Milwaukee Uncut

Your Milwaukee Winter Guide (events, activities & gems) w/ Claire from Visit Milwaukee

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Looking for what to do this winter? We've got you covered. 

In this episode we talk: 

  • Must check out December events 
  • Holiday Lights 
  • Hidden Gems in and around MKE 
  • NYE 
  • Hotel Month coming up 
SPEAKER_00:

Hey everyone, welcome back to Milwaukee on Cut. If you're looking for things to do around Milwaukee and Wisconsin this winter, including some hidden gems to check out, we've got a great one for you with Claire from Visit Milwaukee. Before diving in, some breaking news from last night, we were voted the best podcast in Milwaukee at the Shepherd Express best of awards. So just wanted to thank everyone who voted. Also, um, of note, I got to spend some quality time with my 93-year-old grandma Laney over Thanksgiving, who's our number one fan, who is still getting her steps in by the way. And she let Brie and I know that her favorite part of every morning is opening up the Instagram and watching our programs, which makes our clips sound a lot more legitimate than they actually are. Um, so thank you, Laney. We absolutely love you. Okay, on to our partners that uh actually make Milwaukee Uncut possible, that we appreciate a lot. We're gonna kick it off with Nicolai Law, the Midwest law firm injured. Get Nicolet. Speaking of Nicolet, you can now stop by the Nicolay Lodge. How creative is that? L-A-W-D-G-E. Inside of the Drink Wisconsinably pub, right across from the Pfizer, which is Bree and I's favorite spot to grab a drink and do some interviews before Bucks and Marquette games. Also, Drink Wisconsinably Beverage Company has their own brandy vodka and canned cocktails. My favorite is their brandy old fashioned, wonderful time of the year for a nice canned old-fashioned Drink Wisconsinably Beverage Company available at the Drink Wisconsinably pub and at bars and liquor stores across the state. And in weaving the Pfizer into this, hands down, best 16 or 17 or 18 dollars, depending on the tip you leave. But I think a baseline of 16 that you can spend at the Pfizer Forum. We're going with the Wisconsinitis Tall Boy from our friends over at Three Sheeps, the beer Wisconsin drinks, and definitely enjoyed some Three Sheeps variety packs over Thanksgiving. Picked them up from Ray's Intosa, great place over there. And it's just a wonderful time to have some beer. So when you do, we recommend Three Sheeps, the beer, Wisconsin drinks. Also, we've got some good clips coming up on things to do in the winter with Grant Paulie, the founder of Three Sheep. So make sure to check out our socials for those in. All right, let's dive in with Claire from Visit Milwaukee.

SPEAKER_02:

Thanks for having me back.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh, yeah. Great time at the Bucs game last night. Buc basketball's back.

SPEAKER_02:

Box basketball is back, highlight of the winter. It was rocking, not the outcome we hoped for.

SPEAKER_00:

No, that was one of the most uninspiring basketball games I've seen. But you were in the West Bend Lofts. Bree and I were not in the West Bend Lofts is just a great place to watch a game. I think Sean Cullen, JP Cullen, one of the elite executives in the city, hosted me there once. So not in a while. I hope I get an invite again from him soon. But that that was a special moment for me personally.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, the the lofts are amazing. I mean, there's I don't think there's a bad seat in Pfizer Forum. The food up there at the West Bend Lofts is like absolutely amazing. And um, our server Sarah killed it, and we felt very well taken care of. And it was still like the energy in Pfizer for any game is amazing. So, like win, lose, whatever. It was a great time.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, the the food in the loft area is really good. Probably and Bobby had like a killer game. If Bobby did not drop 20 points in the first half, they they would have lost by by a lot more than 15.

SPEAKER_02:

Yes. And I feel like someone said he became the fifth highest scoring three-point shooter the Bucks have ever had last night.

SPEAKER_01:

Really?

SPEAKER_02:

We should fact check that, but I heard it and I was like, that's pretty awesome. Like, that's that's a good game to be at.

SPEAKER_00:

By the way, this is recorded right after the Portland Trailblazers Monday night, Monday night loss um before Thanksgiving. So a sl slow, slow week. A good good one to have a few drinks in the lofts. Um hopefully by the time you're listening to this, which would be a week and a half-ish from now, Giannis will be back potentially.

SPEAKER_02:

That is the hope.

SPEAKER_00:

And KPJ.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, and Dame was at the game last night.

SPEAKER_00:

He was.

