Pictured Potawatomi Casino (above) and Historic Third Ward (below). Photos by GMCVB. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Pam and Bev, owners of Out N About (ONA). owners. John and Don, Art*Bar owners. A pic from the Barbie wall at Art*Bar. Bartender at Tangerine. Customers at ONA. Photos by Suzanne Kraus [More pics in Nightspots and online at www.windycitymediagroup.com .]
PART TWO
Food is so much more than dairy in Milwaukee. Wonderful gourmet restaurants abound. In fact Bartalotta's Lake Park Bistro was recently awarded the prestigious DiRoNA Award. Ask for a table on the enclosed porch for great Lake Michigan views. (414) 962-6750.
Some of the other top restaurants to check out (with top prices, although lower than in Chi-town) in no special order include Mo's a Place for Steak, Coquette Cafe, Milwaukee Chop House, Barrosa (organic), Tula's, for a late breakfast, lunch or dinner. Eve (Taste & Tempt) re-opens June 4 after a decorative EVE-olution. After three years of undefiled white decor, a carnal redesign will feature seven scarlet shades. (I love red!) Their chef, Darin Wisniewski is also introducing menu changes that sound even more tempting. In fact Milwaukee Avenue is a very happening street with Eve (ask for Tom the owner), Cubanitas, opens at 11 a.m. (Marta the owner is as great as her food), Saketumi Sushi Bar will open soon, and Tangerine, a very hip, fun dessert bar and dance club that is mostly straight but always gay (especially, we observed, on Thursday night). Also on Milwaukee Avenue is 'Three' which has Gay Sunday Nights. Milwaukee Avenue is an easy walk or taxi from most downtown hotels. And for something different visit Centanni's A Piano and A Bar, a jazzy piano/martini bar located in the Third Ward at 218 N. Water.
In this city of minorities (no population is 50%) after white and African American the third largest community is Mexican, and that means great Mexican food. For a distinctive interpretation try Cempazuchi, (414) 291-5233. And if you need traditional German food the lead spots are the venerable Karl Ratzsch's and wonderful Mader's. You know all those Germans in Milwaukee required hearty German food. For a fun, romantic nightcap or a meal, the revolving restaurant/lounge at the top of the Hyatt— Polaris, offers a great view, with Milwaukee at your feet. Anything you have a taste for you can probably find in Milwaukee, and at lower prices than in Chicago. Late-night dining is limited. However, reopening after July 4 is Elsa's on the Park. Highly recommended, it has a kitchen open until 1 a.m. every night, and although their drink prices are high, the food is creative and very reasonable.
You know Milwaukee sports teams, especially the Bucks and the Brewers. You can usually get tickets more easily for games in Milwaukee, particularly if Chicago teams are hot. Miller Park is a state-of-the-art ballpark —the only ballpark in North America that boasts a fan-shaped convertible roof. The Milwaukee Zoo is also world famous. Not only is Potawatami Casino impressive to see at night, they offer slots, blackjack, bingo plus entertainment and one of the best restaurants in the city— Dream Dance.
There is a long lakefront park with all the recreational options, beaches, marinas. Rent a bike, or do a paddle boat on the lagoon. Enjoy Alterra Coffee outside at McKinley Park along the lake. Pretend you live in Milwaukee. Alterra is a local coffee chain with four locations; the other local coffee chain is Stonecreek Coffee with eight locations. Both are broadly supported and serve excellent coffee. Where are Chicago's local coffee chains?
Milwaukee is a city of neighborhoods— some of the more LGBT areas include Walker's Point (more about that later), Lower East Side, Brewer's Hill, Riverwest, Washington Heights, and the East Side.
Milwaukee is also known as the City of Festivals and the fests go on forever with Pridefest being the kick-off event of the season. Summerfest is legendary with 11 solid days of headline musical act—in addition, there is Germanfest, Irishfest, Polishfest and many more. Visit the Web site that knows Milwaukee—www.milwaukee.org, that's the Greater Milwaukee Convention and Visitors Bureau site. FYI the GMCVB just printed a great brochure to attract the GLBT community —the welcome mat is definitely out.
