CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM OUR BEST OF MILWAUKEE ISSUE. 

Readers’ Choice

BARBERSHOP

The Nobleman

The Nobleman isn’t the place to go for a quick cut. Instead, settle in for good conversation, maybe a drink, a shampoo and a killer cut from these skilled barbers. 6831 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa; thenoblemantosa.com

SALON

Neroli Salon & Spa

Readers appreciate Neroli’s attention to detail. When you walk in for your appointment, you’re offered an aromatic towel and a beverage, before enjoying the wide selection of hair, extension and lash services and treatments. Five area locations; nerolisalonspa.com

GYMS AND FITNESS

Wisconsin Athletic Club

Whether you’re training for a marathon, looking to lift, need a spot to swim, or just want to stroll on a treadmill, a Wisconsin Athletic Club membership gets you access to eight area locations with plenty of fitness options. One big draw is the lineup of classes, ranging from light, relaxing yoga to high-intensity interval training. thewac.com

MANI/PEDI

Nail Bar Milwaukee

With a laid-back, comfortable environment and attentive, welcoming, staff, Nail Bar is known for its wide selection of nail treatments, including dips, gel, color changes, no-chip polish and more. 2580 N. Downer Ave.; 234 W. Florida St.; nailbarmke.com

“Beautiful locations. Amazing staff. Meticulous services.” – Amy Shelander

MASSAGE

WELL Spa + Salon

At this upscale salon in the Pfister Hotel, each massage is customizable with essential oil selections, adjustable table temperatures, choice of music and more. The service options are vast, too, from the 120-minute deep-tissue “signature massage” to the hot basalt stone massage. 424 E. Wisconsin Ave.; pfisterwellspa.com

WEDDING VENUE

Villa Terrace

Nestled on the bluff of Prospect Avenue, this chateau looks like it belongs on the coast of Italy, overlooking the Mediterranean. It’s one of the most scenic sites in the city, and a sure choice for a memorable ceremony. 2220 N. Terrace Ave.; villaterrace.org

“Gorgeous, different, accommodating, memorable, historic and classy as the dickens!” – Sharon Wolfsohn

VETERINARIAN

Shorewood Animal Hospital

With a dependable, responsive and friendly staff, this veterinary hospital is often booked up due to popularity. Clients report service that’s a step above – including thoughtful follow-up calls to make sure their pet is still doing well. 2500 E. Capitol Dr., Shorewood; shorewoodanimalhospital.com

FINANCIAL PLANNER

Melinda Wilke

Wilke and her all-woman team make the complexities of wealth management understandable for even a novice. From retirement planning to investing and more, she gives her clients financial peace of mind. wilkewealth.com

“Mindy Wilke has deep expertise that gives us a sense of confidence that we will be financially secure despite the ups and downs in the economy.” – Tom Mroczkowski

REALTOR

Beth Jaworski

As a 30-year veteran of the local real estate scene, Jaworski is one of the most experienced agents in the market. She inspires loyalty, with 75% of her clients coming through referrals and repeat business. bethjaworski.shorewest.com

“Beth works tirelessly to find people a home that is a good fit. She has integrity and a deep level of knowledge about the metro Milwaukee area.” – Julie Merck

INTERIOR DECORATOR

Peabody’s Interiors

If you want your interior “born from a catalog,” this isn’t the place to turn. Peabody’s is all about personal style. Designers curate brands from around the world and work with homeowners to cultivate a unique look for each home. 8555 N. Deerwood Dr., Brown Deer; peabodysinteriors.com

“Their designs are amazing – so fresh they draw you in! Very colorful and great use of accent colors.” – Kathy Stresman

HOME BUILDER

Tim O’Brien Homes

This homebuilder is leading the way in energy-efficient homes, winning a prestigious Housing Innovation Award from the U.S. Department of Energy four years running. That means O’Brien homes adhere to a high-standard of energy efficiency that saves money in the long-run and is longer-lasting. timobrienhomes.com

HOME REMODELER

Kowalske Kitchen & Bath

With 40 years in the industry, Kowalske Kitchen and Bath is known for going above and beyond with customer service, whether that’s providing expert advice when planning a remodel or keeping a project on a tight timeline. Besides the titular kitchen and bath remodels, the company also does basements and full-home remodels. 600 Milwaukee St., Delafield; kowalske.com

LANDSCAPER

David J. Frank Landscape Contracting

The largest landscape contractor in the state, David J. Frank Landscape has just about all your lawn care and decor needs covered. The team builds patios, manages lawns, sets up irrigation systems, trims trees and even does specialty projects like sports fields. davidjfrank.com

BEST DIY RESOURCE FOR HOME DECORATING

Jenni Yolo

With her do-it-yourself blog and social media empire I Spy DIY, Jenni Yolo spotlights the latest home decor trends on houses she and her husband renovate in Milwaukee – most recently a loft in Walker’s Point. And in November, Yolo is premiering as the star of the new “Weekend Makeover” series on the Magnolia Network. Here are some trends she’s loving right now:  

Bold Colors 

Say goodbye to white walls! Some of Yolo’s favorite rooms she’s styled lately feature mauve, greens and even orange. And we’re not just talking about accent walls – Yolo recommends going bold all the way around the room. “Being really fearless with paint is a big trend right now,” she says.  

