Milwaukee

From World travel guide

Milwaukee is the largest city in the state of Wisconsin, United States. The city's population is 596,974 with an estimated total of 1,689,572 in the Milwaukee metropolitan area (2004). The city of Milwaukee is the 19th largest city in the United States. The city is located in the southeastern portion of the state on the western shore of Lake Michigan.

Contents 1 Understand 1.1 Newspapers 2 Get in 2.1 By plane 2.2 By train 2.3 By car 2.4 By boat 3 Get around 3.1 By public transit 3.2 By taxi 3.3 By Car 4 See 4.1 Landmarks 4.2 Arts & Culture 4.3 Neighborhoods 5 Do 6 Learn 7 Work 8 Buy 9 Eat 9.1 Budget 9.2 Mid-range 9.3 Splurge 10 Drink 11 Sleep 11.1 Budget 11.2 Mid-range 11.3 Splurge 12 Stay safe 13 Cope 14 External links

Understand

Milwaukee has advertised itself as the "City of Festivals," especially emphasizing an annual fair along the lakefront called Summerfest. Listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest music festival in the world, Summerfest attracts around 900,000 visitors a year to its twelve stages. Smaller festivals througout the year celebrate the city's German, Native American, African-American, Italian, Irish, Asian, French and Polish heritage.

Newspapers

• The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is Milwaukee's only major daily newspaper, distributed in the morning. Price: $0.50 daily, $1.75 Sunday Edition. http://www.jsonline.com/
• The Shepherd Express is Milwaukee's #1 free weekly newspaper. http://www.shepherd-express.com/
• MKE is the other major weekly newspaper, owned by the same company that owns the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Like the Shepherd Express, it is also free. http://www.mkeonline.com/
• "The Onion", a very popular satirical newspaper, can be found in many area restaurants and coffee shops, and is free of charge. http://www.theonion.com/content/index

Get in

By plane

Milwaukee is served by Mitchell International Airport (MKE).

Midwest Airlines, frequently rated #1 in domestic air service, is based at Mitchell International Airport.

By train

Amtrak serves a downtown and an airport station. The Hiawatha has 7 daily round trips to Chicago, and the Empire Builder has 1 daily round trip from Chicago through Milwaukee to Seattle/Portland, Via Minneapolis and Spokane (among other cities).

By car

I-94 comes in from Madison to the west, and continues to Chicago to the south. I-43 will get you to the city from Green Bay from the north, and continues south-west to Rockford.

By boat

The Lake Express is a high speed ferry that operates across Lake Michigan to Muskegon, MI.

Get around

Getting around in Milwaukee is mostly easy. Block numbers are consistent across the whole city, including most of the suburbs, starting roughly where the Milwaukee and Menomonee rivers meet. All numbered streets run north-south, increasing in number as you go west from 1st Street. Most names streets go east-west, with the notable exception of any street east of 1st Street (the East Side). Standard blocks are 1/8th of a mile long north to south, and 1/12th of a mile east to west. Parking Downtown and on the East Side is a minor hassle, but abundant elsewhere.

By public transit

Milwaukee's bus system is actually quite good, taking into account the lack of rail support. You can take a bus from anywhere, to almost anywhere in the city, with minor excursions to the suburbs. The fare is $1.75, children (6-11) and seniors (65+ with medicare card) $0.85. Fare includes one hour transfer, make sure to ask the driver for it if they don't automatically give you one. This transfer will allow you to board as many busses as you wish before the time runs out.

The local businesses have also contracted the bus system to run the popular trolley loop for the 2005 season, and hopefully beyond. This trolley runs every 20 minutes, Tuesday through Sunday, and runs on a separate fare system than the rest of the bus system. Fare is $2 for the entire day, with full on and off privileges, but only for the trolleys. Seems like a good way to move around downtown, but be aware that it does not serve the SummerFest festival grounds, although the north gate of SummerFest is only a two – five minute walk to the Milwaukee Art Museum. (#3 on the trolley map)

Make sure to either have exact change, or to pay a little extra, as bus drivers (for both systems) do not make change.

By taxi

While there are plenty of taxis to meet demand, do not expect to simply flag one down. With the notable exceptions of queues at larger hotels and at Miller Park (the local baseball stadium), you should call for one. The number one complany is Yellow Cab, at 414-271-1800, with the phone numbers of other taxi companies available here.

By Car

While it is possible to use the bus to go to many suburbs, it is not recommended. Parking outside the Downtown/East Side are is a non-issue, and for the most part, neither is traffic.

See

While it is not known as a tourism mecca, Milwaukee is a vibrant city with plenty to see and explore.

• During the summer, the venerable Iroquois offers narrated sightseeing tours of the Milwaukee River, Harbor and Lake Michigan daily at 1:00 and 3:00.

