by Joseph Brooks '03

Tennessee

Milwaukee is a great city with a bad reputation! As one of the few truly urban centers in Wisconsin, Milwaukee has been revitalized from its former glory as one of the great manufacturing and industrial cities of the Midwest to one of the most interesting places to live.

Boasting an excellent array of fabulous restaurants, museums, theaters, festivals, neighborhoods, and nightlife, newcomers to Milwaukee are often surprised as to the quality of life the city has to offer. If you notice any updates that need to be made, or have anything to add to any of the city guides, feel free to contact us.

Index

Getting Settled

Milwaukee has a wonderful array of apartment options and includes everything from converted warehouse space to turn of the century charm. There are a number of property management companies that rent in Milwaukee's Downtown, Eastside, and Shorewood neighborhoods. Many of these companies have open houses at their properties on Sunday afternoons throughout the year. An afternoon of driving around and watching for open house signs is usually a quick way to track down an apartment.

If living Downtown or the Eastside is not for you, visit craigslist.com, visit coffee shop bulletin boards, or do some driving around in specific neighborhoods to spot for rent signs. There is a multitude of apartments, especially in Milwaukee's Bay View, Riverwest, and Washington Heights neighborhoods. Many landlords do not post their properties anywhere except their front yards!

Getting Connected

Keeping busy in Milwaukee is not a problem with so much going on all the time. Whether summer festivals, arts events, live music, or none of the above are your thing, a great place to start is some of the local newspapers and city websites.

Known as Milwaukee's alternative weekly newspaper, The Shepherd Express has a great listing of weekly events. They also have their weekly lineup of suggested events and activities that range from bar bands to performance art. You can either visit their website or pick up the paper, which is distributed in newsstands in almost every business throughout the city.
www.shepherd-express.com/1homebody.lasso

OnMilwaukee.com has the online pulse of the city. They update their website daily with new events, activities, and happenings going on throughout the city. They also have the weekend preview where they list the highlights of the upcoming weekend.
www.onmilwaukee.com/

The City of Milwaukee website has great information on everything from parking regulations to events happening in city parks. Be sure to take special note of parking regulations as they change regularly with the season and the fines are expensive.
www.ci.mil.wi.us/

Getting Around

Living in Milwaukee is much easier if you have a car, however, be warned that parking can be very difficult and expensive depending on where you live in the city. Many people who live in Milwaukee have a car, but also use public transportation to get back and forth from work, the gym, etc.

Milwaukee County has a very comprehensive bus system that travels throughout the city connecting the neighborhoods to shopping, entertainment, and places of business. To learn more about the bus system, visit the Milwaukee County Transit website.
www.ridemcts.com

There are a number of taxi service companies that operate in Milwaukee. Grabbing a cab can be a cheap way to travel short distances, while not worrying about driving and finding parking at your destination.
www.yellowcabmilwaukee.com

Flying in and out of Milwaukee is very simple with General Mitchell International Airport about 10 minutes south of downtown. There are a number of shuttle and car services that pick up at various locations throughout the city and drop off at the airport.
www.mitchellairport.com

Neighborhoods

Milwaukee is truly a city of neighborhoods, ranging from the very urban to something much more residential. Below is a list of the five major neighborhoods in Milwaukee, though there are many more that are great places to explore and find favorite restaurants and shops of your own.

Downtown
Downtown Milwaukee has a lot to offer newcomers to the city and is centrally located between some of the most popular neighborhoods in Milwaukee. It's a popular place to live for people who work downtown and prefer not to commute. Living downtown puts people within footsteps of Lake Michigan, wonderful parks, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. Living downtown is reasonably safe and there are affordable apartment options to those willing to search.
www.milwaukeedowntown.com

East Side
One of the most popular places to live in Milwaukee, the East Side is located just north of downtown and includes historic Brady and Downer Streets. Reminiscent of State Street in Madison, the East Side has a wide variety of local coffee shops, thrift stores, local merchants, and fun bars. There is a huge selection of apartments and houses for rent on the East Side, which has an overall liberal sort of feel. To those more familiar with the city, the East Side is divided up to the Upper East Side, East Side, and Lower East Side.
www.theeastside.org

