|
MilwaukeeMusic, Museum and Much MoreBy Robert Painter
Don’t worry - Summerfest is not all country, and it’s not all R & B. What it is, and you need to see it (and hear it) to believe it, is a lot of everything: Latin, Jazz, Reggae, Country, R & B, Hip Hop, Classic Rock, Karaoke, Blues, Folk Rock, World Beat, and much more! Over 800 performers and national headliners. A special feature in 2006 will be a free concert for the opening night of a new venue - the Miller Lite Oasis. There’s even a rumor of a free beer for those of legal drinking age! There are nine major stages at Summerfest and more going on all around the Summerfest grounds. And, yes, last year there was even a “Golden Age of Opera” tent. For 2006 - check the schedule! And with over 50 food vendors I’ll bet you find something you’ve never tried before. Sure, Milwaukee is famous for its beer, but check out the Root Beer vendors, too - it’s great stuff! And be sure to try Spanferkel, Crawfish Etouffee, Thai Beef Jerky, Fried Squid, Turkey Asparagus Spears or Artichoke Ravioli. Those are for real, but don’t worry, there’s plenty of plain old hot dogs, brats, hamburgers, pizza, ribs, chicken and about anything else to suit your taste.
How about Hole-In-One contests to win a new car, Bingo, Boat Line excursions around Lake Michigan, a Martini Lounge and a Champagne Garden, IndyCar Simulators, Fireworks Shows, and even a SkyGlider to experience Summerfest from high above the treetops.
One more very important thing to mention about Summerfest - they are very aware of and involved with the idea of making this an event for everyone. Each year a complete accessibility guide is published detailing exactly how and where to access venues throughout the festival grounds. This includes passenger loading zones, public transportation, lodging, first aid, restrooms, stage seating areas, food and bar assistance, children’s play area, telephones, wheelchair rentals and more. There is even a designated relief area for service animals! If the eleven days and nights of nonstop music at Summerfest are not enough for you I’ll let you in on a little secret. There’s another really special event going on at the same time as Summerfest. It’s only on Thursday evenings, but it lasts all summer. On one of my morning walks I got lucky and stumbled upon some friendly people setting up equipment at the Cathedral Square Park. When I asked they told me it was in preparation for that night’s JAZZ IN THE PARK program. So, this particular day, I went to Summerfest from noon till about 6:30, then walked over to the park for the second half of the Jazz program. Wow, what a day! And, if you can’t make the Thursday evening events, check out the jazz every Saturday morning at the East Town Farm Market from about 10 am till 12:30 pm. I went to Milwaukee for the music and loved it. As a matter of fact I think it would be a tremendous place to spend a summer. Start off with Summerfest, then listen to Jazz on Thursday’s and Saturday’s. And, there’s a lot more to do.
The Santiago Calatrava designed Quadracci Pavilion of the Milwaukee Art Museum was featured as the “Best Design of 2001" by Time Magazine and “One of the five most important buildings of the 21st Century by USA Weekend. Another thing that I really loved about Milwaukee is that it is a “walking” city. I stayed at the Park East Hotel, a delightful destination hotel overlooking Lake Michigan and within easy walking distance of Summerfest, the Jazz in the Park series and a number of nearby neighborhoods.
I don’t have room to tell you about all the neighborhoods, but I will mention the Historic Third Ward, a turn-of-the-century district which boasts the greatest concentration of art galleries in Milwaukee. Just three blocks south of Downtown you’ll find over 80 merchants including antiques, art galleries, theatres, salons, restaurants and specialty shopping. I’ll bet you’ll even find a beer pub. My suggestion is that you put on your walking shoes and visit East Town, Down Town, Westown as well as the Historic Third Ward. Come for Summerfest, Jazz in the Park, River Splash!, PrideFest, Asian Moon Festival, Juneteenth Day Celebration, Polish Fest, Westown’s River Rhythms, Greater Milwaukee Auto Show, South Shore Frolics, Festa Italiana, German Fest, Russian Fest International, the Wisconsin State Fair, African World Festival, Irish Fest, Indian Summer Festival (a Native American Festival), Arab World Fest, Milwaukee River Challenge or any of the dozens more events that I did NOT mention. And, for a quick orientation tour, you want to hop aboard an Edelweiss Cruise to view the Milwaukee skyline from aboard one of their European designed canal boats cruising around the city on Lake Michigan. In early 2006, Milwaukee’s rich cultural heritage and commitment to historic preservation prompted its designation as one of a Dozen Distinctive Destinations for 2006 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Milwaukee has carefully preserved its rich past and blended it with progressive amenities and attractions. This was my first visit to Milwaukee. It certainly won’t be my last now that I have “discovered” it. It is a beautiful city with a wonderful cultural diversity that offers far more than I have room to write about here. You’ll just have to go and make your own discovery. WHEN YOU GO: Summerfest: www.summerfest.com Jazz in the Park: www.easttown.com For A Visitor’s Guide: www.visitmilwaukee.org Milwaukee Art Museum: www.mam.org A Guide to Multicultural Milwaukee: www.visitmilwaukee.org Park East Hotel: www.parkeasthotel.com. Photos by Robert Painter |
|
TM
Music
that soars, a museum that flies and a city that will embrace you. Could
you want more? Let me assure you that there is plenty more! If
another city wasn’t already using the name you could easily call Milwaukee Music
City, USA.
Do the names Kenny Chesney, Mary J. Blige, Carrie
Underwood, Alan Jackson, Elvis Costello, Pearl Jam and The Temptations mean
anything to you? If not, there are hundreds more names, a few of which you’re
sure to recognize coming to the “World’s Largest Music Festival” in late June
and early July. Chesney is the reigning Academy of Country Music Entertainer of
the Year.
There
are different promotions almost every day offering free or discounted
admissions. Check the website for more details. My favorite is a
free ticket in exchange for two 1.5 quart ice cream lids. A free ticket
just for eating ice cream - what could be better than that?
A special treat for the kids is the Kiddie
Kingdom with lots of amusement rides. One of the most popular spots
appeared to be McDonald’s Fountain, where kids of all ages can run in and out of
the water and take photos with a life\sized statue of Ronald himself. And
that’s only a fraction of the list of children’s activities!
If you see nothing else in Milwaukee, you positively MUST
see the Milwaukee Art Museum. Get there at opening time and see the wings go
up. Or, get there at noon and watch them “flap” the wings. The architecture is
stunning. My photo won’t do it justice - you have to see it for yourself. And
that’s just the exterior! Wait till you get inside. The glass walled hall is
nothing less than spectacular. And, there is more. The selection of feature
exhibitions is truly outstanding. And we haven’t even gotten to the 20,000
works from the permanent collection. Dating back to 1888 the museum includes
works by Rodin, Renoir, Degas, Monet, Toulouse-Lautrec, Picasso, Miro, O’Keefe,
Warhol and others. Also, exceptional collections of folk and Haitian art as well
as American art after 1960.
If
you’ve ever lived in a city with “neighborhoods” you know what I’m talking
about. Friendly clusters of business anchored by a few “Mom & Pop” shops,
a couple of pubs, surrounded by their own little residential area. The
kind of places where you can walk in, ask about the area and be greeted by
friendly, helpful folks who want to be sure you find what you’re looking for or
just find your way around town. And, in Milwaukee, they just might ask you
to join them in a beer.