Traveler’s Guide To Quirky Milwaukee

by Jessica Festa on




While Milwaukee is known for its great beer, beautiful foliage and tasty cheeses, the state also offers a range of unusual activities. Add the following to your itinerary for a quirky trip.

The Holler House
2042 W Lincoln Avenue

Bowl on real wood laid in 1908 at the Holler House, the oldest certified lanes in the country. Don’t forget to tip your personal pin setter as you go back in time to the original days of bowling. The historic, two-story house also features a main-floor bar with eclectic decorations dating back to the early 1900s, like signs advertising 25-cent beef sandwiches and Polish falcon crests showing the ethnic background of the old neighborhood. There is also an extensive collection of autographed brassieres “donated” by patrons dangling from ceiling fans. Lanes are close together, there are no chairs and scores are taken with pencil and paper. The best part about the Holler House might not be the what, but the who, in the form of owner Marcy Skowronski – a sassy woman who made history for the venue. In fact, it was she who started the tradition of drinking with friends and taking their bras off, and the bar now has over 1,000 of them.




The Safe House
779 N. Front Street

In the Intelligence trade, a safe house is “a secret refuge for spies engaging in covert operations.” These places look unassuming on the outside, and good luck finding the door, but on the inside are spaces for conducting clandestine activities. Serving hungry agents since 1966, The Safe House is a spy-themed restaurant containing mysteries and even a hidden exit. Wandering down dark, narrow hallways, you’ll find a phone booth where you can get an alibi if you blow your cover, as well as a wall of mysterious moving puzzle pieces and clues. The building is hidden in an alley and misleadingly labeled International Exports Ltd. You’ll need a password to enter, or at least enough sense of humor to make animal sounds and do silly poses until the doorman lets you in. Hint: Control never turned away agents on the run because they didn’t know the password. Drinks take on a classic cocktail philosophy that coincide with the spy-theme, like the “Spy’s Demise” and the “Double Agent.”




Lakefront Brewery’s Palm Garden Fish Fry
1872 N Commerce Street

Get to know your neighbors elbow-to-elbow at a community table as you feast on beer battered fish plates, heaping stacks of homemade potato pancakes, soft slabs of rye bread, creamy coleslaw and tart applesauce. Every Friday night at Lakefront Brewery’s Palm Garden, the beer venue transforms into an authentic fish fry. The sounds of the squeezeboxes and banjos of The Brew House Polka Kings, whose act features a functioning bubble machine, allow locals aged two to 92 to polka all night. Established by brothers Russ and Jim Klisch twenty years ago, Lakefront offers more than a dozen original brews including the nation’s very first 100% organically brewed ale, Organic Extra Special Bitter Ale.




The Oriental Theater
2230 N Farwell Avenue

Located on the city’s east side, the Oriental Theatre has been providing entertainment for Milwaukeeans for more than 75 consecutive years. What’s also unique is the venue is said to be the only standard movie palace ever to incorporate east Indian decor. Although two theaters were added in 1988, the theatre still maintains its beautiful and ornate original architecture and decorations. Additionally, the Oriental Theatre is the world record holder for showing a current and continuing film consecutively over the years. The Rocky Horror Picture Show has shown at midnight every second Saturday of the month at Oriental Theatre since 1978.




Kochanski’s Concertina Hall
1920 S 37th Street

Built in the 1900s, the building’s original purpose was to house celery farm workers, and then as a brothel. After being used for a few other purposes, the venue was acquired by Polish businessman Andy Kochanski, who turned it into a quirky entertainment venue. A “normal” night at Kochanski’s Concertina Bar could include regulars playing a game of Sheep’s Head, groups of all ages clapping and whirling around the dance floor to live polka music or a full out accordion jam session in the middle of the bar. Dueling polka, rockabilly bands, open mic Polka, and odd decor like a year-round upside Christmas tree are also to be expected. This historical polka beer hall also boasts the largest assortment of Polish and German imported beer this side of the Atlantic.




Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge
1579 S 9th Avenue

No jukebox, only a record player with classical tunes. No menu, only 450 classic, artisan or Depression-era cocktails to choose from that are ordered based on what you’re “in the mood” for. No wallpaper or paint, but plush velvet walls. That’s what you’ll find at Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge, Milwaukee’s oldest cocktail lounge, established in 1938. Originally a “tied house,” many regulars that go to the bar today come in and talk of when their grandparents used to frequent the venue. Tip: From 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM Tuesday through Friday, Bryant’s serves up Depression-era cocktails for half-off.




St. Joan of Arc Chapel
1442 W Wisconsin Avenue

On Marquette University’s campus lies Milwaukee’s oldest structure, the St. Joan of Arc Chapel. The chapel was dismantled and moved from France to New York, then from New York to Milwaukee and was rebuilt and completed in 1966. Containing artifacts that date back to the 15th century, the chapel is said to be the only structure of its kind in the western hemisphere still used for its original purpose. According to legend, Joan of Arc herself prayed to Mary standing on one of the stones of the chapel, and when she finished, she leaned down and kissed the stone. Ever since, people say the stone has remained colder to the touch than the others.