SPEAKER_02:

They did a really cool tribute, and I thought that is like just very classy and a great way um to bring back, and he seemed to appreciate it, which I thought.

SPEAKER_00:

He did, he gave he gave a couple of these to the to the crowd. But yeah, everyone in the organization just says really good things about him and his time here and that he he was just a good person to be around in a professional. And you were at the bronze fawn's birthday event.

SPEAKER_02:

So the we probably had, I don't know, 50 people waiting like an hour before the event started.

SPEAKER_00:

To celebrate the birthday of a statue.

SPEAKER_02:

The character and the guy a guy showed up as a look-alike to Henry Winkler. He had like business cards about it, which was very cute. People were so so excited. People magazine covered it, which was fun. And then um, it got picked up at stations because CNN feeds from the CBS sometimes and distributed their segments to organizations around the country, like across networks. I got picked up by a ton. Um it was just awesome. And the cake by the scale uh Kimberly with signature suits, which was a lifelike like replica size of the Fon's torso up was insane and amazing. And it was just bonkers and yeah, I started doing TV at 5 a.m. that day. Oh, I remember that.

SPEAKER_00:

You had a full day. What time were you?

SPEAKER_02:

I was up at like 3 30. Yeah, on the riverwalk, live shots at 5 a.m. It was a lot, but it was a lot of fun.

SPEAKER_00:

And Henry Winkler's zoomed in.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, he did a special video, and the day before he did a 10-minute interview with our CBS affiliate, which was Christmas for them. So yeah, it was super nice.

SPEAKER_00:

Very cool. And what what do we got on tap this winter?

SPEAKER_02:

We have tons of great things on deck this winter because the City of Festivals doesn't sleep in the cold months.

SPEAKER_01:

No.

SPEAKER_02:

So no. Festivals, activities. I mean, some of the fun is indoors, lots of beer, and many good times.

SPEAKER_00:

I got I got some events coming up in December that I I can go to. There's uh have you heard of Sauce Night Market?

SPEAKER_02:

Uh yes, I guess.

SPEAKER_00:

So it's this woman, um, Sarah, she lives in the Chicago area, but she does these markets, localized markets, kind of. I think here in Minneapolis and Chicago, and there's gonna be 20 plus local vendors, DJ over at Pilot Project, uh, December 5th and 6th.

SPEAKER_01:

Yep.

SPEAKER_00:

That should be a good one.

SPEAKER_01:

Yep.

SPEAKER_00:

And then the next weekend, there's a lot going on. So I I have December 11th cheers at the Milwaukee County Zoo, which is all lit up through December 31st. Bree and I went there last week and just like saw it and had some drinks and walked around and saw some animals at night. Yep. It's a really cool thing to go to. We had never been to that before.

SPEAKER_02:

The zoo in the winter is so much fun. It, I mean, and the light displays, they make it even more fun to wander around. You forget it's also good exercise going to the zoo, right? You can get like 10,000 steps in easily.

SPEAKER_01:

It is.

SPEAKER_02:

See a bunch of adorable animals, learn a bunch of new things, have a beer while you're doing it, and then see Christmas lights. Like it is.

SPEAKER_00:

You can grab a beer and ride the train too if you don't, if you don't feel like walking. There's um a lot of animals lit up. There's also just like a lot of you know, kind of light tunnels and um some stuff coming down, which is apparently a very good proposal spot. Um so if any guys are listening for the holiday season, want to head over to Kessler's Diamonds and then head over to the Milwaukee County Zoo. Be our guest right there. But they're having a 21 and up night, which they only do once a year on Thursday, the 11th, and there will be drinks, um, food, see the animals. Should be pretty cool.

SPEAKER_02:

That sounds amazing.

SPEAKER_00:

And I think they have a dog night coming up too. They're testing it internally, and I think they're gonna cap it out like a few hundred dogs.

SPEAKER_02:

Love.

SPEAKER_00:

But the I don't know if they've ever done that before.

SPEAKER_02:

I don't, I can't remember them ever doing that. I will say I one of the highlights of my year was meeting the oldest animal at the zoo.

unknown:

Ruth.

SPEAKER_02:

The elephant or no, Onassis, the sea turtle.

SPEAKER_00:

Really?

