An A-Z visitors guide to Milwaukee Wisconsin. Sponsored by Key Magazine Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/319143
BARS & CLUBS TRY YOUR LUCK at POTAWATOMI BINGO CASINO 1721 W. Canal St. 645-6888 or visit www.paysbig.com. Located minutes from downtown and open 24 hours a day. In addition to gambling and top-name entertainment, the Casino's Fire Pit is a top sports bar. FOR A GOOD LAUGH…COMEDYSPORTZ 420 S. 1st St. 414-272-8888. Milwaukee's longest-running comedy show offers improv comedy for all ages. DOWNTOWN MILWAUKEE BACCHUS, 925 E. Wells St. 765-1166. Sophisticated spot with one of most extensive wine lists in Midwest. BEST PLACE, 901 W. Juneau Ave. 630-1609. Experience brewing history. See KEY Tours for info. COUNTY CLARE, 1234 N. Astor St. 272-5273. Irish food with an American spin, plus Irish drink and entertainment. MILWAUKEE BRAT HOUSE, 1013 N. Old World 3rd St. 273-8709. Serving brats and fun until closing. By MIKE EWING WHILE MEGA MUSIC FESTIVALS continue to grow in popu- larity around the country, anyone from Milwaukee will tell you: Summerfest is the original. It's still one of the best, even if it's missing some things you'll find at other fests. There are no overwhelming crowds like Lollapalooza. You can't wander through a near-riot like at SXSW. You won't have to barter with some guy to use an overfull Porta-John like at Coachella– there are honest-to-God bathrooms. And with what might be one of the best headlining lineups yet, there's never been a better time to take in the fest. More than 800 acts will play over the 11 days of Summerfest this year. That tyranny of choices can seem a bit overwhelming, so here are a few pieces of advice for first-timers: Plan Your Attack With so many acts playing The Big Gig, it's easy to feel over- whelmed. Luckily, you can build a customized schedule on the Summerfest website (summerfest.com). It's best to start with the headliners to see where you want to end your night, then plan backwards from there. Getting There The roads nearby the Summerfest Grounds are a stream of swerving pedestrians, Harleys and cars. There's parking avail- able, but other options are worth investigating. If you're driving in from outside the city, consider parking in the suburbs and taking a Freeway Flyer to the fest (info at RideMCTS.com). Just make sure you keep track of the bus number and get to the shuttle area outside the main gate before the last ones leave at 12:30 p.m. There are quite a few local bars offering shuttles to and from Summerfest throughout the day. Again, make a note of where their pickup location is and when the last shuttle leaves. This is a good way to keep the party going, as the festival ends around midnight but bars are open until 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 2:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Oh, and this goes without saying, but don't drink and drive–grab a cab or a designated driver. Stake Your Claim In some respects, Summerfest is one of the most orderly festi- vals in the country. A big part of this is that rows of bleachers sit in front of the ground stages. So if you're not a fan of snug- gling with sweaty strangers, you're in luck. This also makes it impossible to show up at the last minute to a big-name act and get a front-row view. So get there early with your group, secure a spot, and send people out in shifts to get refresh- ments and scope out any other acts. Stop, Plop, & Listen With so many options, it's tempting to focus on a headlining act or make lap after lap around the festival grounds like you're in the Indy 500. If you ever feel bored or lost, your best option is to head towards whichever stage best reflects your particular tastes. Or even better, head towards the KNE New Music Stage and support some local Milwaukee (and Midwestern) bands. What these acts lack in notoriety they make up for with energy. Have Fun & Keep Your Cool Between the high temperatures and volumes of beer con- sumed, bodies and tempers can get hot at Summerfest. Make sure you drink plenty of hops-free H20 during the day. Be polite to strangers. Be wary of wobbly drunks and guys with their shirts off. Unless that guy is you, in which case: rock on. Do you have any Summerfest tips? Share them with us at info@keymilwaukee.com or on Twitter at @MilwaukeeKeyMag. KEY'S SUMMERFEST TIPS