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Mornin’ All,

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

Welcome to the first Happy Note of 2023! Hopefully 2022 is in the rear view and 2023 is bringing you some glee!

Milwaukee activities have certainly moved indoors. January can certainly bring…whatever weather to Milwaukee. However, it doesn’t exactly look like or feel like January around here??? Some love it and some…kinda hate it (there are kindred weirdos like me who get stupid excited about snow and get super bummed when there’s no snow).

No matter how you like your January there’s no doubt about Milwaukee having awesome stuff going on. So without further ado, and in no particular order, here are a few Milwaukee weekend things to do (weekend of January 20th, 21st, and 22nd).

-Milwaukee Museum Days kicks off this weekend with free or reduced admission at twenty five different museums around the Milwaukee area (runs through January 29th).

-The Milwaukee Public Museum’s Holiday Decorations in the Streets of Old Milwaukee and European Village are still up (and are still very cool) through the end of January (lest we forget it’s Milwaukee Museum Days this weekend…).

-The Milwaukee Domes has its Plant-itary Orbits super cool garden scale trains (big ones) running throughout the show dome through March 26th.

-National Geographic Live at the Marcus Performing Arts Center (will there be dancing magazines???).

-Schlitz Audubon Nature Center presents: New Moon Night Hike; Get Squirrely (National Squirrel Day); Word With a Bird; and Geocaching (caching or catching??? 🤪).

-Urban Ecology Center presents Public Animal Feeding (what’s a public animal and what do public animals eat???).

-Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra presents Percussion and Interludes (how about percussive interludes???).

-“Lightfield” geometric art installation debuts in Cathedral Square Park (I always like a good sine wave in a park).

-Gallery Night and Day at thirty different galleries around Milwaukee.

-Milwaukee Boat Show at State Fair Park (hmm, test drives…I mean cruises???).

-Monster (truck) Jam at Fiserv Forum (is Bigfoot still a thing??? How about Gravedigger??? Can I bring my Honda Ridgeline???).

-All Canada Show at the Brookfield Conference Center (take off eh).

-1960’s themed ice skating at Red Arrow Park (prizes for best costumes).

-Rummage-O-Rama at the Waukesha Expo Center (guaranteed to have at least one dental surveyor…maybe not).

-Angelic Roots in Oak Creek presents: New Moon Intention Setting; Gong Bath and Sound Meditation; Soul Led Living; and Soul Care Sunday.

-Sunset Playhouse debuts Love, Sex, and the I.R.S. with performances through February 26th (ya gotta love the I.R.S.???).

-The Milwaukee Repertory Theater continues its performances of Much Ado About Nothing through January 29th AND debuts Dino! An Evening with Dean Martin with performances through March 19th.

-Racine Theater Guild continues its performances of Perfect Wedding through January 29th.

-Renaissance Theaterworks debuts Cost of Living with performances through February 12th.

-Live Music/Comedy? Holy Crap Everywhere and WAY too many artists to name individually! 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, Potawatomi, Sugar Maple, Cooperage, Suburban Bourbon, Anodyne, Mad Planet, Blu Milwaukee, Sharon Lynne Wilson, Riverside, Pabst, etc., etc., etc.

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 has to offer. 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

Mornin’ All,

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

Well, this may not necessarily be the most wonderful time of the year for my intrepid students. It’s more like a lousy, crazy, yucky, busy, stressful time of the year trying to manage all the end-of-the-semester manure flowing freely from every orifice.💩

However, I do feel like the light I’m seeing at the end of the tunnel is not a speeding freight train ready to mow us all down but is truly Winter Break looming larger every day (yay!!!). And, yeah, this might not be the best weekend to have any energy to get out there and do stuff (I get it…I have to get myself ready to take a big old written final exam for my Ethics class at Mount Mary). That said, there’s LOTS of stuff going on in Milwaukee this weekend. Maybe it’ll be good if we all take a little time for…stuff…this weekend???

So what’s going on in Milwaukee this weekend? Well, without further ado, and in no particular order, here are a few Milwaukee weekend things to do (weekend of December 9th, 10th, and 11th):

-The Milwaukee Ballet debuts its 2022 rendition of The Nutcracker with performances through December 24th (make sure to bring along some walnuts and almonds and pecans and…).

-The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra presents Holiday Pops (pop…corn?).

-Bel Canto Chorus presents Christmas in the Basilica (no Basilisks).

-UW Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra presents music by Vivaldi (bassoon concerto), Mendelssohn (Hebrides Overture), and Haydn (Symphony No. 99).

-Milwaukee Hmong New Year Celebration.

-Black Nativity By Langston Hughes 2022.

-Mercado Navideño at Discovery World Museum.

-MKE’s Holiday Vendor Fair featuring Women owned & LGBTQ+ owned businesses at The Sugar Maple.

-Milwaukee Makers Market in the Beer Garden in Deer District.

-Second Saturdays in Downtown Kenosha (what happens on the first, third, and fourth Saturdays?).

-‘Milwaukee Forever’ event at Radio Milwaukee.

-Cheers and Chocolates Holiday Beer Pairing at Old World Wisconsin (beer and chocolate…I can’t find a way for that to suck).

-Festive Friday Eves continues at the Cedarcreek Settlement in Cedarburg (ooh, music and wine…I can’t find a way for that to suck either).

-Wild Lights at the Milwaukee Zoo continues through December 31st (adults only on December 9th…see you there🍸😃👍).

-Milwaukee Domes continues its Holiday Show: Calm & Bright through January 3rd.

-Winter Wonders drive through Holiday lights at Boerner Botanical Gardens continues through January 1st.