The Bronze Fonz
100 E Wells Street

In August 2008, Arthur Fonzarelli came home to Milwaukee as The Bronze Fonz, a life-sized, bronze statue of the popular “Happy Days” character. The Fonz can be found in his leather jacket, forever holding his famous thumbs-up “Aaay!” pose just south of Wells Street on Milwaukee’s Riverwalk. During the holidays, Fonz has been spotted wearing everything from a Santa hat to bunny ears.

[Images via Are We Not Men?, Visit Milwaukee, daniel.baker, Marquette University and Dan Bishop of Bishop Photography]

Travel Keepsakes: My Love For The Starbucks Mug

by McLean Robbins on

One of the best parts about going on vacation is bringing back keepsakes from the places you’ve traveled. Airport kiosks and souvenir shops alike make their rent on this business, hawking everything from “I (heart) New York” T-shirts to magnets and branded hot sauces.

I, too, used to enjoy travel related tchotchkes – until I became a travel writer. Were I to pick up more than a postcard from every place, I’d be buried under a pile of crap, and broke to boot.

Hence, my guilty traveling pleasure: the Starbucks mug. It all started back in 2006, when I was visiting a friend in Honolulu. An orchid-adorned mug emblazoned with, what then was my farthest-flung travel destination seemed a great keepsake for my trip. At $10, it wasn’t exactly bank-breaking, either.

Funny enough, I’m not even a huge Starbucks fan. I’ll take a local latte or tea any day, but I’ll never miss the green and white sign in my travels.

For more than six years, I’ve been grabbing mugs in locations from around the world, creating a collection that not only spoke to my nomadic lifestyle, but a useful tool as well. I’m a nasty person before I’ve had coffee in the morning.

I could begin my day in Chicago, Geneva or even the Hamptons (my current favorite, due to its cheery blue interior). The mugs were affordable, large enough to fit nearly a Venti coffee, and fit easily in my cabinet. To make life easier, a Starbucks could be found in most any airport or city street – I didn’t have to go hunting or out of the way to get my memento.

I’ve now set rules for the collection. I have to have visited the destination (my cabinets are reaching capacity) and I prefer the colored collection mugs to those with just the blue and white cityscapes. Where possible, I’ll grab a mug bearing a city name (Toronto) versus just the larger country name (Canada).

Perhaps my collection is a bit ordinary, particularly for a writer interested in luxury travel (perhaps you’re not shocked, but diamond-studded mugs are hard to come by) but they’re a great way to keep the travel memories going at home.

What’s your favorite travel keepsake?

[Flickr via irmaloveslife]

What To Do When Your Travel Destination Feels Too Much Like Home

by Jessica Festa on

Sometimes it happens. You’re excited to go on a trip to a faraway destination, away from the fast-food chains, honking taxicabs and hoards of English speakers. However, despite looking forward to culture shock, when you get there you feel as if you never left home. The truth is, you can usually drive to the next city over from your hometown and still find differences, whether it’s the architecture, the vibe or the type of people who live there. To help you feel more like you’re traveling and less like you haven’t left home, use these tips.

Seek Out Cultural Differences

Just because the culture looks similar to yours upon first glance doesn’t mean it is. Befriend knowledgeable, friendly locals like taxi drivers, hostel owners and tour guides and ask them what some aspects of the culture are that aren’t immediately obvious. Ask questions about rituals, customs, holidays, cuisine, how people interact, schools of thought, government policies and anything else that may affect the daily life of locals. You may even want to do some online research. Once you discovered some interesting tidbits of cultural knowledge, find out how you can experience it firsthand, whether through an excursion, class or site.Give Yourself A Mission

If you’re having trouble finding cultural differences, choose a topic you find interesting and set out on a mission to learn everything you can about it. Art, food, fashion, history and architecture are some good areas that can lead you to making cultural discoveries. Set out to learn and experience as much as you can regarding this topic, digging into its past, present and future. If nothing else, you’ll at least gain a new area of expertise.

Get Lost For The Day

One of the best ways to make cultural discoveries is to simply stroll the streets of the city and get lost. Although you’ll be wandering aimlessly, keep your eyes open for possible points of interest. Doing this, I’ve discovered artisan shops, unknown classes and tours, authentic eateries, unique architecture and have just been able to get a feel of the town’s vibe in general.

Head To Non-Touristy Areas

Usually, when you’re walking down a street with signs in English, overpriced restaurants, Burger Kings and myriad travel agencies, you’re in the touristy part of the city. While these areas often offer worthwhile shops and activities, it isn’t the best location when you want to feel culture shock. I recommend spending the bulk of your time in the more non-tourist spots, as you’re more likely to see deeper aspects of the local culture. Ask your hotel for a map, and have them circle non-touristy areas that are also safe to explore.

