Doc's Writing Refuge

Mornin’ All,

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

I think Gordie the Groundhog was wrong. Where’s winter (and Thursday’s sloppy slush doesn’t count)? I suppose some think that no snow and warm weather is OK. Well, who am I to stand in the way of what makes people happy. Know this…I will be super stupid excited the next time we get measurable (umm, ski worthy) snow!😊

Enough about my snow lamentations. What’s going on around Milwaukee this weekend? Lots!!! So without further ado, and in no particular order, here are a few Milwaukee weekend things to do (weekend of February 10th, 11th, and 12th, 2023):

-Black History Month activities continue around the Milwaukee area this weekend.

-Milwaukee Chamber Theatre wraps up its performances of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf this weekend (we don’t have to be afraid anymore).

-Black History Month at the Milwaukee Public Library continues with multiple readings and activities through February 28th.

-Plant-itary garden train show continues huffing and puffing around the Domes through March 26th.

-The Milwaukee Repertory Theater wraps up its performances of Much Ado About Nothing this weekend (I really think there was more than nothing).

-Latino Arts wraps up its presentation of Between Yesterday and Where: The Magic of Macondo on February 17th.

-Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra presents Pops: The Music of the Knights (as opposed to music of the night?).

-Milwaukee Public Museum’s Planetarium presents Romancing The Stars (can we simultaneously romance our significant other?).

-Drop-In Tour: Art by Artists of the African Diaspora continues at the Milwaukee Art Museum through February 25th.

-The Milwaukee Repertory Theater continues it performances of Dino! An Evening with Dean Martin through March 19th.

-“Magical Black Tears Experience” museum exhibition at the Milwaukee Area Technical College Downtown Campus continues through February 28th.

-Disney On Ice at Fiserv Forum (the cold never bothered me…).

-The Milwaukee Repertory Theater presents The Heart Sellers with performances through March 19th.

-Celebration of Black Innovators in Science at the Discovery World Museum.

-Hairspray at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts (I use hair gel thank you very much).

-Renaissance Theaterworks wraps up its performances of Cost of Living this weekend (all for the cost of a ticket).

-The Milwaukee Card Show at Gather at Deer District.

-Falls Patio Players wraps up its performances of On Golden Pond this weekend (will there be a silvery moon?).

-Mini Workshop Market at the Wheelhouse MKE.

-Milwaukee Comic Con at State Fair Park (something to Marvel at?).

-Lakeside Players of Kenosha continues its performances of The Wizard of Oz through February 18th (there’s no place like…).

-Marian Art Gallery at Mount Mary University wraps up its presentation of Liz Miller’s Embellished Adequation February 16th.

-Nearby Nature’s Snow Celebration at Havenwoods (where’s the snow?).

-Skylight Theater continues its performances of Evita through February 19th.

-Darwin Day at the Kenosha Public Museum.

-Wooly Bear Winter Festival at the River Revitalization Foundation (the caterpillar affectionately known as the wooly bear).

-Sunset Playhouse presents The Best of Bacharach this weekend only (Rest In Peace Burt. Thanks for all the music. I hope you finally found your way to San Jose).

-The Milwaukee Ballet presents Originals this weekend only (originals are better than copies or fakes?).

-The Florentine Opera presents Covers this weekend only (covers…is that kinda like a copy or a fake?).

-Second Saturdays in Downtown Kenosha (still trying to figure out what happens on the other Saturdays).

-Trove Arts wraps up LUMINESCENCE: An Intimate Evening of Exciting Art on February 11th.

-Milwaukee Admirals are at home against the Rockford Ice Hogs (Elsa too? Disney on Ice is in town…just sayin’).

-Angelic Roots in Oak Creek presents: Community Reiki; Intro to Sound Healing Tools; and Limitless Love Workshop.

-Riveredge Nature Center presents Traditional Anishinaabe Beadwork.

-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!😃

First weekend of February. The Milwaukee County Zoo’s Gordy the Groundhog saw his shadow, shook his little clawed finger, and said “dude, let me sleep for another six weeks…sheesh!”. Yep, winter all around. But that ain’t stoppin’ Milwaukee. No way! HUGE stuff on the horizon this weekend! And so without further ado, and in no particular order, here are a few Milwaukee weekend things to do (weekend of February 3rd, 4th, and 5th, 2023).

-Black History Month activities kick off this weekend around Milwaukee (there are SEVERAL weeknight activities throughout the whole month of February as well!).

-Plant-itary garden train show keeps on chugging around the Domes through March 26th (big garden trains are cool!).

-AND at the Domes: All Scale Train Show this weekend only (itty bitty teeny trains are cool too!!).

-Family Free Day at the Milwaukee County Zoo (hopefully the new baby Gentoo Penguin will be out saying hello?).

-“Magical Black Tears Experience” museum exhibition debuts this weekend at the Milwaukee Area Technical College Downtown Campus and runs through February 28th.

-Marian Art Gallery at Mount Mary University presents Liz Miller’s Embellished Adequation through February 16th.

-Black History Month at the Milwaukee Public Library kicks off this weekend with multiple readings and activities through February 28th.

-Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra presents Toward the Sea (complete with sandy beaches and palm trees?).

-African American Read-In: Honoring Nancy Mathews at the Kenosha Public Museum.

-Mitten Fest in Bayview (can I wear gloves?).

-Anime Fest Milwaukee 2023 at the Wisconsin Center.

-National Marquette Day (if you’re in to that sort of thing).

-Drop-In Tour: Art by Artists of the African Diaspora debuts this weekend at the Milwaukee Art Museum and runs through February 25th.

-Lake Geneva Winterfest and US Snow Sculpting Competition (will there be anything on Geneva Lake or will it all be in Lake Geneva? I really hope it’s not in Geneva Lake!).