Splashy Wallpaper

Peel-and-stick wallpaper is a low-commitment way to experiment with patterns. Yolo compares them to “giant stickers.” Her go-to prints are from Chasing Paper, a local brand that also supports a line of her designs. She says to start small with a mud room or a closet, “then eventually wallpaper your entire house.” 

Vintage Rugs

“It’s something that has a history and a story to it,” Yolo says. She recommends grounding your room with vintage weaves from local brands The Loom House and Cori Elizabeth Vintage.

Editor Picks

BEST HUMANE TOUCH

In-Home Pet Euthanasia

When my 15-year-old cat Bunny became very ill very quickly, the vet advised me to have her euthanized within three to four days. At first, I was in denial, but within 24 hours of the prognosis, Bunny was no longer able to walk and I accepted the inevitable. Now, the goal was to make everything as comfortable as possible for Bunny. Enter in-home pet euthanasia provider Dr. Carrie Moore (Carrie’s Veterinary Care, 414-430-5711). Kind and patient, Dr. Moore listened while I told her some of the highlights of Bunny’s life. She gave me all the time I needed to say goodbye, and gently explained how the procedure would work. After Bunny passed, Dr. Moore made a print of Bunny’s paw for me to keep. Before this experience, I wondered why a veterinarian would choose this type of work. Now I see that certain vets, like Dr. Moore, have the right temperament to step in for the final act. Nothing prepares you for the demise of a beloved friend. But some things make it a little easier, and I thank Dr. Moore for being a good helper on a dark day. – Carole Nicksin 

BEST GOOD IDEA POORLY APPLIED

No Mow May 

I’ll admit, when I first heard about No Mow May, I had already been observing it for about a week. But I’m sympathetic to the cause: Allow weeds to flourish and bloom during a critical time for pollinators, who’ve had a famously rough go of life lately. At my house, those beleaguered bees had a smorgasbord of bushy-blossomed dandelions, dainty violets, vile creeping charlie, some kind of thistly things. And up and down my block, for the first year I’ve noticed, yards went feral. I was giddy: My laziness had cover as environmental activism. Around mid-month, when most of the weeds had gone to seed, the less hardy No-Mowers started falling off and the roar of small engines returned to East Tosa. I stubbornly insisted on a full observation – and perhaps I waited too long. It wasn’t until May 28 that I tried to ram my straining mower through the thick, knee-high jungle of grass and weeds. As I raked the chlorophyll-soaked clippings in the hot summer-ish sun, an obnoxiously fat bumblebee buzzed by. I hoped it was grateful. – Chris Drosner

Best Friend

BEST WAY TO HANG WITH RANDOM CATS

Sip & Purr

Milwaukee’s only cat café, Sip & Purr (2021 E. Ivanhoe Pl.) is a feline success story. The café sits on one side of the space, with the cat lounge on the other. Make a reservation (they fill up fast!) to hang out in the lounge with the adoptable cats. Or, buy a drink and watch the kitties play sleep or interact with humans through the glass windows separating the two parts of the business. With weekly cat yoga and occasional special events, this is just one of the best feel-good spots in town. sipandpurr.com

BEST DOG PARK

Katherine Kearney Carpenter Park

There are dog parks that are sad, fenced little fields, and then there are Cadillacs like the 35-acre Katherine Kearney Carpenter Park in Mequon. Gifted to the city on condition that pets be allowed to run free (unleashed), it features miles of looping, wooded trails. At the center is a touching “rainbow bridge” where people leave collars and other relics of their beloved pets who’ve passed on. It’s an emotional experience to pass through the area with your own (admittedly oblivious) doggos. ci.mequon.wi.us

BEST PLACE FOR PUPS AND CHOW

Riley’s Sandwich Co. & Social House

We love that pets (that’s code for dogs) are being welcomed into more public gathering spaces, and one of those spaces that seriously deserves a nod is the Third Ward’s new Riley’s Sandwich Co. & Social House (411 E. Menomonee St.), which sports a six-person bar and scattered bench seating for having a beer (or wine or cocktail) and just hanging with your pup pal. rileysandwich.com

Comments

comments