Milwaukee Happy Note–November 3rd, 4th, and 5th, 2023

Mornin’ All,

Happy almost Friday, Happy almost End of the Week, and Happy almost Weekend!😃

Summer to Fall to Winter…in a WEEK! I had to turn my AC back on last week and here we are with our first measurable snow. Wow! I’ve heard it said that if you don’t like Milwaukee’s weather just wait a few minutes and it’ll change. And change it has. Weather sure moves quickly in Milwaukee. And here we are into November. Clocks are falling back, leaves are falling down, and, honestly, we’re falling into one of my favorite times of the year.

Say what Doc? Doc, it’s cold and damp and dark and whatcha thinkin’? For me, the summer hustle is coming to an end and life starts to slow down just a little bit. I start looking inward a bit more. Looking inward not in a dark way, but in a relaxed and renewing kind of way. This time of year becomes a time to regroup and heal and reflect on everything that’s been. A time to dream about what’s ahead. A time to gather with folks to talk and share and pass the time in fellowship and community. A time to feel cozy and comfy in warm sweaters and socks and blankets and hats and scarves. A time for candlelight. And a time for…nuts like me to start laying out my ski wax plan and my perfect training plan for cross country ski season. Ha!

Milwaukee, in my humble opinion, is THE BEST little big city because it just so happens to be packed with tons of mega big city cool! So are you interested in a few Milwaukee weekend things to do? Well, without further ado here are a few Milwaukee weekend things for you (weekend of November 3rd, 4th, and 5th):

-Milwaukee Domes wraps up “Fall Show: Earth–The Art of Nature” (“Holiday Show: A Holiday Snow Globe” is on the horizon!). Have I ever mentioned how much I love our Domes?😊

-Milwaukee Repertory Theater debuts “Nuncrackers” with performances through January 7th, 2024 (that’s nun, not nut).

-Lakeshore State Park presents…awesome hikes right in DOWNTOWN MKE on the lakefront (or is it the lakeshore 🤷‍♂️?).

-Wehr Nature Center presents “Wehr Birders”…and awesome hikes IN the Metro area (where?).

-Milwaukee County Zoo presents “Family Free Day”, “Zumba Fitness Party at the Zoo”…and lots of COOL animals!😊

-Milwaukee Public Museum presents “Native American Heritage Month”, and “Mystery at the Museum” (would you believe my Museum Mystery Team took 3rd place in “Mystery at the Museum” several years ago??? It was SOOOO much fun!). Lest we forget, the Museum continually presents outstanding educational strolls throughout its three stories of exhibits. Don’t forget about awesome IMAX movies (currently featuring “Blue Whales–Return of the Giants”) AND indoor stargazing inside the Daniel M. Soref Planetarium. There’s even a coffee bar. And who doesn’t love a live butterfly conservatory (or coffee)! 🦋

-Sunset Playhouse wraps up its performances of “Blithe Spirit”.

-Lakeside Players of Kenosha wraps up their performances of “Blithe Spirit” (that wraps a whole lot of spirit!).

-Discovery World presents “Milwaukee Maker Faire” (I wonder what the Makers make 🤷‍♂️?).

-First Stage (Theater) continues performances of “The Forgotten Girl” through November 12th (don’t forget her).

-Racine Zoo presents…awesome animals on a beautiful lakeshore (lakefront 🤷‍♂️?)! AND…in case you missed it ”Jack-O’-Lantern Nights” was extended through this weekend!!

-Waukesha Civic Theatre continues performances of “Men on Boats” through November 12th (how ‘bout kittens on boats?).

-Riveredge Nature Center presents…awesome hikes NEAR the Metro area (on the edge of a river 🤷‍♂️)!

-Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra presents “Beethoven & Lopez-Gavilan”.

-Racine Theatre Guild continues performances of “Seasonal Allergies” through November 12th (take some Kleenex…achoo!).

-Milwaukee Art Museum presents “Slow Art Saturday” and continues “Drop-In Art Making”, “Drop-In Tours” (including architectural tours highlighting the incredible Calatrava Bridge and Burke Brise Soleil), and “Story Time in the Galleries”. Lest we forget, there are WAY TOO MANY traveling AND permanent exhibits for me to mention with any level of detail and/or coherence including, but not limited to “Darrell Ellis: Regeneration” through January 14th, 2024, and “Art, Life, Legacy: Northern European Paintings in the Collection of Isabel and Alfred Bader” through January 28th, 2024.🎨

-“Southshore Terrace Kitchen”, benefiting Milwaukee County Parks, wraps up at Southshore Park on Milwaukee’s beautiful lakefront (lakeshore 🤷‍♂️?). Farm to table. Gluten free options too (I am always on the hunt for an awesome gluten free burger)!!!😃

-Retzer Nature Center presents “Science Fest: Now You See It! Now You Don’t!”…and awesome hikes NEAR the Metro area!