• Sea Dog Sailing offers sailing trips out of McKinley Marina. The Edelweiss I and II offer elegant dinner cruises departing from the 3rd Street Pier restaurant.

• The Milwaukee County Zoo features include a train tour of the zoo, sea lion shows, and a dairy farm. Check with zoo schedules for fun special events like sleepovers at the zoo or trick-or-treating at the zoo on Halloween.

Landmarks

• The Pabst Brewery was recently the center of controversy when a proposal to redevelop the crumbling factory complex fell through due to a disagreement between the City of Milwaukee and the project's developers over financing. The brewery complex, which has been abandoned for decades, is a fascinating collection of architecture from different periods, including a number of beautiful old Cream City brick buildings. While technically off limits to the public, many of the buildings can be seen from the fences which line part of the property. It is, however, easy to get onto the site, and many locals have done so...but remember, it is private property, so enter at your own risk. The complex is located on the far northwestern corner of downtown, just north of the Milwaukee County Courthouse on N 9th St.

• The Domes complex in Mitchell Park [1] is one of the city's most recognizable landmarks. The three huge glass domes serve as the city's horticultural gardens, and house a desert habitat, a rainforest, and varying themed exhibits. Mitchell Park is located at the intersection of S Layton Blvd. & W Pierce St.

• The Milwaukee Art Museum's Santiago Calatrava-designed addition is Milwaukee's most recognizable landmark, and the bird-like wings of the building's Quadracci Pavilion open and close several times each day, depending on the weather. The War Memorial which the museum is connected to was designed by the architect Eero Saarinen, and worth a look as well. For more information on the museum, check the Arts & Culture section of this article.

• Milwaukee's City Hall was the city's most important landmark before the completion of the Calatrava addition to the museum. This beautiful building is located at the intersection of N Water St. and E Wells St. The architecture is heavily influenced by that of Germany, which is a symbol of Milwaukee's large German immigrant population at the turn of the century.

Arts & Culture

• Milwaukee Art Museum, [2].
• Milwaukee Public Museum, [3].
• Milwaukee Repertory Theater, [4].
• America's Black Holocaust Museum, [5].

Neighborhoods

• Juneautown and Kilbourntown/Westown - These two neighborhoods, which sit across the Milwaukee River from each other, form the larger area generally known as "downtown." Juneautown, between the lake and the river, is the financial heart of the city, as well as the place where Milwaukee was born. The city's tallest building, the 601-foot USBank Tower, is located here along the lake, as are a number of the city's most architecturally significant buildings, including the Cathedral of St. John and Milwaukee's City Hall. There are a number of coffee shops and restaurants, but the area mostly closes down after business hours. Across the river, Kilbourntown (or Westown) serves as the city's entertainment center. here you will find attractions such as the Midwest Airlines Center, Milwaukee's primary convention center. Nearby are the Grand Avenue Mall, the Milwaukee Theater, and the Bradley Center. Many of the city's hotels are located here as well, as are a number of excellent restaurants and clubs. While none of the city's tall buildings have public observatories, you can get a fantastic view from Polaris, the revolving restaurant perched atop the Hyatt Regency in the heart of Kilbourntown. The Riverwalk lines both sides of the Milwaukee River through the downtown area, and is home to a number of pieces of public art, as well as some of the city's most popular restaurants.

• Historic Third Ward - This small district, located directly to the south of Juneautown, is Milwaukee's version of the trendy urban "warehouse district." The streets of the Third Ward are lined with 19th and early 20th-century warehouse buildings which have been converted into lofts and offices. At street level, chic shops and restaurants are commonplace. The area is also an entertainment hub. The Eisner Museum of Advertising and Design is located at 208 N. Water Street, just blocks from the Broadway Theater Center, home of the Skylight Opera. On the ward's southern boundary--the Milwaukee River--one can find the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (or just MIAD), which is the centerpiece of the city's art scene. On Gallery Night, which occurs once every three months, the Third Ward hums with activity, as it is home to the city's largest collection of art galleries. The Third Ward is also home to the newest section of the Riverwalk, which offers some fantastic views of the downtown skyline.

• Walker's Point

• The East Side - This neighborhood stretches from downtown to the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. It is home to elegant mansions, college students, and everything in between. http://www.theeastside.org/

• RiverWest

• Bayview

• Historic Mitchell Street

Do

• Milwaukee is known for its Beer. In several spots around the city, the smell of yeast from the beer factories is quite strong.
  • Miller Brewery offers excellent tours. The tour begins with a short video of famous Miller commercials, continues to the original brewery to demonstrate the growth and progress of the company, and finishes at a pub for a little beer-tasting. To set up a tour call (800)994-LITE or go to http://www.millerbrewing.com/.
  • Sprecher (maker of beer and rootbeer) is a smaller brewery on Milwaukee's north side. They also offer tours. http://www.sprecherbrewery.com/
  • Lakefront Brewery is another small, locally-owned microbrewery specializing in handmade beers in the tradition of early Milwaukee brewers. Located along the Milwaukee river just north of downtown. http://www.lakefrontbrewery.com/
• The Petit National Ice Center is a renowned Olympic training center. It has a full ice-racing track and two hockey rinks. Public skate hours vary, but are usually in the evening. Skate rentals are available for a good price.