-Kids Candlelight Walk at the Urban Ecology Center Riverside (crawl if you must).

-Skylight Music Theater continues its performances of Jolly Holiday through December 31st (and it’s all Disney Broadway hits…I CAN go the distance! But only if there’s something there that wasn’t there before).

-Racine Theater Guild debuts Disney’s The Little Mermaid with performances through December 18th (you can make it a part of your world).

-Milwaukee Repertory Theater continues its performances of A Christmas Carol through December 24th (humbug…no, wait…humburg…umm, humburger? Make mine gluten free).

-Milwaukee Repertory Theater wraps up its performances of Nativity Variations this weekend.

-Lakeside Players of Kenosha wraps up its performances of A Suessified Christmas Carol this weekend (will there be any roast beast?).

-Sunset Playhouse continues its performances of Elf the Musical through December 18th.

-Sunset Playhouse also presents Festive Folks (this weekend only).

-Next Act Theater continues its performances of The Tin Woman through December 18th.

-Carthage College Theater presents In The Moment (this weekend only).

-Beyond Monet: The Immersive Experience continues.

-Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival around Downtown Milwaukee continues through January 1st.

-Holiday Decorations at the Milwaukee Public Museum’s Streets of Old Milwaukee and European Village (through the end of January).

-Country Christmas Lights at the Ingleside Hotel continues through January 1st.

-Holiday Lites in Miller Valley continues (but will there be Miller Lites??? Probably no Spotted Cows).

-Christmas Carnival of Lights at Jellystone Park in Caledonia continues through January 1st (hey Boo Boo…).

-Bayshore Season to Sparkle continues.

-Kooky Cooky House at Bayshore continues through December 23rd.

-Angelic Roots in Oak Creek presents Full Moon Release & Renew (the last few days have definitely felt like a full moon…).

-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, Miramar, Club Girabaldi, Fiserv, Potawatomi, Suburban Bourbon, Anodyne, Blu Milwaukee, Sharon Lynne Wilson, Riverside, Pabst, etc., etc., etc.

-Hike? How about hike around the Milwaukee Zoo or Domes or Museum?

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 has to offer. 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

PS: Happy Note is going on a little wellness break and will return on January 20th. Thanks so much for following/reading Happy Note. Sending wishes for a joyous Holiday Season and a wonderful New Year!😊

Mornin’ All,

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

Milwaukee. In Winter (OK, OK, it’s late Fall). Nothing to do? Oh no way! Not even close!! Milwaukee is HAPPENIN’!!! Such a good place to be for a good mix of indoor and outdoor and always warm-hearted awesome. We Milwaukeeans know how to take…anything and turn it into a good time. Music and theater and food and drink…and good folks. So now it’s weekend and this Happy Note is loaded!

So what’s going on in Milwaukee this (cold) weekend? Well, without further ado, and in no particular order, here are a few Milwaukee weekend things to do (weekend of December 2nd, 3rd, and 4th).

-Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival around Downtown Milwaukee continues through January 1st.

-Holiday Decorations at the Milwaukee Public Museum’s Streets of Old Milwaukee and European Village (through the end of January).

-Wild Lights at the Milwaukee Zoo kicks off this weekend and runs through 12/31 (plus, adults only nights on December 8th and 9th…I already have my tickets for the 9th 😊).

-Family Free Day at the Milwaukee Zoo.

-A Dickens of a Christmas in historic Downtown Greendale.

-Milwaukee Domes Holiday Show: Calm & Bright continues through January 3rd.

-Night of Lights in Downtown Waukesha (I heard there’s really good gelato in Downtown Waukesha… just sayin’).

-Waukesha Holiday Parade (🙏).

-Santa Cycle Rampage (bicycle…I think…but bring your Harley anyways???).

-Winter Wonders drive through Holiday lights at Boerner Botanical Gardens continues through January 1st.

-Milwaukee Krampusnacht in Milwaukee’s Brewery District (ooh, Krampus…scary…).

-Festive Friday Eves at the Cedarcreek Settlement in Cedarburg (ooh, music and wine…and not Krampus).

-Third Ward’s Christmas in the Ward (I heard there night even be fireworks…but not Krampus).

-Festivus on Brady (ooh, feats of strength…Krampus free).

-Ballet Folklorico Xanharati presents Origenes at Alverno College.

-Christmas Carnival of Lights at the Jellystone Park Campground in Caledonia continues through January 1st.

-Country Christmas Lights at the Ingleside Hotel continues through January 1st.

-Holiday Lites in Miller Valley kicks off this weekend (yeah, but, will there be Miller Lites??? Better yet, will there be Krampuses?).

-Bayshore Season to Sparkle continues.

-Community Free Day at Jewish Museum Milwaukee.

-Skylight Music Theater continues Jolly Holiday with performances through December 31st (and it’s all Disney Broadway hits…YAY!!!).

-Milwaukee Repertory Theater continues its performances of Nativity Variations through December 11th.

-Milwaukee Repertory Theater debuts A Christmas Carol with performances through December 24th.

-Falls Patio Players presents A Christmas Carol (this weekend only).

-James and the Giant Peach at the Oak Creek Performing Arts and Education Center (this weekend only).

-Brookfield East High School presents Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center (this weekend only).

-Les Misérables at the Marcus Center (this weekend only).

-International Holiday: A Cultural Christmas Celebration at the Kenosha Public Museum.

-Victorian Christmas at the Civil War Museum in Kenosha.

-Carthage College Christmas Festival.

-Marquette Theater wraps up its performances of Wolves this weekend.

-Lakeside Players of Kenosha debuts a Suessified Christmas Carol with performances through December 11th.