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, I think she's like between 80 and 90 years old. And we got to do a little behind the scenes tour with their staff earlier this year, and that was what we like went to go up above the tank that she's in, and then like I got to like touch the octopus too, which the octopus only lives like about two to three years, really. But they have the biggest brains of like all of the animals relative to eyes. Anyways, Onassus the turtle, super cool. I think she was in St. Louis for a number of years and then came here. But I don't know, you I thought, like, how cool this is she's older than everything else in this place, right?

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, yeah. So, any anyway, Cheers is on the 11th, and then Friday the 12th, Michael Sampson and Swarmy Vents are throwing the Milwaukee Holiday Gala, which is formerly the YP Gala, at the MAC. I don't know if you were you were here for that, but that was very popular, and they um I think collect a lot of toys, or for this, they're raising a bunch of money for Toys for Tots and Camp Camp Rise. Nice. Our friend Mr. New York, the DJ, oh is gonna be spinning, and DJ Shauna and Mayor Chevy's gonna be there. What what an eclectic crew.

SPEAKER_02:

Uh that what more do you need in a party?

SPEAKER_00:

I don't know.

SPEAKER_02:

People love putting on a fancy dress in the winter, and what a good reason to do so.

SPEAKER_00:

And Samson's wife, Kristen Bry, who's an amazing person, is gonna be co-hosting it with the mayor. So that should be fun. And then in the purpose of planning, I think he's ambitious and young at heart, but he's throwing the 12 bars of Christmas, which is kind of like a winter shamrock shuffle, the next morning, which means if I'm gonna do that, I probably can't attend the gala the night before. But for the people out there who can bounce back, like your boss Peggy, I don't know if she's gonna be at either of these events, but we need to give her a her a shout out right there. Um, you can pick Brady Street, Third Street, Water Street. You get a free holiday mug. Ugly Christmas sweaters are encouraged. And your ticket price of about$15 includes the mug and a donation to Toys for Tots. So Michael Sampson bringing the community together. And then before before I sign off, I'm not a New Year's guy, but I got a package from DJ BG Good. They dropped this off today, Bree, um, in an invitation. It says, Let's go dancing, which means I have no interest in going. But for a lot of people who do like dancing, an elevated New Year's Eve experience, Vista Rooftop on Third Street, red carpet entry, DJs, cocktails, a complimentary drunk snack, photo booths, fortune wall, midnight moment, and so much more. Where what to wear? Think over-the-top, sleek, and sexy NYE party at City Lights, Milwaukee, I think is the handle. Starts at 9 p.m. You go out for New Year's? Well, I have what are your views on going out for New Year's? Are you are you yes or no?

SPEAKER_02:

I at this at this unique stage in my life, I would say I'm uh I'm gonna see what happens. I'm not like really actively making a plan or committing to something super scheduled. No, but there's a time in my life when I 100% did, and I like totally get people want to go out. And again, it's a reason why. Sounds like a great event for the old makeup. Yeah. Yeah. It sounds super fun. I'm having flashbacks of a a twisted, no, a wicked hop. I wasn't say twisted fork. That's a throwback. A wicked hop New Year's Eve thing a while back, um, where I think my girlfriend just like there was there was those snacks you have at the end of the night. And I just remember her shoving a whole armful into her purse and being like, let's go. Yeah. Just anyway, so that's what it's all about.

SPEAKER_00:

So I do like how I do like this location from uh DJ BG Good on Third Street because if you're in your twenties or young at heart and you live downtown, I think it's such an advantage to go to a walkable place on New Year's Eve because you are not getting a ride anywhere. You are, I mean, you're waiting an hour in the cold for an Uber at times.

SPEAKER_02:

And now it's okay to wear sneakers everywhere.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, that's a nice central location. Yeah. So I like that element of it. Starts at 9 p.m. That's pretty early start time. I'm sure it'll be going till 5 or 6 or however late.

SPEAKER_02:

I may end up there.

SPEAKER_00:

Who can say it's I might get coffee there in the morning to kick off my new year after after waking up. There you go. I think that I think this is a good event for the city.

SPEAKER_02:

Mm-hmm. For sure. There should always be a big old New Year's Eve throwdown, I think.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh, for sure. Yeah. For sure. That looks like a good one. I'm sure there's several others, but none of them hand delivered a package to my doorstep today inviting me.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, that's pretty awesome.

SPEAKER_00:

I I agree. So that thank you to those guys. Um, what what else do we got, Claire?