Learn

The Milwaukee Art Museum along the lakefront is renowned for its new Calatrava addition (2004). The giant bird-like structure juts out towards the lake and has been adoped as the new symbol of Milwaukee, featured on all of the flags and welcome signs. The Calatrava building is free to the public, and going just to appreciate the architecture and great views of the lake is recommended. Exhibits vary.

• The Milwaukee Public Museum along I-45 just north if I-94 is excellent for children and adults alike, containing exhibits on numerous topics including large historical dioramas and an IMAX theatre. Well-known permanent exhibits include a "Butterflies Alive" garden and the Streets of Old Milwaukee. The Discovery World Museum, attached to the Public Museum is geared towards middle school children, with hands-on science experiments and exhibits.

• The Betty Brinn Children's Museum is situated right along the lakefront is excellent for young children.

• Boerner Botanical Gardens and the Mitchell Park Domes offer atmospheric gardens or domes with flora from various climates.

• Both the Charles Allis Art Museum and the Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum are located in repurposed, East Side mansions. They are great stops as you explore the East Side neighborhood. http://www.cavtmuseums.org/

Work

Milwaukee is home to several Fortune 500 companies; in fact, the metropolitan region (defined as the Milwaukee-West Allis-Waukesha area) was "ranked number five in the nation when measuring the number of Fortune 500 companies as a share of the population - just behind the number four Minneapolis-St. Paul region in Minnesota." [6] The area has a wide employment base, with companies ranging from high-tech and specialty manufacturing firms (GE Medical, Harley Davidson) to retail and finance corporations (Kohl's, Northwestern Mutual).

Milwaukee Area Fortune 1000 Companies (As of 2004 ranking)

• Johnson Controls [7]
• Northwestern Mutual [8]
• Manpower [9]
• Kohl's [10]
• Harley-Davidson [11]
• Roundy's [12]
• Rockwell Automation [13]
• Wisconsin Energy [14]
• Fiserv [15]
• Marshall & Ilsley Corp. [16]
• Briggs & Stratton [17]
• A.O. Smith [18]
• MGIC Investment [19]
• Joy Global [20]

The Milwaukee-Racine metropolitan area was also rated one of the Top 20 Hot Cities for Entrepreneurs in 2005. [21]

Buy

• Harley Davidson motercycles are made in Wisconsin, and there are several plants in and around Milwaukee. Whether you are interested in buying a motorcycle or not, the retail stores are definitely places of interest. The House of Harley on Layton Avenue is a giant gallery of motorcycles from the past and present. You can also take a tour of the factory.

Eat

Milwaukee's Old World Third Street along (and just West of) the Milwaukee River has many of Milwaukee's best restaurants and night-clubbing locations. Brady Street, on the Northeast side, also has many nice restaurants and shops. Brady Street and Old World Third Street are undoubtedly the two best areas to get food in Milwaukee. Brady Street consists of relatively inexpensive but high-quality restaurants, bakeries, and bars. Old World Third Street provides a richer variety and also many of the more upscale restaurants (and clubs) in Milwaukee. Traditional Germanic and Mediterranean foods are the highlights.

Budget

Apollo's on Brady Street serves authentic Greek food that the whole family can enjoy: a variety of healthy yet tasty food. It'll make you wonder why these sorts of food aren't more popular.

The best place to eat Mexican food on a budget in Milwaukee is Conijito's Place on 6th Street just north of National Avenue. Food is cheap, drinks are cheap and the atmosphere is one of the best in the city as far as Mexican restaurants go. In most cases you can eat and get a couple drinks for $10 dollars.

Mid-range

Located on Milwaukee's Old World Third Street, the Safehouse is entered through an alley. It is infamous for requiring a password to enter. It can be entered even without the password, but you will be required to act silly to convince them to allow entrance. Once inside you will find one of the world's greatest museums to spying including numerous gadgets and displays. As you eat you will be able to watch video monitors of other patrons acting silly to gain entrance, just as you once did.

On the East Side, you can get some great pizza at Gil's on Downer Ave before or after a movie at the nearby Downer Theater, or head over to the intersection of North and Oakland Avenues, where you'll find local favorites like Beans & Barley (healthy/organic), Pizza Man, Von Trier's (German), the BBC (bar & grill), and the Twisted Fork (pasta).