Riverwest
Riverwest is known as Milwaukee's artist community and has some of the most affordable rents in the city. This neighborhood has tree-lined streets with many older flats for rent. The heart of Riverwest is located at Center and Burleigh Streets where there are many records shops, thrift stores, and used bookstores for browsing. Riverwest has a reputation in the city for burglary and car break- ins, so be careful to lock your car and keep your valuables secured.
www.riverwestneighborhood.org

Third Ward
The Third Ward is Milwaukee's warehouse district, which has been renovated to become one of Milwaukee's stylish neighborhoods. The Third Ward hosts some of the city's best restaurants and most stylish boutiques.
www.historicthirdward.org

Bay View
Bay View is one of Milwaukee's largest neighborhoods and is located on the south side of the city. Within the past few years Bay View has become a very popular place to live as there are homes for sale and flats for rent. It provides residents with the comfort of a bungalow neighborhood, while only being a quick 8-minute drive to downtown. With the movement of people to this neighborhood, there has been a resurgence of businesses, restaurants, and bars.

Milwaukee also has a variety of suburbs that are located around the city. These suburbs include Shorewood, Glendale, Cudahy, St. Francis, Whitefish Bay, Wawautosa, Brookfield, Green Field, New Berlin, Waukesha, and several others. Some people chose to live in the suburbs for a variety of reasons.

Where to Shop

Milwaukee has five major shopping malls that include Southridge, Bayshore, Brookfield, Mayfair, and Grand Avenue. Links to these malls are included below.

Arts and Culture

From theater to dance, Milwaukee has a large variety of arts and cultural opportunities. See below for links to some of the more popular arts organizations in the city.

Restaurants and Nightlife

Milwaukee has a very diverse culinary community and includes everything from delicious ethnic restaurants to fine dining and great pubs. For a complete list of restaurants, visit www.OnMilwaukee.com where you can search by food type or neighborhood to find the perfect place. I am listing my top 10 favorite restaurants in Milwaukee to get you started!

Cubanita's
728 N Milwaukee Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414-225-1760
Be sure to check out their fried plantains and guacamole. It's the best in the city!

Nanakusa Japanese Restaurant
408 E Chicago Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414-223-3200
Nanakusa flies in fresh fish daily and has the best sushi in the city. They have an email list that customers can use to learn about customer appreciation days and other deals.

Botanas
816 S 5th Street
Milwaukee, WI 53204
414-672-3755
Botanas is located in the heart of the Latin Quarter amongst a variety of other Mexican restaurants. Everybody has their favorite place on that block, but Botanas has the best fish tacos hands down. They have a wonderful patio that fills up quickly in the summer when the temperature warms up and the pitchers of margaritas start flowing.

Cempazuchi Comida Brava
1205 E Brady Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414-291-5233
Cempazuchi is one of the few authentic Mexican restaurants in the city. Their menu includes some delicious entrees that you won't find anywhere else. Be sure to check out the salmon tacos!

Café Lulu
2265 S Howell Street
Milwaukee, WI 53207
414-294-5858
Café Lulu has one of the best beer selections in the city. They are known for their homemade potato chips and asian slaw and is a great place to stop for a fun dinner with friends. They frequently have live music and are close to a variety of bars should you want to grab a beer after dinner.

Palomino
2491 S Superior Street
Milwaukee, WI 53207
414-747-1007
Palomino is a Bay View classic! As a favorite of many hipsters, Palomino gets very crowded and smoky on weekend nights. Palomino is known for its burgers and sandwiches and is famous for its two sides and a sauce. If you want a fun night or are craving hushpuppies and a beer, this is the place for you!

Good Life
1935 N Water Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414-271-5375
A fairly new restaurant in Milwaukee, Good Life is a Caribbean themed restaurant with very tasty sangria and fruity cocktails.

Trocadero
1758 N Water Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414-272-02505
A classic in Milwaukee, Trocadero is a French themed restaurant in a beautifully renovated building not far from downtown. Trocadero is a perfect date location or just a fun place to have dinner with friends.

Pizza Shuttle
1827 N Farwell Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414-289-9993
Every city has its popular pizza joint and Pizza Shuttle is definitely the most popular in Milwaukee. They are open late and sell the best pizza in town by the slice or the box. By about 1:00AM the line starts forming out the door, so be sure to arrive early!

Roots Restaurant and Cellar
1818 N Hubbard Street
Milwaukee, WI 53212
414-374-8480
Roots offers a large organic menu of local meats and produce. They are located in Brewer's Hill neighborhood and are most known for their amazing view of the city. This is a great place to go in the summer and sit on their patio to enjoy the panoramic view of downtown and the lake.