-Sunset Playhouse debuts Elf the Musical with performances through December 18th.

-Next Act Theater presents The Tin Woman with performances through December 18th.

-Mistletoe Market Craft and Art Fair in Waukesha.

-Monches Artisans Holiday Open House Tour in Hartford.

-Beyond Monet: The Immersive Experience continues.

-Bucks are at home against the Lakers on Friday.

-Marquette Golden Eagles Men’s Basketball vs. University of Wisconsin Badgers Mens Basketball.

-Milwaukee Panthers Men’s Basketball vs. IUPUI Jaguars Men’s Basketball (you-pyouee???).

-Kooky Cooky House continues at Bayshore through December 23rd.

-Concerts/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, Miramar, Club Girabaldi, Fiserv, Potawatomi, Suburban Bourbon, Anodyne, Blu Milwaukee, Sharon Lynne Wilson, Riverside, Pabst, etc., etc., etc.

Wow! OK!! And there you have it!!! It may be winter (yeah, yeah, late Fall) but Milwaukee sure is still happenin’! May you see (or not see) Krampus!😊

Please, please, please enjoy your Weekend. And please take care of yourself and your friends. Get out and enjoy all the good that life has to offer. 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

PS: Happy Note will be taking a wellness break from December 12th through January 20th.😊

Mornin’ All,

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

Yep. Wisconsin weather. What can you say? 70’s a week ago? Then we get snow? And how about temperatures going really low? Yeah, it’s getting COLD. But ya know what? Milwaukee is BOLD! This is the life we have up here in the north country. And boldly embracing what we have is what we do. Awesome indoor activities abound. And this weekend we are starting to see…Holiday Lights! Yep, it’s cold and dark. But we’re warm and bright! Candles and sweaters and coffee and cocoa and comfy socks only add to our cozy (just ask the Danes about a little thing called Hygge).

So what’s going on in Milwaukee this (cold) weekend? Well, without further ado, and in no particular order, here are a few Milwaukee weekend things to do (weekend of November 18th, 19th, and 20th):

-Milwaukee’s Official Tree Lighting (in the Deer District).

-Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival kicks off at multiple locations around Downtown Milwaukee and runs through January 1st.

-Milwaukee Domes debuts its Holiday Show “Calm & Bright” and runs through January 3rd.

-Winter Wonders drive through Holiday lights opens at Boerner Botanical Gardens and runs through January 1st.

-Elf Run at Boerner Botanical Gardens.

-Turkey Trot at the Urban Ecology Center Washington Park.

-Feztival of Trees at the Tripoli Shrine Center.

-Constellations of the Zodiac at the UW Milwaukee Manfred Olson Planetarium.

-Illuminated Walk Through Country Christmas at the Ingleside Hotel.

-Christmas Carnival of Lights kicks off this weekend at the Jellystone Park Camp in Caledonia and runs through January 1st.

-Bayshore Season to Sparkle kicks off.

-Marquette’s own Jordan Kroeger and Chicken Wire Empire are performing at the Riverside Theater.

-Native American Heritage Month at the Milwaukee Public Museum continues through November 30th.

-Native Americans in STEM Day at Discovery World Museum.

-Chili Weather Coat Drive at Cafe Hollander Downer.

-ThriveOn Art Visioning Session at the Black Holocaust Museum.

-Racine Theater Guild presents Annie, Jr. and Don Reed (this weekend only).

-Skylight Music Theater debuts Jolly Holiday with performances through November 30th. BTW, it’s all Disney Broadway hits ( YES!!!)!

-Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra presents Ravel and Chopin.

-Carthage College Music Theater wraps up its performances of “Hair” this weekend.

-Milwaukee Repertory Theater presents Nativity Variations with performances through December 11th.

-Marquette Theater debuts Wolves with performances through December 4th.

-Sunset Playhouse presents Disney’s The Aristocats, Kids (this weekend only).

-Interchange Theater presents Shortstack.

-Marian Art Gallery at Mount Mary University wraps up Ashley Lusietto’s Personal Solar Systems art show this weekend.

-Holiday Folk Fair International.

-Celtic Christmas Boutique.

-Walkers Point Makers Market & Bar Hop.

-Beyond Monet: The Immersive Experience continues.

-Milwaukee Admirals are at home against the Wild (again) AND it’s Dog Day (bring your dog to the game!) and First Responders Night.

-Angelic Roots in Oak Creek: Drum Circle; Dreamcatcher Workshop; Gong Bath Sound Vibrations; Express Reiki; Readings with Brett; Readings with Brenda.

-Kooky Cooky House at Bayshore Mall through December 23rd.

-Concerts/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, Miramar, Club Girabaldi, Fiserv, Potawatomi, Suburban Bourbon, Anodyne, Blu Milwaukee, Sharon Lynne Wilson, Riverside, Pabst, etc., etc., etc.

Whew!!! And there you have it! It may be winter (technically it’s late Fall) but Milwaukee is still happenin’!😃

Please, please, please enjoy your Weekend. And please take care of yourself and your friends. Get out and enjoy all the good that life has to offer. 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

PS: Happy Note will be taking a little break during Thanksgiving week.😊

Mornin’ All,

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

Train Fest is back this weekend (Model Railroading…an adored and revered Milwaukee indoor winter activity)! After a long COVID hiatus Milwakee’s Train Fest is back and bigger than ever (it’s one of the biggest train shows in the country)!! And I have a feeling that most people don’t know how much I love trains and model railroading. It all started when I was a very little boy. I don’t know if it was a Christmas or Birthday gift but my Mom and Dad gave me my very first train set: Lionel O scale (O scale is pretty big in size and the locomotives can exceed a foot in length). It was big and it was beautiful (and I still have it BTW). It had a classic Santa Fe locomotive (with that distinctive red war bonnet nose) and several different types of cars including a red caboose. I would sit on the floor for hours watching my train go by. The sound and that little whiff of ozone were pure kid heaven. And Dad and I always mused about how we’d make a train layout together (a layout is when you affix the tracks to a board and build scenery).