SPEAKER_02:

Well, so holiday lights. We talked a little bit about the zoo, but there are a ton of amazing places to see some fantastic holiday lights displays. Uh, already have gotten the kids out to some of them. We got a lot more on the list. The um downtowns, obviously, they have the festival of lights that runs through the end of the year, downtown in a number of different parks, um, but just beautiful lights displays. This is the one put on by the downtown bid. They also have the jingle bus, which is a really fun way to see all of them. And that this year uh kicks off in Red Arrow Park. So you go, you get your ticket, it gets you like a hot chocolate, get on the bus, and it takes you around to see the lights, and then you can ice skate when you get back. It's fun winter date night, family night, but a good way to see lots of sparkly lights.

SPEAKER_00:

I know I know we're gonna get to some hidden gems. I feel like Red Arrow Park kind of flies under the radar a little bit, even though it's right there.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Like go go rent some skates. Oh, get some hot chocolate.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Plenty of places to drink right around there, too, if you want to go over there. Um before or after restaurants.

SPEAKER_02:

I I mean, I'm super excited for the um when Bartaladas opens what will go in the rumpus room space, which is right there. But there's tons of good restaurants around there. Again, great for a date night. It's never crazy, crazy packed. So, like you can always get in. Now they have the I think it's Big B coffee right there. So again, you can get like a coffee. Yeah, it's it is awesome. The urban ecology centers are also great places for renting all sorts of like winter equipment if you want to try snowshoeing. We have great trails in Milwaukee and they don't go away in the winter, so there's still tons of ways to explore them. Cross country skiing, snowshoeing again, and you can rent a lot of that from the three different urban ecology centers. And then the thing I'll say, this is the number one thing on my winter bucket list this year. I'm doing a candlelight hike at Lapham Peak. I've never done it before. I've heard about it, I've seen all the pictures, I've done all the research, I am doing it this year. 20 minutes outside of downtown in the um kettle moraine. You know, there's those two kettle moraine state forests in one of those, and that's like one of the most popular hikes in the area, I'd say. Um, but to do it at night, a little wine in thermos and do a candlelight track. Like that sounds awesome to me.

SPEAKER_00:

Did one at the Urban Ecology Center a while ago in the in the one in the valley. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. I don't know if they do it anymore, but that was that was a cool event when they had it.

SPEAKER_02:

Um the winter glow event in Brown Deer Park should also be a fantastic place to take the kids, see the lights, and then um Pap's Mansion. They are like, if you are a Christmas fan, it is the perfect place. It it because they go all out. It's an ornate place in the middle of the summer. It is decked to the gills in the holiday season, and um they often have a lot of like special like nights where there's Santa. Sometimes they'll bring in ballerinas from the ballet. It is really fun. Um, there's all sorts of Christmas E tours. Um, and again, you're seeing these trees and like all sorts of decor. I mean, fully it is it's hard to explain how uh how over the top it is, but it is awesome. Um and it they're different every year too. So you see a lot of community groups like incorporated into them, and it's just a really cool Christmas lights, um again, the date night, take the kids, take a take a friend. Um one great, here's a hidden gem. Uh have you heard of Krampus knocked? No. Well, it's a like I have not enlightened. It's a German holiday, and I'm not gonna try to tell the like the cultural history of it, but there is a big celebration on December 7th in Milwaukee that that celebrates Krampus Knockt, and it again it has to do with like the German Christmas tradition, some piece of the storytelling, but Krampus is this character who is very terrifying.

SPEAKER_00:

White Schroot dressed up as them at the office Christmas party one year, I believe. Yes. Yes.

SPEAKER_02:

We one of our amazing sales reps is uh big on Krampus, and so is that Chris. She'll wear her Krampus costume into the office during the holidays. But um, I was researching this, and the event last year's was at Best Place. It's at Best Place again, and then it's outside, like in the brewery district too, on like all day on the 7th. It is just a really like awesome, fun, interesting looking crowd, a lot of Krampuses. So you just gotta like be in the mood to see some like scary demon bear things, creatures, and have a beer and hang out and celebrate Christmas.

SPEAKER_00:

And you were there last year.

SPEAKER_02:

No, I was I went deep on a photo dive on it. I only know about it from my coworker who goes a Krampus fan. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

We might need to bring the in the field mic to that one.

unknown:

Yeah, I think.

SPEAKER_00:

Erica Finky down there. Bree and Erica can can go.

SPEAKER_02:

There used to be a parade. I don't know if they're doing that this year, but they're

SPEAKER_00:

All right. That's a that's a good hinge. What what other what other friendly events you got for us?