-“Christmas Carnival of Lights” at Jellystone Park in Caledonia continues through January 1st, 2024.🎄

-Marquette University’s Haggerty Museum of Art continues: “Love You To Death: Discontented Desire” through December 23rd; “Capitalism and Extractivism in Latin America from the Colonial Era to Today” through December 23rd; and “Image in Dispute-Dutch & Flemish Art” through May 12, 2024 (and it’s FREE!).

-Urban Ecology Center presents “On Belay–Outdoor Rock Climbing” (better not delay that belay!).

-Marquette University Rec Plex presents…LOG ROLLING! “Apple Cider Rolleo”!! Holy crap, it’s legit collegiate log rolling!!! How cool is that?!!!! That might be even cooler than collegiate curling!!!!!

-Milwaukee Opera Theatre presents “Night of the Living Opera” (I’m usually dead on arrival after opera…maybe this one will be lively 🤷‍♂️?).

-UW Milwaukee’s Manfred Olsen Planetarium presents “Searching for Life” (how ‘bout live patrons at a living opera…at night?).

-Marian Art Gallery at Mount Mary University continues Katie Hudnall’s “The Longest Distance Between Two Points” through November 17th (and it’s free!).

-Schlitz Audubon Nature Center presents “Xtreme Raptor Day”…and awesome hikes NEAR the Metro area (there’s even a trail on the lakefront…or is it the lakeshore 🤷‍♂️?).

-Milwaukee Admirals are at home against the Grand Rapids Griffins (Griffindor 🤷‍♂️?).

-Lapham Peak State Park presents…awesome hikes NEAR the Metro area!

-Milwaukee Bucks are at home against the New York Knicks (umm…in case you’re wondering (I’ve been wondering)…that’s short for the Knickerbockers: descendants of Dutch settlers in New York…I had no idea…I just looked it up…now I know…I’m so glad I now know!).

-Conservancy for Healing and Heritage presents…beautiful hikes IN the Metro area (there’s even a lakeside trail…or is it a lakeshore trail 🤷‍♂️?).

-Angelic Roots in Oak Creek presents “Drum Circle & Storytelling” (stories about drums…in a circle 🤷‍♂️?)

-Renaissance Theaterworks continues performances of “Witch” through November 12th.

-Forest Exploration Center in Wauwatosa presents…awesome hikes IN the Metro area!

-Farmers Market? West Allis is STILL going!

-Hike? How ‘bout Lion’s Den Gorge in Port Washington? It’s on the lakefront (lakeshore 🤷‍♂️?).

-Apple Orchard? How ‘bout Brightonwoods near Burlington (I was just there and it is SOOOOO worth the trip…I’ll probably go back this weekend!)?

-A dare? I dare you to road trip to Brightonwoods Orchard for some far-out crazy cool apple varieties that I guarantee you’ve NEVER seen or tasted before! Yum!! 😊

-Live Music/Comedy? Holy Crap Everywhere! Venues include ComedySportz, Shank Hall, Rave, Cactus Club, Jazz Estate, Ally’s Bistro, Red Rock Saloon, Da Bar, Helene Zelazo, Miller High Life Theater, County Clare, Nashville North, Colectivo, X-Ray Arcade, Linneman’s Riverwest Inn, Bar, Centro, Turner Hall Ballroom, Miramar, Club Girabaldi, Fiserv, Potawatomi, Sugar Maple, Cooperage, Suburban Bourbon, Anodyne, Mad Planet, Blu Milwaukee, Sharon Lynne Wilson, Riverside, Pabst, etc., etc., etc.

Whew! And there you have it!! Please, please, please enjoy your Weekend. And please take care of yourself and your friends. Get out and enjoy all the good that life (and Milwaukee and our beautiful planet) has to offer. Plant seeds of happiness wherever you go. And always know that being still and quiet and relaxing and renewing is ALWAYS an outstanding accomplishment.😊

Best regards and I’m hoping to see you around town.

Doc

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Sources: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (paid subscription); Shepherd Express (paid subscription); On Milwaukee (paid subscription); and lotsa websites.