Milwaukee nightlife ranges from the college bars on Water Street to the very trendy on Milwaukee Street. There is a bar in Milwaukee for every taste and they typically change with the neighborhood. For a complete list of bars and clubs, visit OnMilwaukee.com where you can search by type or neighborhood to find the perfect place. Also, visit www.MilwaukeeHappyHour.com for a searching listing of happy hour specials by day, bar type, and neighborhood. I am listing my top 10 favorite bars and clubs in Milwaukee to get you started!

Three
722 N Milwaukee Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414-225-0003
Three is has an industrial sort of feel and features a variety of house, electronic, circuit, and dance music. Three regularly brings in notable DJs from Chicago, New York, and San Francisco.

Lee's Luxury Lounge
2988 S Kinnickinnic Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53207
414-481-2080
Lee's is a true hipster bar located in the heart of Bay View. Lee's features comfortable lounge style seating, a great juke box, and pool tables.

Hi Hat / Garage
1701 N Arlington Place
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414-220-8090
Hi Hat and the Garage are two bars that are attached, which make it a great cold weather destination. Hi Hat is a more upscale lounge that features their signature martinis and great décor. The Garage is a more industrial feeling bar with video screens and music that ranges from hip hop to pop. Both of these bars are very popular, so expect crowds any night of the week.

Art Bar
722 E Burleigh Street
Milwaukee, WI 53212
414-372-7880
Everybody must stop by Art Bar at some point! Featuring the magnetic wall of Barbie's, rotating artwork, and other oddities, Art Bar is the place where anything goes.

Pump House
2011 S 1st Street
Milwaukee, WI
414-744-7008
Pump House is located in a renovated factory space on the river. With a two story open concept design, Pump House is a comfortable place to go for happy hour or a cocktail with friends. Pump House has dart boards, pool tables, and a great patio overlooking the river.

Paddy's Pub
2339 N Murray Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53221
414-223-3496
Hands down, Paddy's Pub has the best patio in town! Complete with fountains, trellises, growing vines, lawn gnomes, and Irish fiddlers, Paddy's is a very fun place to grab beers with friends on a summer evening.

Von Trier
2235 N Farwell Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414-272-175
Von Trier is located in the heart of the East Side. Located just across the street from the Oriental Theater and near a variety of restaurants, Von Trier is a great place to grab beers after seeing a film or having dinner. They have one of the largest beer selections on tap and have a fun authentic- feeling German atmosphere.

Landmark Lanes
2220 N Farwell Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414-278-8770
Landmark Lanes is the place to go for bar games enthusiasts. From bowling lanes to dartboards and even Dance Dance Revolutions, Landmark Lanes has plenty to keep their patrons busy. Landmark Lanes has some really great happy hour specials and even offers a student discount certain days of the week.

Edelweiss Cruises
Third Street Docks
While not a bar or club, Edelweiss Cruises is one of the city's best kept secrets. All summer long Edelweiss features themed cruises that include a cruise along the river and into Lake Michigan, cocktails, and dinner for a very reasonable price. This is a very fun thing to do with a group of friends and a great way to see a different side of the city. Their most popular cruise is the Friday evening Margarita Cruise that includes margarita bar, tacos, and a scenic cruise for only $20!

Mad Planet
533 E Center Street
Milwaukee, WI 53212
414-263-4555
Mad Planet is a very popular bar located in Milwaukee's Riverwest neighborhood. They feature a number of themed nights, however Friday 80's night is the most popular with a dance floor full of people dancing to Cyndi Lauper and the Eurythmics.

Colleges and Universities

The two major universities in Milwaukee are Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee. These are both huge schools that offer undergraduate through master's and Ph.D. programs in a wide variety of disciplines.

Greater Milwaukee also has a variety of smaller schools that offer a number of different programs and specialties.

Words of Wisdom

Milwaukee is a great city to land after graduating from college. It has many of the same attractions that draw people to major U.S. cities, but doesn't have the outrageous cost of living or headaches like traffic and pollution. Milwaukee is truly a "small" big city where it's easy to meet people and make new friends.

While I have included some of my favorites that Milwaukee has to offer, there are many more including Gallery Nights, over 12 summer festivals every year, Jazz in the Park, farmer's markets, and much more.

 

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