SPEAKER_02:

So um obviously Milwaukee City of Festivals. That's we're not the city of summer festivals, we're the city of festivals. And that means we've got some awesome festivals all winter long. Mitt and Fest is of course the OG. If you guys are not planning to be on the street there.

SPEAKER_00:

No, we should. We didn't last year. We were kind of new to on the street stuff at that point. But uh is that a February event?

SPEAKER_02:

That's a February event. It's always outside of Bernhearts, which is like one of the best beer bars on the planet, a true Milwaukee gem. Uh, but this this is just a street festival in the winter, and it's the best, and it's the perfect reminder of like doesn't have to be.

SPEAKER_00:

If you like, if you like just disappearing from life, go to Bernhardt's on a Saturday afternoon and have like six beers, and and that is a that is a fantastic winter activity because it's not like the summer where you feel like you're wasting a day. You know, you go go to Bernhardt's and just just oh yeah, disappear.

SPEAKER_02:

Try a crazy beer. It is the it's so cozy, they are so friendly and welcoming in there. I I just love it. I always find new ones that I've never heard of or thought of trying. Um, but of course, Mitten Fest, then you're also getting to take in a bunch of really great local music. I once, I cannot remember the guy's name I was interviewing. It was David Something, who's big in the uh local music scene, and that he said this thing that will stick with me forever about Milwaukee's music scene. We he's like, we have somewhat of like unique sound sometimes, especially with our like indie bands, folk bands, because he's like, and I think that's because we are a four seasons destination, and in the winter, you're moody, you're emotional, you're like coming up with these songs that are moody and emotional, and it's a really cool thing about having a winter. And he's like, I think that that's like reflected in our music scene. And I was like, that's the coolest way to look at it, and we should be so lucky we have that.

SPEAKER_00:

Maybe it means we have really cool music, yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

And uh Mittenfest, the longest story short, a great way to go see that like live in action, and you're still outdoors, so best of all the worlds, and K KK is just a beautiful street. Oh, yeah, totally. Yeah, lots of good beer fests in the winter, be you know what warms you head to toe. Uh, it's a good beer in Milwaukee, of course, but the Bruisology Beer Fest is at the Harley Museum. If you've never been to a beer fest at the Harley Museum, they do it really well. And then Food and Froth is the long-running one at the public museum. And that's beer and food. It does, I I think I feel like it almost always sells or gets close to selling out every year because it's very popular. But also right now we have one year left of that museum in that building and that like iteration of the museum. So I feel like how could all of their events not be more popular than ever? Um, so a beer fest is always a great idea in the winter in Milwaukee.

SPEAKER_00:

You have one from our friends over in Madison too, at the Alliant Energy Center.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, I thought, like, how could we mention beer fest without a beer and cheese fest?

SPEAKER_00:

Um that's a quick drive to the Alliant Energy Center, just kind of right off the belt line. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Get it, get a hotel.

SPEAKER_00:

Tower 15.

SPEAKER_02:

And and go enjoy, because and why I think we should all care about this, because there's a bunch of our Milwaukee brewing friends who are heading out there and participating in the festival. So you can try some new breweries, new to you, have some of your old Milwaukee favorites, um, and have a little cheese while you're doing it.

SPEAKER_00:

And then uh mama tried. So I I have not been, I've just heard things. This seems like just an absolute rager of motorcycles, motorcyclists converging on the city of Milwaukee for uh several days.

SPEAKER_02:

We it just doesn't really shut down. We're the home of Harley, and that's a year-round designation, right? So Mama Tried, end of every February. It always kicks off with Flat Out Friday, which is in Pfizer Forum. They build a flat track, they pour soda all over the track, and then the soda is what gives the wheels grip, is they're doing these incredibly tight circles on the track and racing. Um, so very intense. And then the rest of the momitride, like it's a big bike display show, and everyone does these like crazy custom builds. Of course, there's partying all around it. That takes place at the rave the rest of the weekend. It is one of those like very only in Milwaukee events. So it's, I think everyone has to go to it once and just check it out, even if you don't ride a motorcycle, uh, because again, there's nothing like it.

SPEAKER_00:

That'd be another good one to bring the in-the-field mic to. People come from all over. Well, I bet our guy Russell Nicolay will be there. Big motorcyclist.

SPEAKER_02:

I say you go and do like tattoo interviews and just be like, tell me about your most interesting tat, and then what kind of stories?

