In the four years since MilMag introduced this feature highlighting great stuff across the metro, we’ve always felt like the bigger or busier burbs like Tosa, Oak Creek and Shorewood were sucking up a lot of the oxygen. That’s natural, in some ways, but all of our communities have something to love. So this year we decided to cast a wide net and pick one awesome thing for every one of Milwaukee’s suburbs, from Grafton to Mukwonago. For even more reasons to get out of your routine and head for the burbs, don’t miss the results of our annual Readers’ Choice Best of the Burbs survey!
Mequon
Chancery Restaurant and Pub
Transplants may have to ask a Milwaukee old-timer why so many of us have a soft spot for this relatively ordinary American restaurant that’s the last holdout of a once seemingly ubiquitous local casual dining chain. In 1972, a 24-year-old Joseph Derosa opened the first Chancery, in Racine. Diners went for the copper bar,
tiffany-like stained-glass lampshades and wide-ranging menu. From 1975 to 1998, DeRosa opened seven more locations from Waukesha to Pleasant Prairie, with each restaurant featuring its own unique theme. Today, the Chancery is down to this single Mequon restaurant with its rustic, frontier-style atmosphere. but some longtime favorites remain on the menu, including the “Hey Curly, Where’s Moe?” Asian stir fry and the unlimited fish fry (still just $14!) that back in the day led to immensely long waits at the Chancery on Downer Avenue. 11046 N. Port Washington RD. – Rich Rovito
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Oconomowoc
The Crafty Cow
The Crafty Cow feels like a Milwaukee institution at this point, 12 years into slinging some of the metro’s best burgers and chicken sandwiches from now three locations. But the OG was right here, in a cozy, elevated pub space in this burb’s charming downtown. 153 E. Wisconsin Ave.
Wauwatosa
Firefly Grove Park
Come for the giant troll sculpture, stay for the accessible playground, pop-up beer gardens and even the dad-beloved BMX pump track. 1900 N. 116th St.
Greenfield
The ‘Hidden’ Patio at Kopp’s
Kopp’s Frozen Custard is a staple of a few burbs, but did you know the Greenfield location has a “secret” patio right along its busy corner of Layton and 76th? The spacious, landscaped lawn is hidden from traffic and the parking lot by shrubs and tall greenery. 7631 W. Layton Ave.
New Berlin
Varsity Club
The wood-paneled walls of this friendly neighborhood bar/roadhouse are hung with scores of old photos, including one of ’80s Packers quarterback Lynn Dickey proclaiming its pizza the best in the state. Varsity Club features the rare double weekday happy hour: 8-11 a.m. and 3-6 p.m. 12400 W. Beloit Rd.
River Hills
Lynden Sculpture Garden
The only public space in this bedroom community is a gem: a 40-acre, 50-sculpture art oasis. It’s free to roam the grounds and indoor gallery space. 2145 W. Brown Deer Rd.
Pewaukee
The Lakefront
A hidden gem it is not – for good reason. Pewaukee’s waterfront is pure charm. Claim a spot on the sand, shop and dine along the enchanting stretch of stores, and stop by on Wednesday evenings in the summer to catch the beach’s concert series.
St. Francis
Value Village
You’re bound to find something nice on the racks of our area’s many thrift stores, but you might not find a better bargain than at Value Village. The secondhand sanctuary runs sales seven days a week; on Saturdays and Sundays, everything in the store is 50% off. Pair that with a huge selection, and a successful thrift feels inevitable. 3100 E. Layton Ave.
Grafton
Veterans Memorial Park
From this little downtown green space, you can put in a kayak to explore up the Milwaukee river, skate its frozen surface or stroll the riverfront downstream to the dam. 1036 13th Ave.
Germantown
Dachshund Dash
Who wants to watch wiener dogs whoosh by? Those cute little legs charge for glory at this annual Oktoberfest event benefiting the Washington County Humane Society. Sept. 26, Dheinsville Historic Park
Sussex
Lions Daze
Every small town needs a classic festival like this: a carnival, bands and beer. July 10-12, Sussex Village Park
South Milwaukee
Da Crusher
Pro wrestler Reggie “Da Crusher” Lisowski became known as “the man that made Milwaukee famous.” Never mind that he was a lifelong south Milwaukeean. In 2019, the ‘burb honored him with a life-size bronze statue of Da Crusher wearing wrestling tights and balancing a beer barrel on his shoulder. The statue, created by Milwaukee artist Thomas Holleran, even shook off vandals who attacked it with a concrete block. “How ’bout ’dat?” 1101 Milwaukee Ave.