Stay Away From International Chains

Sure, McDonald’s is great if you want to grab a quick burger and fries on the go, but don’t expect to get any real value from your stop there. First of all, while people think these international fast food chains help them save money, the truth is eating at local restaurants and cafeterias is often much cheaper, healthier and tastier. Additionally, you’ll gain cultural insight by dining at local eateries and seeing what everyday people eat and how they dine.

Take A Local Class

When traveling to a new place, I love taking a class that is related to the local culture. I’ve taken Tai Chi in China, learned to tango in Argentina and cooked traditional mole in Mexico. Even if the class ends up not being something I would stick with, I always leave feeling like I learned something about the city I’m visiting.

Do Something You’ve Never Heard Of

In a new city, it’s always worthwhile to do something you’ve never done before; however, it’s even more advantageous to sign up for an activity you’ve never heard of or can’t do anywhere else. For example, when I was in New Zealand I saw a local agency advertising zorbing. At the time, I had no idea what it was, which of course meant I had to sign up immediately. The activity entailed jumping Superman-style into an enormous beach ball that had a pool of soapy water inside, and being rolled down a giant hill. It was one of the most fun experiences I’ve ever had in my life, and really showed me how much locals value innovative adventure. It’s no surprise New Zealand is one of the top adventure destinations in the world. Other one-of-a-kind experiences I couldn’t pass up while traveling include relaxing in the world’s highest beer spa in Bolivia, learning to play mahjong from a local family in China and doing shots at the world’s highest distillery in Colorado.

Skip The Hotel And Opt For A Homestay

For the most part, staying in a hotel is a surefire way to be blinded from the local culture. Sure, you’ll feel pampered and have access to a great restaurant and spa, but a hotel’s main focus is usually ensuring the guest has a comfortable and pleasant stay, not that they feel culture shocked. While there are some great experiential hotels out there, nothing beats a homestay when it comes to getting to experience the culture of a place. You’ll get to live with a family and learn about cooking, how the home is run, dynamics between family members and general daily life firsthand.

Revel In Your Comfort

If you are really having a difficult time finding cultural differences and still feel like you haven’t left home after trying the above mentioned tips, just go with it. Be happy you’re in a place you feel comfortable, and just have fun exploring and discovering new things.

[Images via Shutterstock]

Guatemalan Volcano Eruption Terrifies Villagers While Drawing Tourists

by Jessica Festa on

A volcano right outside Guatemala‘s tourist attractions has exploded into a series of powerful eruptions. The natural occurrence was so intense, more than 33,000 people from surrounding communities were forced to evacuate.

“It thundered and then it got dark as the ash began falling,” Miriam Curumaco, a 28-year-old homemaker from the village of Morelia who had evacuated along with 16 family members, told news.com.au. “It sounded like a pressure cooker that wouldn’t stop.”

While the popular travel destination of Antigua has not yet been affected, 17 villages around Volcan de Fuego, a 12,346-foot volcano, have had to vacate. According to Guatemala’s head of emergency, Sergio Cabanas, the volcano spewed lava nearly 1,969 feet down slopes with thick ash, gas and smoke. Additionally, cinders shooting out of the volcano were measuring a half-inch thick in many places.

As worried locals leave their homes and seek refuge, the eruption has become a huge draw for tourists who want to get close to the volcano and take photos.

“Now that we know it erupted, we’re going to try to stop on the way and maybe take some pictures,” said Nilton Dasilva, a church group leader from Northfield, Illinois.

Most of the area has received an orange alert, the second highest level, although in the south and southeast of the mountain they are in almost complete darkness and have received a red alert. Many people in these areas have been affected with respiratory and vision problems. Luckily, the Guatemalan Red Cross has set up 10 shelters in the area where people can receive hygiene kits and water.

[Image via luisfi]

Austria Opens Its First Yodel Hiking Trail

by Jessica Festa on

When people think of Austria, one thing that often comes to mind is the musical style of yodeling that was developed in the Alps. The country is proud of their melodious heritage, and is helping active travelers experience it outside of the theater with their first ever Yodel Hiking Trail.

Recently opened by Castello Hotel and Restaurant owner Christian Eder, the trail sits high above Austria’s Zillertal Valley. According to BBC, it is “dedicated to the art of the yodel – the ancient form of alpine communication that is so deeply entwined with Austrian folk music.”

From the village of Königsleiten, a serene area often said to be a muse for aspiring yodellers, trekkers walk a short distance to a cable car that transports travellers to the top of Königsleitenspitze mountain. This is where the 4-mile Yodel Hiking Trail begins. Starting at 7,464 feet in elevation, the path descends at moderate intensity. Along the way, there are five stations offering yodeling lessons. Each station has something unique to offer. For example, station two is a hut shaped like a cowbell that features musical cowbells inside. On the other hand, station three has what is thought to be Austria’s largest alpine horn, the original medium of communication between mountain dwellers. Additionally, at many of the stations hikers can listen to clips of Austria’s best yodellers and try to mimic the sound.

The Yodel Hiking Trail can be completed independently or with a guide.

[Image via Shutterstock]