SPEAKER_00:

That's a good idea. That's a good idea.

SPEAKER_02:

That might generate some funny stories.

SPEAKER_00:

I agree. Hey guys, want to introduce you to one of our new partners, Lakeland University, based out of the Sheboygan area, just like our friends over at Three Sheefs, but they've got seven different campuses across the state, as well as online classes. And if you've thought about going back to school for a better job, a bigger paycheck, a new direction, what's stopping you? At Lakeland University, it's not too late. Their programs are built for working adults with multiple start dates year-round, flexible online and evening options, and credit for your real-world experience. Yes, your work history, military service, even volunteer time. It can all count toward your degree. Whether you're juggling a family, a full-time job, or both, they are here to help you move forward on your schedule because you don't have to wait for the perfect time. You just have to start. Lakeland University experience it your way, Lakeland.edu. That is Lakeland.edu. All right, let's get back with Claire from Visit Milwaukee. We have we have a huge Milwaukee Hotel Month coming up.

SPEAKER_02:

We have the biggest, in fact.

SPEAKER_00:

Um for those who need a nice staycation that are listening, or for those who are listening outside of the market, Claire's got some good news for you.

SPEAKER_02:

So we are bringing back our annual hotel month campaign with more hotels than ever before. We have 35 this year who are offering deals from 15 to 25% off of the nightly room rate. This is from January 14th through the end of February. And um, it's those are typically slow months for our hotels. So we thought, okay, let's just give people more reasons to come here and enjoy Milwaukee. So not only will we have hotel month, but museum days will overlap with hotel month. That's where you get um museums offer special rates for like a 10-day window in that time frame. Um, in addition to that, a bunch of these hotels are offering packages. So you get all of these like nice little enhancements to your room night. And then we have a bunch of hospitality partners. I want to say it's about 30 of them right now that are throwing in deals just to celebrate hotel month. So you wanna like you're you know, cooped up or whatever, and you need to get out of the house or get away from some family time or whatever, do the yeah, do a staycation, do the date night, do the anniversary trip, um, do a Valentine's Day thing, you can book that now for that January through end of February dates for hotel month.

SPEAKER_00:

And we've got a huge giveaway coming up with Visit Milwaukee, Milwaukee Uncut. That'll drop on December 12th. So make sure to, if you're not subscribed to our email newsletter yet, we'll be announcing there. It's amazing. Comes out twice a week. You can go right on MilwaukeeUncut.com and you won't miss it. Or we'll be running everything on through Visit Milwaukee and Milwaukee Uncut's social media channels. But we've got we're giving away multiple stays. One's at the trade, the other is at the brew house. The brew house. That's a two-nighter. I think the trade's a one in yeah, giving away bucks tickets, admiral tickets, and then stay in a brewery.

SPEAKER_02:

Like how much more perfect is that? But yeah, the giveaway, it has everything, as Stefan would say.

SPEAKER_00:

So we'll have a uh grand prize winner. There's also like yeah, trat travel credit too that you can use, uh, food and bev credits, prizes, autograph Bobby Portis jersey. I think that's that's a second prize winner. So imagine what the grand prize is. Then we're gonna do a few third prize winners too. So we'll have five winners total.

SPEAKER_02:

Yep. And lots of like attraction tickets, admiral's tickets. I mean, Admiral's games, one of the best winter activities in the land. They are so much fun. So yeah, it's you're gonna be able to do that.

SPEAKER_00:

They do a really nice job there.

SPEAKER_02:

They do an amazing job.

SPEAKER_00:

And then it before signing off, do we want to talk about some more hidden gems this winter?

SPEAKER_02:

Tons of hidden gems in the area that might even surprise some locals. Crystal Ridge, great place to uh snap on those ski boots and hit the slopes. I don't think people are thinking of Milwaukee uh too much as a ski destination, but they definitely could. And it's, I mean, just great for locals to know too. Get out of get out of town just a little bit and do a little winter sport. And then a sprecker tour always hits. Uh, this is one where you can bring your kids on the brewery tour. Uh very Milwaukee.

SPEAKER_00:

Very Milwaukee, very Wisconsin.

SPEAKER_02:

That's the only brewery where you can say that, actually. Oh, interesting. I didn't know that. Yeah, and the only one in Milwaukee, at least. And the kids get to have soda. And honestly, hearing about Sprecker and their root beer and all of that is fascinating. Parents can drink um a beer, of course. Uh, but it's a very fun tour, and they make some really, really cool drinks. Um, and then the Heat Haven Sauna Park in Wawatosa.

