1. Go to The Greenhouse in Kohler
BRIANNA SCHUBERT, ASSOCIATE DIGITAL EDITOR
My friend asked me to go to the Bookworm Gardens this weekend (it was so fun, but that’s an editor pick for another time). Since we were going to be up near Kohler, I decided we also absolutely had to stop at The Greenhouse. I saw this stunning coffee shop on Instagram Reels, like the Gen Z kid I am, and have been wanting to visit ever since. I’m so glad we did – it was beautiful! Sit inside and marvel at the wonder of the stained glass or sit in the courtyard and enjoy the beautiful gardens that surround it. It’s all wonderful. I’d highly recommend day-tripping up there to see it if you have a chance before the weather turns.
2. Eat a Margherita Pizza at Proof
ARCHER PARQUETTE, MANAGING EDITOR
When I was an adolescent, I thought the greatest pizzas were the most heavily burdened. Sausage, pepperoni, bacon, ham, roast chuck, a rotisserie chicken, half a sirloin – whatever meaty, savory topping would add more flavor to the pie. But alas, I was young and foolish (and on a high-speed train toward clogged arteries). In my maturity, I have come to realize that a light and simple pizza is often the most delicious – and the humble margherita has won my heart. A little cheese, a few tomatoes, some basil and olive oil – what more do you really need? It is my go-to order at any parlor, and this past week I gave Proof Pizza’s version a try. The lobby restaurant at Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel did a great job of whipping up a margherita, which I very much enjoyed on a quiet afternoon Downtown.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
3. Eat a Morning Treat at Seven Swans Crêperie
EVAN MUSIL, ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR
While perusing an antique pop-up in Riverwest, I felt a calling from across the street. It was Seven Swans, a crêperie offering sweet and savory renditions of the doughy French delight. A craving developed, one that became impossible to ignore. (Not that I tried, anyway.) My partner and I waltzed in – I went sweet with the Cinnamon Toast with strawberries, and she had the savory Goodfellas with bacon, white cheddar, strawberry preserves and a fried egg. It might be my sweet tooth talking, but sugary is the way to go to enjoy these thin pancakes. I’m also partial to Seven Swan’s origins – created by a Milwaukee native turned Kansas City transplant – as someone who’s the opposite.
4. Try Toppers’ New Pan Pizza
CHRIS DROSNER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR
One of the cool things about working in media is you end up with a lot of free stuff. Companies rolling out new products or whatever often offer or even just send samples. The appeal of these items varies widely, but pizza? Yes, please! So it was that our staff came to sample the new pan pizzas from Whitewater-based za-smiths Toppers. I’m old enough that Toppers wasn’t a thing when I went to college in Wisconsin, but I’ve had its pizza a few times and enjoyed it well enough. And that enjoyment was kicked up a level by this new pan crust. Edging toward Detroit style, ’za, this buttery, firm crust with caramelized cheese on the edges is a really nice vehicle for Toppers’ style of pie – a thick slab of cheese, nice spicy sauce, a little on the greasy side (that’s not an insult when we’re talking pizza). For comparison (science!), we also got Toppers a pizza with the regular hand-tossed crust, and I was reminded that the base model here is very good, too – soft, and puffy, just the right amount of thickness (even if I’m generally a tavern-style cracker-crust guy). Medium pan pizzas from $10, locations at toppers.com.
5. See ‘Signs and Wonders’ at the Tory Folliard Gallery
Wisconsin Painter Fred Stonehouse saw the sign – and it pointed to the bizarre. His new work subverts the simple nature of hand-painted signs, pairing surreal symbols with nonsensical text to create disconnect and a hint of hidden meaning. You can see the signs as part of a new exhibition at the Tory Folliard Gallery from Oct. 18-Nov. 16.
– Evan Musil, from the October issue
