When I signed up for the Komen Race for the Cure 5K in Milwaukee, to get a race complete in Wisconsin, I was more worried that I'd need to dig out some colder weather gear. Nope. Milwaukee set a record high of 95 one day while I was there. I was melting!
Still, I had a great time in "The Good Land."
I got there late Thursday afternoon with my friend Susan. We were all set for our annual girls' weekend once we found the liquor store. ;)
Hello, Wisconsin!
Girls weekend is started
Who drinks wine in a beer state? Well, I do!
Susan got it right
Our first full day in Milwaukee we found a great little coffee shop nearby, where I got a cup of Milwaukee love.
I heart coffee
We wandered around near the hotel looking for some postcards to purchase and a visitor's center for more info on what was close by. Turns out, the manned visitor's center was just inside the Wisconsin Center, the convention center across from our hotel. Milwaukee really does have some great public art. This is called The Vortex, but we deemed it a unicorn horn, an upside down tornado, and a Christmas tree.
The Vortex
Inside the Wisconsin Center, there was even a bit of public art: The Security Guard. It's a wax replica of the artist's father!
The Security Guard
With lots of information in hand, we found a hop-on, hop-off tour bus, which was great. Our first stop was the Milwaukee Art Museum, which has really stunning architecture.
The Milwaukee Art Museum
More public art outside the museum
Next stop on the tour bus was the Milwaukee Public Market, which is a lot like Redding Station in Philadelphia. There are restaurants, specialty retail shops, etc. We found a wine shop in there that had a much better selection than the little liquor store near the hotel. The "mascot" of the public market is a rooster, which become public art on the second level of the space.
The public market's rooster
We had a pretty forgettable dinner at an Irish pub, but then found our way to the Milwaukee River Walk. Despite the 95 degree record-breaking heat of that Friday, the river area had a lovely breeze. There is so much public art along the river walk. My camera didn't do any of it justice in the low light, but there is Rosie the duck.
Milwaukee River Walk
Rosie the duck
Saturday, Susan and I headed back to the Public Market for breakfast. Cafe Benelux in the Third Ward was terrific. I had the breakfast of champions, obviously: rose with the quinoa skillet. The skillet had quinoa, butternut squash, portobello mushrooms, scallions and a fried egg, and some sort of sauce on top that I can't remember, but it was all so good. I would have licked the skillet if I had not been out in public.
My kind of breakfast
We just happened to be in Milwaukee the weekend of Doors Open Milwaukee, when historic buildings and spaces that aren't normally open to the public are. Susan and I got a behind-the-scenes tour of the Milwaukee Public Radio station in the Historic Third Ward. Then we walked back to the hotel along the river walk again and came across the Bronz Fonz in the daylight. We saw him last night but my photos in the low light were awful. Here, you can see how creepy he looks! ha ha.
Susan and I with "the Bronz Fonz"
And what would a trip to Wisconsin be if I didn't try the cheese curds? So, that was ordered up for an appetizer at lunch.
When in Wisconsin, have the cheese curds
I got a little something for all three of us girls for the weekend. Found these funny pins at a store in the public market.
Yes, we are!
Patti finally arrived and we found a great seafood restaurant right along the river walk for dinner. Pier 106 was fabulous.
Susan, me and Patti
Sunday morning was just as warm as the rest of the weekend, but we got to the Komen walk thanks to our hotel's shuttle bus and got ready for the 5K.
Patti, me and Susan before the race
At the start
The Kohl's Climb
It was so blasted hot for that 5K and nothing like a long hill at about mile 2. But we made it! I forgot to take a photo of our wilted selves at the finish.
Drone shot from the race
A rose from the finish
As a breast cancer survivor, I got a rose at the finish line. I managed to get it through the TSA security checkpoint and all the way home in one piece!
I had a great time in Milwaukee and the weekend made for great memories.
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