SPEAKER_00:

It's just opened.

SPEAKER_02:

Just opened. It's in Heart Park, so like right in the middle. Um, and it's gonna be amazing. Our team went out and had a blast. I can't wait to go myself. I love a sauna, it's gonna be great. I'm ready to get the toxins out.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, you you got that option, or or if you're downtown, Hotspell sauna. I've been there, I think, three or four times already.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay. Wow, yeah. No toxins in sight for you.

SPEAKER_00:

I I feel so good after going there.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Because usually my brain is fried by about one or two p.m. And instead of pounding an energy drink, I just drive over to Hotspell Sauna. And I I I the sessions are like an hour and a half, but I, you know, I just kind of like do the sauna, the the go in Lake Michigan for a couple minutes.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Do the sauna again, the lake, one more time. I'm I'm in and out of there in like a half hour, and you you feel so good.

SPEAKER_02:

That's awesome. Yeah. That is awesome. So now we've got to do that.

SPEAKER_00:

And they've got some good views of Lake Michigan. So yeah, now we got one in Tosa and one at McKinley Marina. I have not been to the one in Tosa yet, obviously, it just opened, but I I live, I live there, so I'm sure Bree and I will go check that out. And then you put Experts Only Ski Bar.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, this, yeah, is a nice segue to the themed winter holiday lights themed uh bar thing that we have going on in Milwaukee. Experts Only has the ski bar. That's where they like revamp the bar a little bit to make it extra wintery vibes. But uh there's a whole bunch of bars doing that, and I think that's kind of awesome.

SPEAKER_00:

Milwaukee magazine did a nice piece on it. So if you want a more expanded version than Claire and I are about to give you right now, you can just just Google it and it'll take you to a nice article. Um, Lost Whale. That's that's a good spot. Looks like they have one going on.

SPEAKER_02:

The elf pop-up, like one of the best Christmas movies. I cannot think of a more fun night out than just being fully immersed in that movie and and elves in general, but also a couple like home alone two themed bars or and home alone igloo bars. I mean, the Who's Who's Ville holiday pop-up at Who's on third? I feel like the Grinch is everywhere right now and makes a ton of sense to bring the Whoville element to Milwaukee. Um, yeah, I we're just like I love that the bar scene's going all out.

SPEAKER_00:

The Tin Widow, that's a good date spot. Tin Widow right by our office.

SPEAKER_02:

Favorite bourbon bar in the city for me, and then they go all out for the holidays. It's amazing.

SPEAKER_00:

Pufferfish.

SPEAKER_02:

Pufferfish?

SPEAKER_00:

People love some puffer fish. Our guy, Chef Adam, big pufferfish guy.

SPEAKER_02:

People love puffer fish. Their sippin' Santa uh bar just started. They are always doing fun stuff at pufferfish, and you really like you feel like you have truly discovered a hidden gem when you get up there, and the the drinks are delicious, the views are great. We no one loves a rooftop bar more than a Milwaukee. And I mean, add a theme, and like you can't go wrong.

SPEAKER_00:

And then at random, which is a great gem in itself. You feel like you stepped back in time. It looks like they are having a magic forest.

SPEAKER_02:

So this one I think kind of started in the pandemic when everyone was doing the outdoor like pop-up um igloo things for the first time and the pop-up like shanty kind of things. And at random did an outdoor thing as part of the pandemic, but then it became such a hit. It's evolved to this magic forest. At random is, of course, one of um our most like well-known bars where it's like every holiday from your grandma's basement, all in one bar, and then really fun ice cream drinks, and it is just the coolest. Owned by John Dye, of course, of Brian's Cocktail Lounge, our oldest cocktail lounge, fame. Um, but they just do amazing things, and this is a slice of Milwaukee history and a great place to get into the holiday spirit.

SPEAKER_00:

That's right. Claire, thank you so much for stopping in today.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, thanks for having me.

SPEAKER_00:

Hey everyone, thanks so much for tuning into this episode of Milwaukee Uncut. Before signing off, just want to thank our partners, Nicolay Law, the Midwest Law Firm Injured. Get Nicolay Three Sheeps, the beer Wisconsin drinks, and Drink Wisconsin Abel Beverage Company. Best canned old fashioned in the game, right there. Absolutely love that thing. All right, we'll see you guys next time.

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Richie Burke

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