LGBT MILWAUKEE
So you see Milwaukee has lots to offer and we haven't even gotten to the gay stuff. What is it like being gay or lesbian in Milwaukee? Girlfriends Magazine in 2001 ranked Milwaukee as the best place to live if you're a lesbian. You notice that for a city of 600,000 there are over 20 LGBT clubs, plus several clubs that feature nights for men or for women. It's kind of amazing. Everywhere you go it seems like there are lots of LGBT folks visible. Does Milwaukee have a higher percentage of LGBT's in the population? Is that the real reason why Milwaukee is called 'Cream' City???
The history of Milwaukee's LGBT community is similar to other cities. Spurred by Stonewall in 1969, two groups emerged in Milwaukee, the Gay Liberation Organization (GLO) and the more radical Gay Liberation Front (GLF). In 1971 GLO renamed itself to avoid confusion with GLF and became the Gay People's Union (GPU). GPU was the first group to host a Pride event, with 350 attending in 1974.
Over the years, other parties and dances were held. Parades and street festivals started in the early 1980s. It was the 1987 March on Washington that really launched a Pride movement in Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Lesbian Gay Pride Committee held the first Pride event in 1988 and attracted several hundred. It exploded after 1989 when a march with more than 500 was held and the mayor issued a proclamation that said 'We are proud of who you are.' Conservatives threatened to recall the mayor and county executive. All three major news telecasts led with that story, as did the Milwaukee Journal with a front-page story on Sunday. That experience turned into a rallying point for years to come. The crowds continued to grow, locations became larger and in 1993 PrideFest, Inc. was incorporated. Fireworks and laser light shows were added. Pridefest moved to its current location, Henry W. Maier Festival Park, in 1999. It is a remarkable setting offering 90 acres on the lake, multiple stages, bars, food, fireworks, vendors and Lake Michigan. It takes place this year Saturday, June 5 and Sunday, June 6.
Other signs of something remarkable happening in Milwaukee include the Cream City Foundation founded more than 20 years ago to help support and develop the not-for-profits that serve the LGBT community, acting as a fiscal agent and help in crisis. As an example, PrideFest was at risk last year and survived thanks to CCF stepping in to fundraise and restore confidence.
The LGBT Community Center, opened in 1998, has a staff of 12 and provides space to at least a dozen non-profit and emerging groups (www.mkelgbt.org). One of those is another score for Milwaukee. SAGE Milwaukee (Senior Action in a Gay Environment) has existed for over 10 years, adding a part-time Social Worker last year and a full-time executive director, Bill Serpe, this past January. SAGE outgrew their space at the LGBT Center and moved to larger offices last month. At their annual dinner in April, more than 75 attended and 40% were women. Watch for major growth now that they are no longer an all-volunteer organization.
The HRL PAC (Human Rights League) is the political arm of Milwaukee's LGBT community. And what I found really refreshing was that EVERYTHING was LGBT! not GLBT. How did that happen?
Surpisingly, in the recent mayoral election, neither candidate included gay issues in their platforms, nor did they have liaisons or specific LGBT committees. However, both had LGBT supporters. The new mayor, Tom Barrett, was in Congress for 10 years and attended PrideFest many times. He is scheduled to attend PrideFest again this year. Now Mayor Barrett's office is focused on inclusion and is not separating services by race or culture.
Obviously every community has politics. As a visitor you can talk with the locals and get their perspective—some issues are similar to Chicago's. There is also a new police chief in Milwaukee, their first woman chief, Nanette Hegerty. Won't it be something when Chicago has its first female police chief?
THE BARS
This Is It!, the oldest gay bar in Milwaukee, is on the North Side of downtown. An older crowd, a good place for conversation.
Almost a landmark in the Third Ward area, the M&M Club was bought two years ago by Bob Kaufman. M&M is a piano bar, a restaurant, and in summer, has a deck for eating and drinking with comfy chairs.
Venture a little further south and you get to the gayest area of Milwaukee, their 'Halsted,' called Walker's Point. Several clusters of clubs exist in this part of town.
