Granite Cliff Studio

A recent vacation to the great state of Wisconsin landed my wife and I downtown Milwaukee for the majority of our stay.

Milwaukee is always the same but different every time I visit. There are always new restaurants, hotels and breweries that exceed Midwest expectations. The constant in Milwaukee is the restaurants, hotels and breweries that have stood the test of time. Milwaukee is one of those cities where a beautiful brand new building can be placed right next to a historic landmark and it fits.

Our trip started with a stay at the legendary Pfister Hotel. As a loyal HHA (Historic Hotels of America) fan, I love to stay at these landmark hotels. The Pfister hosts the largest Victorian art collection in the world for a hotel. The lobby ceiling mirrors that of the Sistine Chapel. It truly is a luxurious entrance and has a European feel.

My wife and I checked in and after being delayed a couple times during our trek from Maui, we were hungry! With an approaching storm we made haste and ventured out on the streets of Milwaukee. I was playing tour guide because I had worked at a hotel downtown and spent some time in the city in 2007. My familiarity with Milwaukee always returns to the Riverwalk. I know it’s a nice walk and that there are a lot of restaurants around. We knew there was going to be an Oktoberfest celebration at Pere Marquette Park so we went to Old World Third Street. It was a Saturday afternoon and there was a good crowd.

MADER’S

To get my wife familiar with what my upbringing was and the culture of the city, we went to Mader’s. A Bavarian style German restaurant, Mader’s is a landmark for all German residents of Wisconsin. After being sat in the dining area of the bar area, chants of ziggy zaggy and lyrics from Ein Prosit, entertained us at one in the afternoon. We were greeted by a nice young lady wearing traditional German garments. I ordered a liter of New Glarus in a boot!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2FDKnDsWYik

The food was amazing! A cheese and sausage board was served with an award winning cheese, named best Swiss in 2018. I also indulged in a schnitzel sandwich that was cooked perfectly. The setting and character of this German style restaurant brought me back to my time spent in Darmstadt when I was a high school student. Wunderbar!

MILWAUKEE ON FOOT

The attractions and tourist areas, downtown and the lower east side, can all be visited in a day on a leisurely stroll. One day, we strapped on our walking shoes and ventured to the lakefront and Veterans Park. It was a beautiful morning and the lake was calm. The city skyline from below was exquisite. This area is ideal for joggers and kite enthusiasts. Veterans Park meanders into McKinley Park, home to a large marina. A cormorant joined us on our journey along these waterways. She played peak-a-boo a few times until I pulled out my Nikon and apparently she was camera shy. As the saying goes I hate to see you go but love to watch you leave, the cormorant was majestic in her exit, flying just above the masts of the hundreds of docked boats.

Now, we were on a mission for breakfast. The weather was comfortable and outside seating seemed logical so we stopped at the Colectivo Lakefront Cafe. This late 1800s Milwaukee River flushing station brick building is a landmark on Lincoln Memorial Drive. In summer months it is packed with locals that enjoy the cool lakefront temperatures. It was a weekday in fall and we had the place to ourselves. This cafe is a true gem and the experience should be enjoyed when the weather is nice.

We resumed our journey by walking up through the lower east side passing many great restaurants and shops. From North Avenue down Farwell and Brady back to MSOE campus. So many interesting buildings, houses and stores. As you stroll through the neighborhoods of Milwaukee, you can imagine the characters and immigrants that settled this great city. The factory workers, meat packers and tanners providing hard work for their families and the city. It still shows to this day what might have been in the 19th century. Of course, there has been so much improvement with luxury condos along the Milwaukee River and scattered through neighborhoods, the Fiserv Forum surrounded by new bars and restaurants. This little urban hike we completed would be a great adventure if you would like to learn more about the City of Festivals, Milwaukee.