Glen Rosenberg is a guest writer for I Love the Burg, combining his knowledge of years living in Milwaukee with his passion for the Tampa Bay Rays. His experience proves that beach life and the world of snow, beer and squeaky cheese don’t have to be mutually exclusive existences.
Last Monday night, dome field advantage was surrendered as Tropicana Field was muted by a 7-3 defeat at the hands of the Cleveland Guardians in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series. By Saturday night, after a 24-hour delay, it was reclaimed. On Monday night, the Trop had not only come off mute, but erupted in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings, each inning hitting decibel levels previously unrecorded at the corner of 16th St S and 5th Ave S.
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The Rays clinched the AL Pennant for the third time in team history and as a fictional former Cleveland manager once said, the only thing left to do is… “win… the whole… ******* thing.” As the previous series did, the path to immortality runs through the Midwest. While we at I Love the Burg are incredibly fortunate to call the Sunshine City home, we’re also fortunate to have a significant other who called Milwaukee home for more than half a decade.
If you’re heading up to American Family Field in Wisconsin for the Fall Classic, here’s your guide to some of the best bites, beers and sights from a local perspective.
Travel tip: World Series tickets aren’t cheap! Save some money on the Uber and utilize Milwaukee’s free and robust bar-to-stadium shuttle service: https://www.visitmilwaukee.org/things-to-do/sports/home-teams/brewers/milwaukee-brewers-shuttles/.
What to eat in Milwaukee
Every perfect Cream City morning starts bright and early (seriously, get there when they open at 8 am or risk a 45-minute wait) at Uncle Wolfie’s Breakfast Tavern (234 E Vine St, Milwaukee). When our ILTB foodie first dined here, she was left speechless and shook at the plate-sized pancakes and breakfast sandwich. The menu does rotate, but take it from us, this locale is a mandatory stop.
Nothing says Milwaukee like cheese curds. Battered and fried cheese is always a hot debate among locals, but our resident recent resident stands by his recommendations of Lakefront Brewery (Brewer’s Hill – 1872 N Commerce St) and Black Sheep (Walker’s Point – 216 S 2nd St).
If fried foods aren’t your fancy, they didn’t choose Milwaukee to host Top Chef season 21 for nothing. The Bayview neighborhood south of downtown most closely mirrors St. Pete in terms of culture and culinary creativity. Room Service is home to upscale Asian fusion, while Hungry Sumo is a popular walk-in only sushi spot with a plethora of adjacent bars to imbibe at while you wait.
Working our way a few minutes north in the Historic Third Ward, the Hyde Park of Milwaukee, Saffron – Modern Indian Dining (223 N Water St Ste 100), Blue Bat Kitchen & Tequileria (249 N Water St) and Cassis – no not that Cassis (333 N Water St) do not miss.
The best beers in Milwaukee
The Rays’ World Series opponents are called The Brewers… need we say more? Industry giants like Miller Coors and Pabst hail from the Cream City, while microbreweries like Lakefront and Third Space brew up some bangers. That said, no trip up north would be complete without at least a sip of Spotted Cow, New Glarus’ cult classic.
Breaking away from the breweries proper, our recs for best spots for some golden ales are – The Palapa at St. Paul Fish Company (on the East side of the Milwaukee Public Market at 400 N Water St), The Mothership (2301 S Logan Ave), Camp Bar Third Ward (525 E Menomonee St), and Who’s On Third (1007 N Doctor M.L.K. Jr Dr).
Other things to do in Milwaukee, besides watching the Rays win
With chilly evening temps forecasted, the retractable roof on American Family Field may be sealed. If you’re looking to feel the wind in your hair, there’s no better place to stop than the Harley Davidson Headquarters and Museum (400 W Canal St, Milwaukee, WI 53201). $8 for children ages 5-17, $24 for adults ages 18-64 and $20 for seniors 65+. https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/experiences/museum.html
Under a 10-minute drive from “AmFam” sits the Mitchell Park Domes Horticulture Conservatory. The 45,000 square foot complex houses 3 different domes. Each one is a living plant museum featuring a permanent collection of more than 1,800 plant species representing ecosystems from around the world. (https://county.milwaukee.gov/EN/Parks/Explore/MitchellParkDomes#Admission) – $6.50 for juniors ages 3-12 and $10 for all non-residents ages 18+.
For the true baseball and all-around novelty afficionados, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum (170 S. 1st St., 2nd Floor) is a “one-of-a-kind museum with the world’s largest collection of bobbleheads from all genres and periods.” It features “dozens of exhibits related to the history of bobbleheads, making of bobbleheads and much more”. Admission is $5 for all. https://www.bobbleheadhall.com/
But perhaps the best use of a fall PTO day when it’s sunny and 65 is a stroll down the 2017 winner of the Urban Land Institute’s Global Award for Excellence, the Milwaukee Riverwalk. The 3.7-mile route serpentines from the Upper East Side, through the Beerline B and down to the Historic Third Ward. Along the way, the urban trail showcases public art exhibitions, a Bronze Fonz, kayaking and paddleboard rentals and finally culminates with panoramic views of Lake Michigan at Lakeshore State Park.