-Lynden by Night at the Lynden Sculpture Garden (if it’s dark how am I supposed to see the sculptures?).

-Snow Daze Festival in Downtown Kenosha (daze??? What kind of daze are we talking about here??? An 80 proof kind of daze???).

-Black History Month: Enslaved, Indentured, Free at the Kenosha Public Library.

-Latino Arts presents Between Yesterday and Where: The Magic of Macondo through February 10th.

-Mind Body Abundance, A Success and Wellness Expo at Expansive Workspace in Wauwatosa.

-Kohl’s Design It! Lab at Discovery World Museum.

-Mermaid ECHO Live at Discovery World Museum (will it be a little mermaid?).

-Great Lakes Pet Expo at State Fair Park (yeah, probably more dog stuff than cat stuff…Maui gives a disapproving tail flick).

-Trove Arts presents LUMINESCENCE: An Intimate Evening of Exciting Art through February 11th (learn how to work with real gold leaf!!!).

-Milwaukee Chamber Theatre continues its performances of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf through February 12th (who’s afraid of the…Woolf?).

-Sunset Playhouse wraps up its performances of Love, Sex, and the I.R.S. this weekend (see ya I.R.S.!!!).

-The Milwaukee Repertory Theater continues its performances of Much Ado About Nothing through February 12th AND Dino! An Evening with Dean Martin through March 19th.

-Renaissance Theaterworks continues its performances of Cost of Living through February 12th (will there be any discussions about prime rate increases?).

-Falls Patio Players debuts On Golden Pond with performances through February 12th.

-Lakeside Players of Kenosha debuts The Wizard of Oz with performances through February 18th.

-Skylight Theater debuts Evita with performances through February 19th.

-Racine Theatre Guild presents Mostly Monsterly (this weekend only).

-Milwaukee Admirals are at home against the Manitoba Moose.

-Milwaukee Bucks are at home against the Miami Heat.

-Milwaukee Wave is at home against the Utica City FC.

-Angelic Roots in Oak Creek presents: Intuitive Vision Circle and Full Moon Release.

-Riveredge Nature Center presents Night Ski, Snow Shoe, & Candlelight Hike.

-Wehr Nature Center presents: Brews & Snow Shoes; Ground Hog Day Chili Cook-Off; and Birding Hike (oooh, I hope they’re not cooking groundhog chili 😱).

-Urban Ecology Center presents Danza Azteca AND Winterfest 2023.

-Schlitz Audubon Nature Center presents: Illuminated Hike; Raptor Saturday; and Geology Workshop.

-UW Milwaukee Manfred Olsen Planetarium presents Northern Lights and Lunar Light astronomy shows.

-Another something that’s sorta outdoorsy? How about Luxe Golf Bays at the Rock in Franklin?

-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!😃

It’s beginning to look a bit like winter…everywhere you go…

Snow. Wow. I shouldn’t be so surprised to see snow in January. But I am. And I’m loving it. Playtime!!! Beautiful white blanket of stuff that lets us do fun stuff we can’t do on bare grass!!! Skiing, snow shoeing, sledding, etc.!!!

Ok, I’m a weirdo when it comes to snow. Lots of people hate the stuff though. And for the haters…there’s always lots of Milwaukee indoor things to do. So without further ado, and in no particular order, here are a few Milwaukee weekend things to do (weekend of January 27th, 28th, and 29th):

-Milwaukee Museum Days wraps up this weekend with free or reduced admission at 25 different museums around the Milwaukee area.

-Holiday Decorations at the Milwaukee Public Museum’s Streets of Old Milwaukee and European Village comes to a close this weekend (no Valentine’s decorations?).

-Plant-itary garden train show continues chugging around the Domes through March 26th.

-Marian Art Gallery at Mount Mary University presents Liz Miller’s Embellished Adequation through February 16th.

-Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra presents Neptune & Water Music (take an umbrella?).

-Latino Arts presents Between Yesterday and Where: The Magic of Macondo through February 10th.

-Milwaukee Boat Show wraps up its run at State Fair Park this weekend (sail away party?).

-Forte Theater presents Music Man Jr. this weekend only at the Saber Center for the Performing Arts.

-Trove Arts presents LUMINESCENCE: An Intimate Evening of Exciting Art through February 11th (learn how to work with real gold leaf!!!).

-Brick Fest Live at the Wisconsin Center (LEGOS!!!)

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

-Winter Carnival at the Linden Sculpture Garden.

-Milwaukee Admirals are at home against the Rockford Ice Hogs and the Grand Rapids Griffins (Saturday night features Almost Home Cat Rescue).

-Milwaukee Bucks are at home against the New Orleans Pelicans.

-Milwaukee Wave is at home against the Kansas City Comets.

-Milwaukee Chamber Theatre continues performances of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf through February 12th.

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

-The Milwaukee Repertory Theater continues its performances of Much Ado About Nothing through January 12th AND Dino! An Evening with Dean Martin through March 19th.

-Racine Theater Guild wraps up its performances of Perfect Wedding this weekend (will it have a perfect ending?).

-Renaissance Theaterworks continues its performances of Cost of Living through February 12th (will there be any discussions about inflation?).

-Wehr Nature Center presents: Brews & Snow Shoes; Community Science Open House; Flow Yoga; Operation Recon Nature; and Birding Hike (BTW, you can put on snow shoes but you probably shouldn’t put brews on your snow shoes).

-Boerner Botanical Gardens presents Winterfest (for those who think that festing in the winter is an OK thing).

-Riveredge Nature Center presents Candlelight Hike (ooh, hike with a candle?).

-Another something that’s outdoorsy? How about tubing at the Rock in Franklin (there’s a fire pit and a bar…just sayin’)?

-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!😃

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