1. Dance the Night Away at MAM After Dark
CAROLE NICKSIN, EDITOR IN CHIEF
MAM After Dark has made a strong comeback and is more Okay 8 fun than ever! This week’s edition is inspired by the fabulous Gertrude Abercrombie show that is currently on view. Expect jazzy sounds and beatnik cool. Friday, May 15, 7 PM to 11 PM.
2. Shop at the Dubbel Dutch Spring Market
AMRITA THAKKAR, DIGITAL EDITOR
Spring and summer herald the return of market season, and I for one can’t wait to get my hands on all the crafts, jewelry and vintagewear that’ll be available. While bigger and better-known markets like 414Flea are great, don’t miss out on the smaller, one-off markets this season. While they might not have as many options, they’re often great for finding unique makers who may not be exhibiting at bigger markets (which often carry more expensive booth fees).
Last year’s market at the Dubbel Dutch featured fun jewelry, art prints, on-the-spot customized typewritten poems, plenty of breezy vintage finds and more. This year’s vendors are already up on the Dubbel Dutch’s Instagram page, so take a look at what the makers have to offer and then head down to the Dubbel Dutch on May 17 between 11 a.m and 4 p.m.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
3. Grab a Drink at Your Office
CHRIS DROSNER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR
I admit, when the team behind Your Office invited media folks to a sneak preview of their reopening of the classic Downtown dive as an “elevated dive bar,” I rolled my eyes. I am a student of bars and edited our 2024 package on dives, and one of my axioms is that bars calling themselves are rarely dives, and I know for certain that dive bars do not have press events. After our report on the event, I was buoyed and put it on the “check it out sometime” list. That sometime came late Friday, and, semantics aside, it was a lot of fun. Your Office was busy but not packed, youthful and energetic but not uncomfortable for a late-40s dude, the kind of place that’s going to be going strong til bar time. Plus, Spaghett – a boss summer beertail made of High Life with a shot of Aperol and a lemon wedge – on the menu! (And, for the record, no, I don’t think it’s a dive.) 763 N. Milwaukee St.
4. Catch the Last Showing of Frida
CAROLE NICKSIN, EDITOR IN CHIEF
Everyone I know who has seen Frida…A Self-Portrait at the Milwaukee Rep says it’s amazing. It’s a one-woman show about the artist Frida Kahlo, who once again is having a moment – she’s the subject of an opera currently running at the Met in New York, and Netflix is developing a series about Kahlo and her partner, Diego Rivera. The Rep show closes on Sunday, so this is a last-chance opportunity.
5. Eat a Brisket Grilled Cheese at Neighborhood Draft
ARCHER PARQUETTE, MANAGING EDITOR
The other week I had a meeting with one of my many business associates – let’s call him Saucy Vincenzo – to discuss matters of import to our various dealings. Saucy Vincenzo suggested meeting at Neighborhood Draft in Wauwatosa, a place I’d never been before. The name is fitting: It’s relatively small, humble, affordable and friendly. When we were there, the bar and restaurant was packed but didn’t feel overwhelming or too loud. In short, it was my kind of spot.
Saucy Vincenzo is known to judge a guy’s food choices, so I decided to order something light and dignified, a grilled cheese. I probably should have read the menu like a literate person instead of just allowing my eyes to glaze right past the word “brisket” before grilled cheese. Man, that sucker was not light – it was big honking grilled cheese with a whole lot of brisket, not to mention gouda and gruyère cheese and onions to boot. “You eat like a hog raised in a barn,” Saucy Vincenzo said as I dug in. “Thank you, Saucy Vincenzo,” I replied through a mouthful of oil-dripping brisket. Despite this not being the most dainty sandwich around, I must say it was delicious and the place was pleasant. A heaty recommendation.
6. Go Birding at Your Nearest Park
EVAN MUSIL, ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR
It always surprises me how much the seasons affect my mood. When in the deepest part of winter, I convince myself that the dead grass and ruthless cold aggravating my poor circulation doesn’t really bother me. But when I finally see the light-green blooms glowing in the sun, I let out a sigh of relief. And the spring birds are the cherry on top. This morning, a sweet, unfamiliar call made me perk my ears. I looked up and spotted a Baltimore oriole – my first of the year – with its bright orange belly. That was all the encouragement I needed to dive back into nature and go birding. Give it a shot yourself – what you see might surprise you, and I’ve yet to find a better way to feel so grounded and present in the moment.