Well, O scale trains are really big and expensive. And as a kid I didn’t have money and space for my beautiful O scale Lionel train. I needed to think smaller. So in high school I took all my bonus money I made from selling Boy Scout Christmas wreaths and started buying HO scale trains (which are smaller and less expensive than O scale trains). And now my Dad and I started to get really serious about a train layout because we could do a lot more for less money and in a smaller space. In fact, we’d go to all kinds of model train shows (like Train Fest) together and dream of the cool scenery we’d make. And in the interim I set up my HO scale trains on the floor in the upstairs of my Grandma and Grandpa’s house. That was my zone. I built little structures, I added more and more track, and, no matter what, if I was having a bad day I could always hang out with Grandma and Grandpa and run my train and dream that I was on that train going to new and beautiful places.

Time passes and life changes. Off to college. Grandma and Grandpa pass away. Mom and Dad move. And my trains and train dreams get packed away. And life continues to change. Go to dental school. Get married. Move around the country. Practice dentistry. Become a dental professor. And then something happens. Life events sometimes remind you of where you once were and what your most special dreams used to be.

Back in 2014 had a life changing event: I had spinal fusion (C4/C5/C6) and double carpal tunnel surgery. During my long road to recovery (months!) I rediscovered model trains and immediately felt like I arrived back at a happy place. And unlike the past I wasn’t (and I’m still not) putting my trains and train dreams back in a box. Plus, I have a little more money and space than I did back in high school. And, well… since 2014 I have been collecting model trains like a mad man (I have such a patient and supportive wife who doesn’t ask me about how much $$$ I’ve spent…yeah, don’t ask). I started out by collecting N scale trains which are smaller than HO scale trains (N scale locomotives are 4 to 5 inches long). And in 2019 I bought my first (of many…🤷‍♂️) Z scale train which is the smallest scale of them all (locomotives are 3 inches long) but we don’t refer to them as cute!

But enough of my self-indulgence. What’s going on in Milwaukee this weekend? Well, without further ado, and in no particular order, here are a few Milwaukee weekend things to do (weekend of November 11th, 12th, and 13th):

-Have I mentioned anything about Train Fest this weekend???😊

-Winter Wonders drive through Holiday lights at Boerner Botanical Gardens has their FREE preview this weekend (and it opens in earnest $$$ next weekend).

-Native American Heritage Month continues at the Milwaukee Public Museum (through November 30th).

-Passions Project in Racine.

-Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra presents Fresh Air & Beethoven’s Eroica (Symphony No.3).

-Armistice Day Event at Milwaukee City Hall.

-re:Craft and Relic Holiday Market at the Milwaukee County Sports Complex.

-Clothing Sale Saturday at Second Hand Purrs Cat Shelter (Maui approved).

-Second Saturdays in Downtown Kenosha.

-Sunset Playhouse presents Fairy Godmother’s (Song) Book of Wisdom (this weekend only).

-Carthage College Music Theater debuts “Hair” with performances through November 19th.

-Carthage College Theatre presents New Play Initiative: Momento Mori (last weekend).

-Renaissance Theaterworks wraps up its performances of The How and the Why this weekend.

-Interchange Theater presents: Glitterbomb and Rotary; and Broadminded.

-Marian Art Gallery at Mount Mary University continues its presentation of Ashley Lusietto’s Personal Solar Systems art show (through November 18th).

-Beyond Monet: The Immersive Experience continues at the Wisconsin Center through January 8th, 2023.

-Racine Theater Guild wraps up its performances of Drop Dead this weekend.

-Milwaukee Repertory Theater presents Beehive: The 60’s Musical (this weekend only).

-Milwaukee Admirals are at home against the Wild (Iowa Wild that is).

-Angelic Roots presents: 11/11Gateway Activation; and Beaded Bracelet Workshop.

-North Avenue Market Sunday Artisan Pop-Up.

-Schlitz Audubon Nature Center presents Word With a Bird (and hiking).

-Concerts/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, Nashville North, Colectivo, X-Ray Arcade, Linneman’s Riverwest Inn, Bar Centro, Miramar, Potawatomi, Anodyne, Blu Milwaukee, Sharon Lynne Wilson, Riverside, Pabst, etc., etc., etc.

Hike? Drive north to the Pike Lake trails in the Northern Kettle Moraine State Forest?

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 has to offer. 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

PS: Happy Note will be taking a little break during Thanksgiving week.😊

Mornin’ All,

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

Wow! Turn your back for two seconds and all the leaves have fallen off the trees. Days are growing shorter. Looks like we’re getting ready to “fall back”(ooh, an extra hour of sleep on Sunday…and good luck getting cats to honor that😕). And Milwaukee weekend activities are decidedly moving indoors. But who would have thought that our June-ish weather would continue into November? Maybe a little cooler and maybe a little bit of rain this weekend. But it sure is unlike our typical November weather (gray, damp, cold). So let’s get out there, live it up, and make the most of it!😃

And so without further ado, and in no particular order, here are a few Milwaukee weekend things to do (weekend of November 4th, 5th, and 6th):

-Veterans Day Parade in Downtown Milwaukee.

-Native American Heritage Month activities and presentations at the Milwaukee Public Museum (through November 30th).

