I lived in Milwaukee for seven years, during which time I attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and then worked at the Milwaukee Art Museum. I enjoy the city of Milwaukee very much, and I still go back to visit at least once a year. Milwaukee is like Chicago on a manageable scale. It has the same midwestern blue-collar feel, the same ethnic diversity, and the same hearty enjoyment of beer and sausage.

Probably the most exciting thing to happen in Milwaukee in recent years is the expansion of the Milwaukee Art Museum, featuring a new building created by Barcelona architect Santiago Calatrava. It looks like a white spaceship, with moveable wings that can be raised and lowered to provide light or shade, depending on the weather conditions. The artwork inside this museum is top-notch as well. They cover the whole gamut of art history from Renaissance to today. My favorite areas are the Bradley galleries of European modern masters (everyone you ever read about in your art history textbook), and the Von Schleinitz collection of German 19th century realist genre paintings. Besides the Museum, Milwaukee also has a hopping gallery scene.

There's plenty to do in Milwaukee besides look at art. Go see a Brewers game at their new, first-class stadium. Or go watch the Bucks, Admirals (hockey), or Wave (soccer) play at the Bradley Center. See an IMAX movie or a fascinating exhibition on natural history or archaeology at the Milwaukee Public Museum. In the winter, go visit the desert, the rain forest, and a Japanese garden at the Mitchell Park Domes. See world renowned musical acts play on over a dozen different stages at Summerfest, or visit a different weekly ethnic festival all summer long. See the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra play Beethoven at the Performing Arts Center, or go down the street and watch strippers dance at Art's Performing Center (if you're into that). In the summer, go play beach volleyball on the lakefront. Sit in all manner of colorful drinking establishments and suck beer 'til you puke. Eat foods that are very unhealthy for you, but still taste great, like Friday night fish fry, deep-fried cheese curds, or kielbasa. I'm only joking about the last few, of course, but the point I'm trying to make is that there's something for everyone in Milwaukee. Whether you're a Renaissance man or a Neanderthal, you can have a good time here.

A look down Wisconsin Avenue, with the Sunburst sculpture by Mark diSuvero

The Milwaukee River in Winter

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