The largest club in Milwaukee is La Cage (Dance Dance Dance) at National & 2nd. Several dance floors, a restaurant, comfortable tables and chairs, friendly staff—Sean is a honey. Right next door is Fluid—more of a neighborhood cocktail bar but eclectic patrons chilling out from LaCage—give Brian a kiss. Walker's Pint is across the street owned by Bet-z. Opened two years ago, offering pool and a large beer garden. Mostly women. Around the corner on National is SWITCH, a male video bar with a big patio, and Triangle, with a mixed crowd, videos, a nice space with shows and a patio. And across the street is Boot Camp, a cruising leather bar. Club BOOM, also on 2nd St., was recently remodeled. It is a snazzy dance club for men and women with a DJ, a patio and good cruising. Check it out and say hi to David, the owner. The Nut Hut is about a mile west of 2nd St., it's been a gay tavern for decades, open daily. Now owned by Michele and JB.
About six blocks south of the National & 2nd Ave. hub is another cluster of bars with Woody's, 1500 S. on 2nd, a mixed bar with games, food and cruising for all. Out 'N About Milwaukee, 1400 S. 1st, is celebrating their first anniversary. Men and women enjoy themselves. The club/restaurant has an ambitious menu on which they deliver. The owners, Bev and Pam, know what they're doing. Remember their brunch on Saturday and Sunday (nine kinds of eggs benedict) and live jazz starting at 11 a.m. on Sunday. Almost every night they have a DJ, and dancing. Lots of free parking available.
The Harbor Room is just east of ONA on Greenfield, a men's levi & leather bar with food, a patio and a hot spot to cruise. Open early. Famous for their seven days a week special of shirtless men drinking at 1/2 price (rail and domestic). Ask for Greg or Bobby.
Two blocks south of ONA on 1st is the newest lgbt club, Viva LaFemme. Men and women mix here, with a DJ and dancing. Open since March, Jennifer and her partner have big plans to expand and make an even better space for all.
The third cluster is north, closer to downtown around 200 S. on 2nd St.. There you will find Ballgame lounge, a mixed bar. C'est La Vie for men with shows, strippers and food. Next door is Club 219, a men's bar with dancing, 219 Girls perform Sunday after 11, male dancers W/F/Sa, and a DJ. The Midtown Spa (Health Club) is a few blocks east.
Conversations is on the West Side at 3515 W. Willard for men, women with a DJ and dancing, attracting people of color. Another newcomer to the Milwaukee scene is Art*Bar Riverwest on the North Side of Milwaukee at 722 E Burleigh. Don and his partner John are the owners. Don is an interior designer and has created an extraordinary bar environment. Smoking is confined to the pool area. ALL kinds of art ALL over. Music varies and official women's night is Wednesday and men's is on Thurday but all are welcome and a gay crowd is always visible. A great space for a great time.
Certainly being gay means more than doing the bars, and it is more than a weekend at PrideFest. Milwaukee's community proves that time and again. They celebrate Pride very well indeed in Milwaukee—the people are friendly, the low density is so refreshing compared to Chicago, there are trolleys running between the bars and PrideFest grounds, and downtown to PrideFest, so you don't have to drive. This year's headliners include Amber, Kristine W, Pepper Mashay with Colton Ford, and C+C Factory featuring Zelma Davis. Saturday night are the fireworks. You will feel welcome and you will feel proud. Milwaukee is not just the Genuine American City, Milwaukee is the Genuine Gay City!!! Whenever you visit Milwaukee have a terrific time!
Special thanks to Mary Denis and Wendy Haase from the Greater Milwaukee Convention & Visitor's Bureau; Brenda Coley of the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center; Jennifer Grynyniewicz of Cream City Foundation; Michael Hall of PrideFest, Inc.; Bill Serpe of SAGE Milwaukee and many others. The InterPride Official Magazine of 2004 was the source of the history of Pride in Milwaukee.
PS: Cream City is not about beer, dairy, or men! It's about a brick that was produced in Milwaukee during the early 1900s. The quarry used a clay that, when baked in bricks, turned a pale yellow color. So many buildings were built using those bricks that Cream City became a local nickname. Although many have been torn down, you can still notice cream city brick buildings everywhere!
www.PrideFest.com
Pics: www.windycitymediagroup.com
www.PrideFest.com .