-Native American Artist Market in Kenosha.

-AAUW Book Sale in Racine.

-Family Free Day at the Milwaukee County Zoo.

-The Milwaukee Domes wraps up its Once Upon a Mum Fall Show this weekend.😢 But they’re gonna start setting up their Holiday Show!😃

-Herbal Tea Workshop at the Milwaukee Domes.

-Rooftop Stargazing at the UW Milwaukee Planetarium.

-Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra presents Every Tree Speaks featuring music from Habibi, Brahms, and Schumann.

-Milwaukee Ballet presents Swan Lake.

-Schlitz Audubon Center’s Xtreme Raptor Day 2022 (no swans).

-Riveredge Nature Center’s Daylight Savings Yoga Flow.

-Retzer Nature Center’s Science Fest Inside & Out.

-Marian Art Gallery at Mount Mary University continues its presentation of Ashley Lusietto’s Personal Solar Systems art show (through November 18th).

-Southeast Wisconsin Festival of Books.

-Milwaukee Bucks are at home against the Thunder.

-Carthage Philharmonic Concert at Carthage College.

-Milwaukee Concert Band Fall Concert.

-UW Milwaukee Percussion Ensemble Concert.

-Racine Theater Guild continues its performances of Drop Dead through November 13th.

-Sunset Playhouse wraps up its performances of Clue on Stage this weekend (rope…Mr. Green…study???).

-Sunset Playhouse presents Andre’s Mother & Mothers and Sons (this weekend only).

-Next Act Theater wraps up its performances of Kill Move Paradise this weekend.

-Milwaukee Repertory Theater wraps its performances of Unforgettable (the music of Nat King Cole) with John-Mark McGaha this weekend.

-Milwaukee Repertory Theater wraps up its performances of Wife of a Salesman this weekend.

-Renaissance Theaterworks continues its performances of The How and the Why through November 13th.

-Angelic Roots in Oak Creek: Intuitive Vision Circle; Exploring the Chakras.

-North Avenue Market Sunday Artisan Pop-Up.

-Feed Your Soul (my soul says gluten free please).

-Winter Kicker at the Rock Sports Complex.

-Gallery Night at Gathering Place Brewing.

-Concerts? Way too many to mention! Venues include Shank Hall, Rave, Cactus Club, Jazz Estate, Ally’s Bistro, Red Rock Saloon, Miramar, Potawatomi, Anodyne, Blu Milwaukee, Sharon Lynne Wilson, Riverside, Pabst, etc., etc., etc.

-Beyond Monet: The Immersive Experience continues at the Wisconsin Center through January 8th, 2023 (can we get immersed into Water Lilies without getting wet?).

-Apple Orchard? Awe’s in Franklin is still loaded with fresh and delicious grown-on-site apples (they’re delicious and red…but they’re not red delicious…🤷‍♂️).

-Hike? If you’re at the Milwaukee Domes this weekend how about jumping (well, walking…I suppose you could jump, or hop, or skip…) onto the Hank Aaron trail (it has a feeder trail starting at the Domes)?

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 has to offer. 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

Mornin’ All,

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

Ahh, what weather we’re having. Maybe a little cooler this weekend. But oh so gorgeous. And…what was that? A wisp of cold sending a shiver down my spine? A shadow? A shimmer in the corner of my eye? Was there something there or was it my imagination? Ghostly apparitions. Ghoulies. Goblins. Goosebumps. Grim grinning ghosts? Are they coming out to socialize? Black cats (well, that’s every day at my house). Ahh, Halloween, one of my favorite times of the year! And oh so much to do in Milwaukee this weekend!!😃

And so without further ado, and in no particular order, here are a few ghoulish Milwaukee weekend things to do (weekend of October 28th, 29th, and 30th):

-Boo at the Zoo at the Racine Zoo (this weekend only). Anyone dressing up as a pirate???🏴‍☠️

-Jack-O’-Lantern Nights wraps up its run at the Racine Zoo this weekend (and, per usual, admission helps pay for monkey chow…and giraffe chow…and turtle chow…and rhino chow…and lots and lots of types of chow).

-Comedyville Horror continues at the ComedySportz Arena.

-Black Cat Alley Halloween Party (Maui says every day is a black cat party).

-Halloween Party in the Historic Pabst Brewery.

-Victorian Spiritualism at the Civil War Museum in Kenosha.

-Halloween Holiday Lights Tour in Pleasant Prairie continues.

-Halloween Donation Drive for Second Hand Purrs Cat Shelter (Maui approved).

-Hallowings in Historic Downtown Greendale.

-Halloween on Brady (Street that is).

-Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Oriental Theater (don’t forget your toast and rice…or did that all come to an end???).

-Cathedral Square Costume Crawl (walk if you must).

-China Lights wraps up its fantastic nighttime Lanterns in Wonderland revelry this weekend at the Boerner Botanical Gardens.😢

-The Milwaukee Domes continues its Once Upon a Mum Fall Show (through November 6th).

-Halloween Hauntings at the Milwaukee Public Museum (there are plenty of places in the Museum I don’t want to be if the lights go out…mummies???).

-Dia de los Muertos at the Milwaukee Domes.

-Dia de los Muertos at the Forest Home Cemetery (I think there’s even a fun run…if a run can be fun…maybe it’s more fun to run through a cemetery on Halloween???).

-Urban Ecology Center hosts Caminata de los Recuerdos-Memory Walk celebrating Dia de los Muertos.

-Urban Ecology Center presents Public Animal Feeding at both their Riverside and Washington Park locations.

-Retzer Nature Center presents Scarecrow Lane.