A bit farther up Oakland Avenue near Locust Ave. (near the UW-Milwaukee Campus), you'll find an exciting variety of restaurants like the Oakland Trattoria (Mediterranian), Sharrazad (Middle Eastern), Lula's Cafe (East African), Thai-A-Kitchen, and Oakland Gyros (Greek).

Splurge

Mader's, also on Old-World Third, provides traditional German cuisine in a fancy atmosphere. It is expensive but exquisite - well worth it.

Mimma's, on Brady Street, serves the Americanized version Italian cuisine. But it is also incredible, well worth five stars. In addition to ever pasta you can imagine it comes with an excellent array of wines, albeit expensive.

Drink

There's no shortage of night life in the Brew City. Milwaukeeans spend more (per capita) on entertainment than the citizenry of any other major American city, and you can bet that a good percentage of that entertainment is served in liquid form.

Trendy night life areas include Water Street in the heart of the city's downtown area, Brady Street and North Avenue on the Lower and Upper East Sides, respectively, and National Avenue to the south. RiverWest, a local hipster enclave, also offers a large variety of artsy drinking holes.

The city is also the unofficial Capital of the Corner Bar; no matter where you go in Milwaukee, there's sure to be a neighborhood bar only a few blocks away.

Sleep

Visitors to Milwaukee will find it easiest to stay downtown, where most of the city's hotels are located. However, if you are looking for cheaper accommodation and have a car, there is a strip of budget hotels on College Avenue near Mitchell International Airport.

Budget

Cheaper hotels near the airport include MainStay Suites, Exel Inn, Comfort Inn & Suites, and a Raddison Hotel.

Downtown, travelers on a budget will find plenty of options. The Ambassador Hotel, which just completed a renovation, is an art deco gem with reasonable rates, and is located just west of Marquette University on Wisconsin Avenue. Best Western (710 N Old World 3rd), Howard Johnson (176 W Wisconsin), Ramada (633 W Michigan), and Holiday Inn (611 W Wisconsin) all have downtown locations. For a bit of old world charm, try the Knickerbocker On The Lake (1028 E Juneau).

Mid-range

• Wyndham Milwaukee Center Hotel 139 East Kilbourn Avenue. Tel: (414) 276-8686. Fax: (414) 276-8007. In the heart of downtown, the intimate Wyndham Hotel Milwaukee Center puts you close to all the excitement.
• Wyndham Garden Hotel - Brookfield/Milwaukee 18155 W. Bluemound Road. Tel: (262) 792-1212. Fax: (262) 792-1201. Perfectly located between General Mitchell International Airport and downtown Milwaukee, we'll make your stay comfortable and convenient - feel the passion and pride of the Midwest when you visit us here.
• Four Points Sheraton Milwaukee Airport - A nice hotel just 2 miles from the Airport. FREE WIFI

Splurge

If you're in the mood to splurge on a hotel in Milwaukee, there are two great places to do so.

The Hotel Metro is Milwaukee's hippest boutique hotel. They offer a variety of different room types (including luxury spa suites, pet-friendly suites, and meeting suites), as well as amenities such as 24 hour concierge and room service, and a great location just blocks from the Water Street entertainment area, downtown museums, the theater district, and the Riverwalk. The Hotel Metro is located in a fabulous 1930's art moderne building at 411 E Mason St.

A few blocks away is the Pfister, Milwaukee's most famous and luxurious hotel, which has been serving visiting VIPs since 1893. Like the Hotel Metro, the Pfister is just blocks from all of downtown's most exciting attractions, including the Art Museum and the Historic Third Ward. Even if you can't afford to stay at the Pfister, it's worth your time to take a walk through the building and explore the spectacular lobby, or check out the museum's impressive art collection.

Stay safe

Downtown has been clean and safe since the mid-1990s. It was a nightmare during the 1980s but has since been substantially renovated and real estate is now booming, particularly along the lake.

Innercity Milwaukee extends from Humboldt Avenue on the East, to approximately Sherman Blvd to the West, Capitol on the north side and National Avenue on the southside.

The north and south side of Milwaukee is full of hardworking, culturally diverse people. The Northshore area is full of wealthy, white-collar individuals. the "West side," west of 124th street, is in fact Brookfield and Waukesha: filled with hard-working blue collar Americans. Brookfield and Waukesha have minimal crime and Waukesha County has the longest life expectancy of any Wisconsin County. It is also very conservative.

Cope

External links

• Greater Milwaukee Convention & Visitors Bureau, [22].
• OnMilwaukee.com, [23].
• City of Milwaukee, [24].
• MetroMilwaukee.org, [25]. Tourist tip: check the "In The News" section.

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