Brown Deer
Little White Schoolhouse
Milwaukee county’s last remaining one-room school opened in 1884 to serve children from the farms of Brown Deer. It closed in 1922, giving way to uses including a sheet metal fabricator, and was moved and restored in the 1970s. Now, the village is working to reboot its long-running living schoolhouse program for fourth-graders throughout the Milwaukee area. 4920 W. Green Brook Dr.
Greendale
Penelope
Many of our suburbs have deer, but there’s only one Penelope. Over the past few years, this snow-white and extremely friendly deer roaming Greendale, Franklin and beyond has developed quite the following. Multiple Facebook groups have formed to document sightings. “People absolutely adore her,” says Lauren Bast, a member of the Penelope in Greendale group. “She is not afraid to walk right up to you, nuzzle you with her head when she wants to be petted, and gently eat fruits and veggies from your hand.” Many fans assume she’s an albino of the whitetail deer species so common in Wisconsin, but her origin story is perhaps even more unusual. Malenna Smith, a white-deer advocate from Sauk County, believes Penelope is a fallow deer – a smaller, stouter European native that often sports white fur. Fallow deer are commonly raised for venison, and Smith believes Penelope escaped a farm and that dark fate. – Alex Stahl
Bayside
Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Forested trails with Lake Michigan views – and you can’t forget the raptors! 1111 E. Brown Deer Rd.
Mukwonago
The Elegant Farmer
Beyond this not-so-hidden gem’s famously sweet paper-bag-baked apple pie are many more local foodie finds: fresh cheese curds, beef sticks, honey mustard, seasonally decorated frosted sugar cookies. Hungry now? Grab a sandwich from the deli counter to eat out on a picnic table. 1545 Main St.
Elm Grove
Village Park
This beating heart of Elm Grove bustles with the village library, pool, sports of all sorts, sledding in winter and fishing and a great beer garden in summer. 13600 Juneau Blvd.
Waukesha
Les Paul
He was a guitar virtuoso, effortlessly spanning jazz, pop and country during the dawn of rock & roll. But he didn’t get the nickname “The Wizard of Waukesha” for his prowess as a musician. No, Paul’s biggest claim to fame was as an innovator, building what’s widely credited as the first solid-body electric guitar. Page, Hendrix, Richards, Prince – you’re welcome, from Waukesha.
Muskego
Bass Bay Brewhouse
That catastrophic fire last December won’t be this storied restaurant property’s last chapter. The Oschmann family, which has run restaurants and banquet halls on the lakeside site since the 1950s, announced in February that Bass Bay Brewhouse will return following an outpouring of community support – even telling customers to hold onto the restaurant’s gift cards. S79W15851 Aud Mar Dr.
Fox Point
Matilda Bakehouse’s Croissants
Are these croissants perfection? It’s hard to argue with Matilda’s breathtakingly delicate, flaky creations. Try one as the enclosure for a Spicy Fox breakfast sandwich. 6874 N. Santa Monica Blvd.
Thiensville
Mequon-Thiensville Fishway
Love dams? Sure – unless you’re an eager salmon swimming up the Milwaukee River. That’s why we (and
37 species of fish) love this manmade tributary, which has provided a fin-friendly bypass around Thiensville’s 6 ½-foot dam since 2010. Village Park, 250 Elm St.
Hales Corners
Margie’s Garden
Nestled inside Boerner Botanical Gardens is this interactive children’s play garden, too enchanting to stay a secret. Sparkly paths wind through larger-than-life floral sculptures, whimsical playhouses and a playground of friendly bugs. Garden season starts May 1. 9400 Boerner Dr.
Brookfield
Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts
Since opening within Brookfield’s Mitchell Park in 2002, this multi-theater venue has grown into a suburban arts destination. Live performances from national artists and Milwaukee’s premier ensembles make up the main calendar, but the center also holds a lesser-known gallery and arts education programs. 3270 Mitchell Park Dr.
Cedarburg
Rivoli Theatre
Single-screen movie theaters are dwindling, but this charming Cedarburg cinema is holding strong, offering films at an affordable ticket price. W62 N567 Washington Ave.
Cudahy
The Crazy Yard House
Over decades, Richard Serocki has amassed an amazing assemblage of fanciful creations outside his home. A pink Cadillac sinking into the ground. A big boy. An old-timey tractor. A buddha. A “beerwolf.” Dinosaurs. Fire hydrants done up as minions and packers. Check out the menagerie at 4531 S. Lake Dr.