-Fungi Fair 2022 at the Polish Center of Wisconsin (I think I’ll go and be a real fun-guy…🤪).

-Bayshore BOOgie Bash (take some Kleenex 🤧?).

-Riveredge Nature Center presents Day for Dogs (how about cats?).

-Howl-O-Weenie at Boone & Crocket (I think it’s a dog thing?).

-Jews in Space: Members of the Tribe in Orbit at Jewish Museum Milwaukee.

-Marian Art Gallery at Mount Mary University continues its presentation of Ashley Lusietto’s Personal Solar Systems art show (through November 18th).

-Beyond Monet: The Immersive Experience continues at the Wisconsin Center through January 8th, 2023.

-Fall Family Fun Fest at the Racine Art Museum.

-Sherman Park Harvest Fest.

-Angelic Roots in Oak Creek: Developing Your Intuition; Evening Gong Bath Sound Vibrations.

-Schlitz Audubon Center presents Word With a Bird (bird bird bird…bird IS the word) and awesome hiking.

-Glow in the Park Disney Theme at Boundless Adventures in Bristol.

-Wisconsin Beer Run through Old World Wisconsin in Eagle (umm…HILLS!!!)

-Open House and Observing at the Milwaukee Astronomical Society in New Berlin.

-Milwaukee Admirals are at home against the Senators and it’s Hocktoberfest!

-Milwaukee Bucks are at home against the Knicks and the Hawks (but not at the same time).

-North Avenue Market Sunday Artisan Pop-Up.

-Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra presents Bewitching Broadway (this weekend only).

-Concordia University Wisconsin Pops Concert.

-Waukesha Area Symphonic Band Fall Concert.

-Lakeside Band Festival at Carthage College.

-New Berlin Community Band Spooktacular Concert.

-Nicki Roman (saxophone) Faculty Recital at UW Milwaukee.

-The Whiffenpoofs in Milwaukee at the Helene Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts.

-Racine Theater Guild debuts Drop Dead with performances through November 13th.

-Lakeside Players Production of Kenosha presents The Addams Family (this weekend only).

-My Name is Not Mom at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts (this weekend only???).

-Sunset Playhouse continues its performances of Clue on Stage through November 6th (candlestick…butler…library???).

-Next Act Theater continues its performances of Kill Move Paradise through November 6th.

-Interchange Theater wraps up its performances of The Totalitarians this weekend.

-Milwaukee Repertory Theater continues its performances of Unforgettable (the music of Nat King Cole) with John-Mark McGaha through November 6th.

-Milwaukee Repertory Theater continues its performances of Wife of a Salesman through November 6th.

-Renaissance Theaterworks continues its performances of The How and the Why through November 13th.

-Concerts? Way too many to mention! Venues include Shank Hall, Rave, Cactus Club, Jazz Estate, Ally’s Bistro, Red Rock Saloon, Miramar, Potawatomi, Anodyne, Blu Milwaukee, Sharon Lynne Wilson, Riverside, Pabst, etc., etc., etc.

-Spooky Movie??? How about Young Frankenstein, or The Corpse Bride, or Coco, or Hocus Pocus (One and/or Two), or Ghostbusters, or Blackbeard’s Ghost, or The Addams Family, or The Nightmare Before Christmas, or The Goonies, or…The Shining (😱)???

Whew!!! And there you have it! 😃

Please, please, please enjoy your spooky Weekend. And please take care of yourself and your friends. Get out and enjoy all the good that life has to offer. And always know that being still and quiet and relaxing and renewing is ALWAYS an outstanding accomplishment. Maybe even try being un-dead?😊

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

Doc

Mornin’ All,

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

Well, the interesting weather continues in our fair city of Milwaukee. Tornadoes last week. Snow this past Monday. And now we’re looking at a weekend full of sunshine and 70’s? I’ll take it! No questions asked!! I might even need sunscreen!!! Awesome weekend to get out there and live. And just a quick glance reveals our wonderful woods transitioning from summer greens to gold, amber, auburn, orange, crimson, and fantastic artistry that only nature can give. A gift that is fleeting but so incredibly appreciated. And along with beautiful nature is a whole bunch of awesome Milwaukee weekend stuff/activities!😃

And so without further ado, and in no particular order, here are a few Milwaukee weekend things to do (weekend of October 21st, 22nd, and 23rd):

-Boo at the Zoo at the Milwaukee County Zoo (awesome, awesome, awesome…plus there’s a baby red panda!!!). Anyone dressing up as a pirate???🏴‍☠️

-Jack-O’-Lantern Nights continues at the Racine Zoo and runs through October 30th (admission helps pay for monkey chow…and giraffe chow…and turtle chow…and rhino chow…and lots and lots of types of chow…and biscuits).

-Legends & Lore continues at Old World Wisconsin (last weekend).

-Ghost Haunting at the Dinosaur Discovery Museum in Kenosha.

-Spirits of the Silent City: Unfinished Business at the Forest Home Cemetery (ooohhh, a walk through a graveyard after dark…yep, that might raise some goosebumps…I’ll get goosebumps…cuz I get scared when things are scary).

-Dia de los Muertos at the Kenosha Public Museum.

-Dia de los Muertos at the Milwaukee Art Museum.

-Magic & Comedy at the Haunted Brumder Mansion continues with Two Brothers One Mind!!

-Twisted & Tortured: An Evening of Tales and Art History from the Macabre returns at Trove Arts Parlour in Wauwatosa (still too scary for me).

-David Seebach: Illusions in the Night 2022 at the Sunset Playhouse (this weekend only).

-Comedyville Horror at the ComedySportz Arena.

