An A-Z visitors guide to Milwaukee Wisconsin. Sponsored by Key Magazine Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/72319
SUMMERFEST TIPS By MIKE EWING BEFORE THERE WAS Lolla-pa-hooza or South-by- South-Whatever, there was Summerfest. The 45th Annual (and still World's Largest) Music Festival brings a tidal wave of tunes and brews to Milwaukee's Lakefront. Planning for the Fest can be overwhelming, so, as a Milwaukee-area native, I have a few words of advice for anyone checking out Summerfest for the first time. Pick Your Poison (or Another Band You Like) With so many acts playing The Big Gig, it's easy to feel over- whelmed. Luckily, the website (www.summerfest.com) has a great tool that lets you search through the bands and listen to a sample track of each one. I for one am looking forward to pop-powerhouse Robyn, neo-soul rockers Fitz and the Tantrums, and Cake. Walk or Take a Shuttle As people stream out of the Summerfest grounds, the roads turn into rapids of swerving pedestrians, Harleys and cars. Your best option is to take one of the many shuttles that head to the Fest from local bars and Freeway Flyers from the 'burbs (info at www.Ride MCTS.com. )Just make sure to remember WHICH shuttle/bus you need to catch and when they stop running. Know Your Stages With so many bands playing, and so many beers on tap, it's highly probable that at some point you will be walking aim- lessly about without any idea where to go. As such, it's a good idea to take a stroll through the whole grounds when you first get to the Summerfest and take in the different stages. They each have their own unique vibe and musical inclinations. Stop, Plop, & Listen With so many options, it's tempting to focus on a headlining act and ignore the rest or default to making lap after lap around the festival grounds like you're in the Indy 500. Take a pit stop and listen to a song every now and then. And since you're in Milwaukee, you might as well check out some local bands while you're at it. Local acts Trapper Schoepp & the Shades at 6:45 p.m. on July 3 at the U.S. Cellular stage and Surgeons in Heat at 3 p.m. on July 6 at the U.S. Cellular Stage will give you a refreshing taste of Midwestern rock. 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 barley-free water during the day. In the end, there's the reason the Summerfest logo is a smiley face. Nestled along the lakefront in one of the secretly best cities in the world, Summerfest is a haven for music lovers and fun lovers alike. Share your Summerfest tips with us at info@keymilwaukee.com or on Twitter at @MilwaukeeKeyMag. Do you have any Summerfest tips? Share them with us at info@keymilwaukee.com or on Twitter at @MilwaukeeKeyMag. 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 improvisational comedy designed for all ages. Call for times, reservations DOWNTOWN MILWAUKEE BEST PLACE, 901 W. Juneau Ave. 630-1609. Experience brewing history. Tavern open noon-midnight, Thurs.-Sun. COUNTY CLARE, 1234 N. Astor St. 272-5273. Irish food with an American spin, plus Irish drink and entertainment. DISTIL, 722 N. Milwaukee St. 220-9411. Upscale experience with exclusive bourbon and rye selections. Open 4 p.m.-bar close Mon.-Sat. MI•KEY's, 811 N. Jefferson St. 273-5397. Cool, modern hotspot. MILWAUKEE BRAT HOUSE, 1013 N. Old World 3rd St. 273-8709. Serving brats and fun until closing. MYKONOS GYRO & CAFE, 1014 Van Buren St. 224-6400. Serving until 3 a.m. Thurs. and 3:30 a.m. Fri. & Sat. PORT OF CALL BISTRO & BEER GARDEN, 106 W. Wells St. 273-7678. Nautical themed bistro on Milwaukee RiverWalk. Bar open 11 a.m. until bar close every day. SAFE HOUSE, 779 N. Front St. 271-2007. Internationally known for "James Bond" decor. Attached to the Newsroom Pub, 137 E. Wells St., which houses the Milwaukee Press Club's historic signatures of famous Milwaukee visitors to since 1890s.