Oak Creek
Oak Hills Golf Course
This affordable nine-hole layout is billed as giving golfers “a feeling that is not found anywhere else in the country.” That’s a bit overstated, but the course is unique in that it’s “always open,” even during the coldest months, if conditions allow. It’s not unusual to witness a misplayed tee shot ricochet off a frozen pond and onto a green. Fore! 10360 S. Howell Ave.
Franklin
Wehr Nature Center
Woodlands, wetlands, prairie and oak savannah habitats – not to mention the relaxing waterfall at Mallard Lake – can all be found through the winding trails in this 220-acre preserve. And nature exhibits, community clubs and special events like Reptile Day mean lots of exploring. 9701 W. College Ave.
Hartland
Hometown Celebration
Crowds eagerly anticipate this summer extra-vaganza of carnival rides, fireworks, live music, food and drink all year long. Don’t miss the weekend-capping parade. June 25-28, Nixon Park
Glendale
Sprecher Brewing
Milwaukee’s oldest craft brewer (in Glendale since 1993) was built on beer, but its ever-expanding line of sodas is its main business today. We all know the root beer and cream soda, but the tours allow unlimited samples of its newer soft drinks like Green River and Ooh La Lemin. 701 W. Glendale Ave.
Delafield
The Smiley Barn
We’ve all seen the yellow barn with the cheerful grin right off I-94. But did you also know it’s a massive toy store? Board games and puzzles, trucks and dolls, a nostalgic candy corner, a Playmobil playroom – all in Delafield’s century-old landmark. Toy trains and magnetic tiles wait to entertain kids while parents shop. In summer, Mullen’s walk-up ice cream stand is the cherry on top. 2420 Milwaukee St.
Lannon
Lannon Stone
The pale bricks fired from Menomonee Valley clay gave Milwaukee its Cream City nickname, but this little village has lent its name to a different historically important building material for nearly 200 years. Commercial mining of Lannon’s dolomite limestone began as far back as 1838. The rock from these quarries was prized for durability and aesthetic appeal, including the subtle variations in its buff to gray color and occasional visible fossils. By 1890, at least 14 quarries were producing it. Lannon stone paved many of southeastern Wisconsin’s early streets, and it was the backbone (and face) of churches and civic buildings across the region, including the 1848 st. James Catholic Church just over the municipal boundary with Menomonee Falls. Lannon’s quarries are still going strong, their output still used for building – mostly as stone veneer these days – as well as for landscaping (flagstones and block) and aggregate. But it all bears an iconic name: Lannon stone. – Chris Drosner
Whitefish Bay
Fitzy’s Cafe
Like something out of the movies, Fitzy’s is a modern take on the classic pharmacy meets soda fountain. Located inside the historic 1954 Fitzgerald pharmacy, Fitzy’s serves up morning lattes, fresh lunch plates and local ice cream alongside your prescription and little necessities. It’s a delightful spot to meet and make yourself at home. 424 E. Silver Spring Dr.
Shorewood
Hubbard Park
The park feels hidden because it requires visitors to walk through a tunnel. It’s a portal to history, with buildings constructed by WPA workers in the 1930s on the former site of wonderland amusement park. To adventure, with forested, riverbank trails. To polka Fridays, lumberjack breakfasts and so much beer. Whatever worries you come with, they evaporate in that transformative passage. 3565 N. Morris Blvd.
West Allis
Shopping on Greenfield Avenue
If you can’t find a good indie shop that piques your niche interest on downtown’s main drag, you’re not trying. Vinyl and vintage video games? Record Head. Military memorabilia? Military Collectibles Shop. Tabletop gaming? Imperial Games. Vintage clothing? All Goods. Sports collectibles and trading cards? E-5 Sports. Stage costumes and makeup? Hobby models? Model Empire. Refresh for the next stop with a beer from perspective brewing or sweets and nuts from Freese’s Candy Shoppe. 7000-9700 Blocks of Greenfield Avenue
West Milwaukee
West Milwaukee Park
An oasis in a dense industrial area, 21-acre West Milwaukee park is situated between two heavily traveled thoroughfares, with softball fields, a tennis court, tot lot, wading pool, picnic areas and a small grove of trees. 5000 W. Burnham St.
Menomonee Falls
Lucky Ducky Derby
Have you ever seen more than 4,000 rubber ducks engaged in epic battle? Well, this is your chance, with thousands of the little yellow fellas racing on the Menomonee River during falls memorial fest. May 23, Mill Pond Park