-Scary in the Prairie 5K in Pleasant Prairie (many folks find running to be quite scary and not pleasant).

-Dinos in the Dark continues at the Kenosha Dinosaur Discovery Museum (no word yet regarding when there’ll be a Dinos in the Day).

-Sordid and Scandalous: A Walking Tour of Lake Geneva continues…in Lake Geneva (and it’s still sordid…and scandalous).

-Halloween Holiday Lights Tour in Pleasant Prairie.

-Milwaukee Public Market Harvest Festival.

-Oak Creek Fall Festival…in Oak Creek.

-China Lights continues its fantastic nighttime Lanterns in Wonderland revelry at the Boerner Botanical Gardens (through October 30th).

-The Milwaukee Domes continues its Once Upon a Mum Fall Show (through November 6th).

-Marian Art Gallery at Mount Mary University continues its presentation of Ashley Lusietto’s Personal Solar Systems art show (through November 18th).

-Beyond Monet: The Immersive Experience debuts at the Wisconsin Center and runs through January 8th, 2023.

-Gallery Night (& Day) at several art studios around Milwaukee.

-Maker Faire Milwaukee at Discovery World.

-Studio Ghibli Pop-Up & Art Show at the Sugar Maple.

-Sounds of Nature Music Program at the Urban Ecology Center Washington Park.

-Survival Basics: Fort Building at the Urban Ecology Center Riverside.

-Flow Yoga at the Wehr Nature Center.

-Angelic Roots in Oak Creek: Cleansing Fan Workshop; Drum Circle; Soul Care Sunday Gong Bath; Soul Care Sunday Energy Boost.

-Schlitz Audubon Center: Nature Detectives; Acrylic Painting Workshop; Word With a Bird (bird bird bird…bird IS the word); Nature Ambassadors.

-Milwaukee Admirals are at home (home opener) against the Manitoba Moose (I hope the moose aren’t loose).

-Milwaukee Bucks are at home (home opener, YAY!!!) against the Houston Rockets.

-Milwaukee Muslim Film Festival at the Oriental Theater.

-Wisconsin Sync! Annual Synchronized Skating Competition at the Mullet Ice Center in Hartland.

-Falls Patio Players debuts Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical Jr. (this weekend only).

-Clue on Stage debuts at the Sunset Playhouse and runs through November 6th.

-Next Act Theater continues its performances of Kill Move Paradise (through November 6th).

-Interchange Theater continues its performances of The Totalitarians (through October 29th).

-Milwaukee Repertory Theater continues its performances of Unforgettable (the music of Nat King Cole) with John-Mark McGaha (through November 6th).

-Milwaukee Repertory Theater wraps up its performances of Titanic (do you want me to tell you how it ends?).

-Milwaukee Repertory Theater continues its performances of Wife of a Salesman (through November 6th).

-Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra presents (the incredible) Tschaikovski’s Fifth Symphony (this weekend only).

-Renaissance Theaterworks debuts The How and the Why and runs through November 13th.

-Concerts? Way too many to mention! Venues include Shank Hall, Rave, Cactus Club, Jazz Estate, Ally’s Bistro, Riverside, Pabst, etc., etc., etc.

-Farmer’s Market? Well, it’s the last farmer’s market of the year in Oak Creek. And Oak Creek is turning it into a big celebration they call Fall Festival (which I mentioned earlier/up above 🔼). So, why not check out Oak Creek’s Fall Festival and their last farmer’s market of 2022?

Hike? Well, if you’re in Oak Creek for Fall Festival how about heading east to the lake (ya know, the big lake…Lake Michigan) and Oak Creek’s Lake Vista Park? Beautiful lake vistas (umm…yeah) and fall colors.

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 has to offer. 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

Mornin’ All,

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

Hmm, well, weird weather this past week in Milwaukee. It was a bit more summer-ish? Warm, humid, rain, thunderstorms, severe thunderstorms, straight line winds, tornadoes, storm damage…I don’t remember the tornado sirens sounding at all this past summer. And never in my (almost) nineteen years of being employed at my place of employment have I been evacuated to the basement due to a tornado. Sheesh! Well, the trees are still telling me that we are still teetering into Fall. And the Frost Advisory alert I just received from the National Weather Service backs that up. But, no alert for Milwaukee weekend activities slowing down. Heck No! Lots to do!!

And so without further ado, and in no particular order, here are a few Milwaukee weekend things to do (weekend of October 14th, 15th, and 16th):

-Marquette University Theater wraps up its performances of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee this weekend (so, umm…this is the last weekend…and the second weekend…but not the second to last weekend cuz that was last weekend which was also the first weekend 🤪).

-Marian Art Gallery at Mount Mary University presents Ashley Lusietto’s Personal Solar Systems art show (through November 18th).

-ThriveOn Art Visioning Session at America’s Black Holocaust Museum in Milwaukee.

-Dinos in the Dark continues at the Kenosha Dinosaur Discovery Museum (I wonder if there’ll be a Dinos in the Day?).

-National Fossil Week at the Kenosha Public Museum.

-Open House and Observing Night at the Milwaukee Astronomical Society in New Berlin (when you gaze upon a star…or something like that).

-Sordid and Scandalous: A Walking Tour of Lake Geneva continues…in Lake Geneva (but not Geneva Lake cuz if you’re in Geneva Lake you’d be swimming…Lake Geneva is the city and Geneva Lake is…the lake 🤪).

-Jack-O’-Lantern Nights continues at the Racine Zoo and runs through October 30th (admission helps pay for animal chow at the Zoo…and it’s an awesome little zoo with a beautiful location right on the Lake Michigan shore…more monkey chow please!!).

