You're right: I'm not another blogger bragging up or bashing Summerfest. This is simply an invitation to those who make a yearly pilgrimage to Milwaukee for "the world's largest music festival": Stick around and check out what's new in Milwaukee!
You see, one of the reasons I love this city is its vitality. Every single day, I see something new in Milwaukee. She has an ever-changing landscape, one that seems to belie her characterization as a rust-belt city suffering from the decline of manufacturing.
Lakefront improvements
Let's start by heading east from the Henry W. Maier Festival Grounds, lovingly known as the Summerfest Grounds. Yes, I know that Lake Michigan lies east of the grounds — but so, too, does Lakeshore State Park. (Note: This photo is not mine; it is property of the state Department of Natural Resources.)The DNR says "Lakeshore State Park provides a unique urban oasis with recreational opportunities and amenities geared to the urban population." And I have to agree. The Friends of Lakeshore Park group points out that "the park, formerly known as Harbor Island, is the only urban state park in Wisconsin."
The park was finished last year, so perhaps you've already checked it out. If not, however, it's certainly a sight — or site :) — to see. You can get to it from the south, near the Marcus Ampitheater, and from the north end of Summerfest Grounds, via a bridge.
Museums galore
The new Discovery World Museum is quite the sight to see, as well. I'm not suggesting you go inside right now; simply take a look at it. Interesting architecture; cool "lawn ornaments." (You'll have to visit the site to see them :)) You can't really miss it; it's immediately north of summerfest grounds and is quite eye-catching.It's so eye-catching, in fact, that my daughter noticed it makes a cameo in the music video for the song "When You Look Me in the Eyes" by the Jonas Brothers. They were filmed on our snow-covered Lake Michigan shoreline, you see toward the end of the video, and you can just make out the museum in the background.
Now, let's continue north on Lincoln Memorial Drive. I'm going to assume you've seen the many pictures of the Milwaukee Art Museum's Quadracci Pavilion and Cudahy Gardens. But have you seen them in person? The fountains in the garden area delight young and old. (My cousin helped install the lighting, btw, that makes the fountains dazzle at night.)
A bit farther up the road and you can check out, this time on the west side, the Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum's Renaissance Gardens, which climb the bluff and make an excellent setting for weddings. You just might stumble on a wedding party during your visit, so be careful: The bug might be contagious.
Beach bums welcome
Let's stop at the Alterra at the Lake coffee shop on the west side of the road, at 1701 N. Lincoln Memorial, at this point. It's housed in the former historic Milwaukee River flushing station. The Cream City brick building, owned by the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, still houses the water wheel and pump room equipment. (The Allis-Chalmers pump was designed to pull more than 500 million gallons of water per day from the lake through a 2,500-foot underground tunnel to flush the lower Milwaukee River of excessive pollution and waste.) Stop in, check out the $1.2 million-plus rehab job, and maybe get some coffee. I'm taking you for a journey, and you may need fuel ...I'd like to suggest you continue north on Lincoln Memorial. Bradford Beach, which I readily admit was falling into disrepair due to Milwaukee County budgeting woes, has been given a new lease on life. Thanks to donations by Miller Brewing Co. ($500,000 over five years for beach and facility improvements) and Milwaukee businessman Sheldon Lubar and his wife Marianne ($65,000 for lifeguards), I suspect the beach is going to be quite crowded this summer.
Thanks to both — especially to the Lubars, for serving as the catalyst for change!
A whole new riverbank
OK, so you've seen what's new along the lake. I'd like to suggest you head a west to the Milwaukee River. I'm recommending North Commerce Street, starting just east of the Pick 'n Save at North and Humboldt avenues. (This used to be a Jewel-Osco store.)
(Note: You can get from the lakefront to the river via North Avenue; I've included the map to help.)If you've ever been in this part of Brewers Hill before, you'll immediately notice the difference. There are new condominiums lining both sides of the river, along Commerce on the river's west bank and Water Street along its east bank. In my opinion, the Commerce Street development is more amazing; the condos are two rows deep along stretches of the rather short road.
If you'd like to see the other side of the river, however, it's easy: Commerce ends at Pleasant Street. Turn left and you'll soon come to Water Street. Condos — and condos in the making — can be found both north and south of Pleasant on Water Street.
Frankly, this is the most amazing part of the city to me right now. When we moved to the city eight years ago, the intersection of Humboldt and Water was — in a word — depressing. Buildings were run down; windows were broken or boarded; lots were vacant. Decline permeated the air. It never would have occurred to me to tour Commerce for fun; it was an abandoned industrial strip, littered and forlorn.
Today, the condos start in the neighborhood of $200,000. The Edge condos under construction at 1890 Commerce St., for example, are priced at $180,000 for a one-bedroom unit to more than $300,000 for a penthouse.
While I am not a big fan of condo living, I can see why people are willing to pay those prices. The Milwaukee River through Brewers Hill has been "rediscovered," its banks cleaned up and landscaped, providing some of the most unique "yards" to be found in the city.
This concludes your tour for today — things old and new, leased and blue. Just some of the many reasons I love this city ... If you visit, let me know; I'd love to know what you think!
