own, thank you all, too!) We believe that Milwaukee’s bars are unmatched in this country, and we’re thrilled that our tribute to them is best-in-class, too. If you somehow missed the story last fall, give it a look – perhaps starting with my feature-opening essay.
4. Get the Goods at the Tosa Farmers Market
BRIANNA SCHUBERT, DIGITAL EDITOR
The best farmers market is the one that I’m closest to (that is to say, they’re all good so I’m happy wherever I am). Over the year’s I’ve been to the ones in Shorewood, Riverwest, Southshore, West Allis and Wauwatosa, as I’ve moved around Milwaukee. These days, I’m a regular at the Tosa Farmers Market. Every Saturday, my fiancé and I head on down to the village and walk around, perusing the seasonal produce and beelining to our favorite vendors. I never skip the cheese curds from Decatur Dairy (last weekend I got the dill ones – delish!), and I always get excited when I see Yaya’s Greek Almond Dip. Truly the highlight of my week all summer long!
5. See Mama Rosa, the Tosa Troll
EVAN MUSIL, ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR
Much hubbub has been made about Tosa’s newest resident: a 24-foot-tall troll made of repurposed wood who’s the centerpiece of the city’s new Firefly Grove Park. Long lines have formed every day for people to take a glimpse (and a photo) of the majestic creature. When I visited last Sunday night, the lines were gone, and all that was left was Mama Rosa. It’s honestly quite a spectacle – the wall of trees behind it enhances the fantasy, and the craftsmanship is impressive up close. And when you visit at night, you see the street lights she’s holding glow. The park itself is also gorgeous and worth a visit alone.