-China Lights continues its fantastic nighttime Lanterns in Wonderland revelry at the Boerner Botanical Gardens (through October 30th).

-Halloween Haunts at the Wehr Nature Center (this might actually be not-so-scary enough for the likes of me).

-Word With a Bird at the Schlitz Audubon Center (I wonder what word will be uttered by a bird).

-Species Spooktacular at the Schlitz Audubon Center.

-Fall Plant-a-Thon at the Urban Ecology Center Riverside.

-Fall Into Grafton (in Grafton😊).

-Charity Bowling Classic at Landmark Lanes.

-Elkhorn October Fest (in Elkhorn😊). Best I can tell it’s an Oc and not an Ok toberfest (🤪).

-Autumn Celebration in Washington Park.

-Autumn Celebration Weekend in Greenbush featuring the Old Wade House (sponsored by the Wisconsin Historical Society).

-Legends & Lore at Old World Wisconsin both this weekend and next weekend (also sponsored by the Wisconsin Historical Society).

-Fall Fest in Center Street Park.

-Autumn Celebration at the Urban Ecology Center Washington Park.

-Milwaukee Makers Market at the Ivy House.

-Movie night at the Italian Community Center.

-Sunset Playhouse in Elm Grove presents Rock ‘N’ Roll Royalty (this weekend only). I wonder if Queen qualifies as royalty (the name might suggest as much)???

-Next Act Theater continues its performances of Kill Move Paradise (through November 6th).

-Interchange Theater debuts The Totalitarians with performances through October 29th.

-Skylight Theater wraps up its performances of Mama Mia this weekend.

-Cardinal Stritch University Theater presents Hellcab this weekend only (not for kiddos).

-Forte Theater Company presents The Sound of Music at the Saber Center in Franklin (awesome little theater).

-Milwaukee Repertory Theater continues its performances of Unforgettable (the music of Nat King Cole) with John-Mark McGaha (through November 6th).

-Milwaukee Repertory Theater continues its performances of Titanic (through October 23rd). Umm…I think I know how it ends?

-Milwaukee Repertory Theater continues its performances of Wife of a Salesman (through November 6th).

-The Milwaukee Domes continues its Once Upon a Mum Fall Show (through Nov. 6th). Mum mies (we are getting close to Halloween…)?

-Florentine Opera presents Romeo and Juliet this weekend only and it’ll be performed completely in French (oui oui!).

-The Posters of Jules Chéret wraps up this weekend at the Milwaukee Art Museum (au revoir).

-Angelic Roots in Oak Creek presents: Evening Gong Bath Sound Vibrations; Empowered Healing Workshop.

-Morning Yoga at Discovery World.

-Tabi Po! Poetry Series & Open Mic at County Clare Irish Inn and Pub.

-Milwaukee NARI Home & Remodeling Show at State Fair Park.

-Dog Days at the Lynden Sculpture Garden.

-Canine Carnival at the Pewaukee Sports Complex.

-The UW Milwaukee Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony present American Wind Band Classics at UW Milwaukee’s Helene Zelazo Center.

-Bel Canto Chorus at the Irish Cultural & Heritage Center (hmm, will they be singing Irish tunes?).

-Lakeshore Symphonic Band Fall Pops Concert at the Cedarburg Performing Arts Center.

-Early Music Now presents Tapestry: Faces of a Woman.

-The Mini Workshop Market at Wheelhouse MKE (multiple 15 minute classes to help you explore potential new hobbies).

-Behind the Scenes @ The Bindery: A Public Tour at The Bindery (in Bayview). BTW, they make real paper books…the old fashioned way on really old yet completely functional book binding machines.

-Kenosha Art Market.

-Magic & Comedy at the Haunted Brumder Mansion with Two Brothers One Mind!!

-Comedy Sportz Match at Comedy Sportz (I hear that it might be quite…comedic, but hopefully not comedogenic).

-Thief Wine’s Fall Grand Tasting at the Milwaukee Public Market.

-Lake Country Live Oktoberfest (yep, this one’s an Ok toberfest 🤪).

-414Flea (I think it’s a flea market…don’t catch any fleas…they bite).

-Concerts? Way too many to mention! Venues include Shank Hall, Rave, Cactus Club, Jazz Estate, Riverside, Pabst, etc., etc., etc.

-Something scary? How about Fright Fest at Six Flags Great America?

-Apple Orchard? How about Weston’s Antique Apples in New Berlin for some truly unique and funky cool apples?

-How about a hike? I’ve said a bit about stuff going on at the Schlitz Audubon Center. Well, there’s great hiking there as well. Even more, there’s a climbing tower that rewards hikers with awesome views (which this time of year will include some incredible Fall colors).

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 has to offer. 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

Today I took a little break from studying and around-the-house chores (and plain old trying to recover from COVID…my energy is GONE!) and walked around the beautiful Boerner Botanical Gardens and their China Lights Lanterns in Wonderland. Now, during the day the lanterns are not illuminated. However, they are still big and beautiful and colorful and every bit awesome in the sunlight. AND, for $7 per person my wife and I had the place to ourselves!!! There was barely anyone there! Honestly, nighttime China Lights crowds can be HUGE and can sometimes drive me NUTZ! And, as the evening admission fee is a bit BIG perhaps going during the day ain’t too bad??? Well, here’s a little smattering of photos. Lighting wasn’t great for me to capture MOST of the lanterns (there are WAY more lanterns that I didn’t take pictures of today) but, well, I think what I did capture today ain’t bad. Enjoy!😊

Thanks for reading and looking at pictures.😊

Doc