On the Town - Milwaukee

 

Living Legend

Which of the following is not true about Wisconsin music legend Les Paul?

a. He was born in 1915 in Waukesha.
b. He built one of the first solid-body electric guitars, called "The Log," in 1941.
c. In 2006, at age 90, he won two Grammy Awards.
d. He plays every Monday night at New York's Iridium Jazz Club.
e. None of the above

If you answered "e," take your jazz music-loving self straight to Discovery World (www.discoveryworld.org) to check out the special "Les Paul's House of Sound" exhibit, which features everything from original guitars to virtual jam sessions. While there, don't miss out on the other interactive science, technology and marine life exhibits.

NEIGHBORHOOD SPOTLIGHT: Historic Third Ward

This turn-of-the-century warehouse and manufacturing district has been undergoing a renaissance in recent years. It's now home to the city's highest concentration of art galleries, as well as a variety of restaurants, upscale boutiques, high-end furnishing stores and the bustling Milwaukee Public Market (shown here). Walk along the Milwaukee RiverWalk, which connects downtown to the Historic Third Ward. www.historicthirdward.org

Local Flavors

Don't leave Milwaukee without a taste of these regional delicacies.

WHERE Usinger's Famous Sausage (www.usinger.com)
WHAT TO ORDER Fresh bratwurst
FUN FACT Founder Fred Usinger arrived in Milwaukee in the 1870s with $400, sausage recipes and a dream.

WHERE Wisconsin Cheese Mart (www.thecheesemart.com)
WHAT TO ORDER Five-year aged cheddar; Bellavitano Merlot (cheddar-parmesan blend soaked in merlot); aged Marieka Gouda
FUN FACT It offers the world's largest selection of Wisconsin cheese.

WHERE Alterra @ the Lake (www.alterracoffeepro.com)
WHAT TO ORDER Espresso
FUN FACT Starting next month and continuing through the summer, this location will host free outdoor concerts from the Florentine Opera and local Latin music groups.

WHERE Kopp's Frozen Custard (www.kopps.com)
WHAT TO ORDER Turtle sundae, chocolate chip cookie dough and tiramisu (all "Best of Kopp's" flavors)
FUN FACT Sure, you're there for the frozen custard, but Kopp's also has earned a local following for its burgers and onion rings.

BY THE NUMBERS
MILLER PARK, HOME OF THE MILWAUKEE BREWERS

1,200,000 size of building (in sq ft)
500,000 weight (in tons)
41,000 seating capacity
2,000 stereo speakers
550 television monitors
70 luxury suites

This month marks the opening of the MLB season, so go ahead and root for the Brewers (assuming you're not from their opponents' hometown).

CHICAGO CUBS: April 10-12
CINCINNATI REDS: April 13-15
PITTSBURGH PIRATES: April 27-29
ARIZONA CARDINALS: April 30 to May 3

Visit www.brewers.mlb.com for tickets.

DRAMATIC ENTRANCE When it opened in 1927, the Art Deco-style Oriental Theatre was a sight to see. Today, you can still marvel at features like stained-glass chandeliers, hand-drawn murals and hundreds of gilded elephants. And you can also listen to the original pipe organ Friday and Saturday before the 7pm show in the main theater.

BEER HALL Although the headquarters are now in suburban Illinois, Pabst Brewing Co. has left a lasting impression on Milwaukee, where the giant beer brand was founded in 1844. Originally called Empire Brewery, it was established by Jacob Best; the name change occurred in the 1880s, when Best's son-in-law, Capt. Frederick Pabst, took over. The legacy lives on at Pabst Mansion (www.pabstmansion.com), the captain's Flemish Renaissance Revival home. A look at the original furnishings, intricate ironwork, stained glass and rare art will transport you to a time when beer didn't come in cans.

DID YOU KNOW? When Capt. Frederick Pabst took over the brewery, he began the practice of tying a blue ribbon around the bottles-thus giving Pabst Blue Ribbon (better known as PBR) its name.

(Not Your) Garden Varieties

Don't miss Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory (www.county.milwaukee.gov), commonly called "The Domes." These diverse botanical gardens are made up of three separate areas. The Arid Dome houses desert flora, while the jungle-like Tropical Dome is filled with flowers, birds and fruits of the rainforest. The Floral Show Dome changes every six to 14 weeks; beginning April 4, the space is transformed into an English garden.

BLAST FROM THE PAST Journey to all ends of the world (Africa, Asia, South America, Europe and the Arctic)-or just stick close to home at the Milwaukee Public Museum (www.mpm.edu). While it won't transport you to another place, "Streets of Old Milwaukee" takes you to a different time: the turn of the 20th century. The museum's first major exhibit (it opened in 1965), it features recreated darkened, gaslit streets lined with shops, businesses, restaurants-even a sweet old lady sitting on her front porch.