1. Go to the Villa Terrace
LINDSEY ANDERSON RIOS, SENIOR CULTURE EDITOR
I got married over the weekend, at the Villa Terrace. And, obviously I’m biased, but I think the museum is one of Milwaukee’s cultural gems. It’s especially nice in the warmer months, when visitors can wander around its extensive gardens. And on summer Sundays, local musicians play in its Mercury Courtyard starting around 10:30 a.m.
2. Check Out “Summer Camp” at Camp Bar
ALLISON GARCIA, DIGITAL EDITOR
I’ve always been a big fan of Camp Bar in the Third Ward (525 E. Menomonee St.). This bar always has cozy decorations and free popcorns. It’s my favorite place to get drinks around the holidays, because there are always tons of decorations. When I stopped by on Thursday, I was shocked to find thousands of lights throughout the bar as part of the new theme “Summer Camp.” White Claw sponsored the new look, and you can get tons of “clawtails” to match the bar’s new summer vibes. The decor is only at the Third Ward location for the summer, so definitely check it out before it’s gone.
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3. Drink at Draft & Vessel Tosa
CHRIS DROSNER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Hoo, boy. If you like beer bars, Draft & Vessel’s new-ish location in the Wauwatosa Village (7479 Harwood Ave.) is a must-visit. The taplist is great – everything from pastry stout to traditional classics – but Draft & Vessel’s specialty is an experience. The Tosa D&V delivers that with multiple “wow, this is so nice” spaces, from the main bar, outfitted with overhead doors to let the summer in, to the nicely appointed patio off the back with a view of Tosa’s little downtown. All enveloped in D&V’s cool-but-homey, wood-heavy design, it’s a great spot to enjoy a couple of great beers. In kind-of related news, D&V bar manager Eric Gutbrod announced last week that he’s been hired as general manager of the forthcoming Central Waters Brewing Milwaukee taproom in the former Captain Pabst Pilot House space in the Brewery District.
4. Check Out Your Local Farmers Market
ANN CHRISTENSON, SENIOR DINING EDITOR
Summers are for farmers markets. I love visiting as many as I can. This past Sunday it was the Riverwest Gardeners Market on North Pierce Street between Center and Hadley. It’s a great mix of fresh produce, prepared foods, handmade goods/art and people. I like to leisurely browse the vendors’ stalls while sipping a cold drink, like MKE-based Soul Brew’s refreshing, not-too-sweet kombucha. Sundays 10 am.-3 p.m. through Oct. 31.
5. Read Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman
ARCHER PARQUETTE, MANAGING EDITOR
Every once in a while, you read a novel that feels like it was pulled out of your mind. This one did that for me. A tale of an old, tired knight roaming plague-stricken France in the 14th century with a priest and a young, strange girl, this felt like a nightmare of mine brought to the page. There are monstrous creatures and gruesome massacres and a literal war in heaven. The books takes ancient Catholic teachings as literally as possible – pitting demons against winged angels in a battle that plays out dramatically alongside the lowly struggles of the men and women below. Our core trio of night, priest and girl carry us through the horrific landscape from set-piece to set-piece filled with horror and theological madness. Despite being over 400 pages, I tore through this book in a weekend, and I’d definitely recommend it.
