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opprairie.com life & Arts
the orland park prairie | September 6, 2018 | 23
get out of town!
Actually, it’s pronounced Mill-e-wauk-Aaay!
Grabbing a drink (or
two) while visiting
‘the good land’
Bill Jones, Editor
Some people (not me,
surely) like to joke that
Milwaukee is just another
suburb of Chicago. After
all, it’s roughly an hourand-a-half
drive from the
southwest suburbs, and —
in terms of geography and
population — a fraction of
the size. Its Midwest makeup
isn’t all that different,
either.
But part of what I like
about Milwaukee is that it
is distinctly not Chicago.
Don’t get me wrong: I love
our big city, and its amenities
are tough competition
for any pin in the map. But
there’s a particular charm
about a small city like Milwaukee.
And I think it starts at the
bars.
Milwaukee is a great city
to do some (responsible/21-
plus only/adult) drinking.
And part of that has to do
with the variety.
Oddly enough, one of
my first recommendations
Another perspective
to people isn’t for the beer.
Sprecher, which brands
itself as “Milwaukee’s
Original Craft Brewery,”
makes a few great brews,
but the soda is where it is at.
At the end of the tour, like
most, there is some sampling
to be done. But before
I even think about beer,
I’m hitting up the cherry cola
and root beer on tap — some
of the best you’ll ever have.
Now, the big beer tour. If
you’ve toured one big brewery,
you’ve toured them all
— outside of some local
quirks. What I like about
the multinational Miller
Brewing Company’s tour
in Milwaukee isn’t the tour
itself (because: whatever);
it’s that if the weather is
nice, Miller’s few free beers
can be taken in an outdoor
garden area that allows for
kicking back more than
most tours and tastings. (It
almost makes watching the
videos and taking the tour
again worth it.)
With that out of the way,
it’s time to take a (less-guided)
stroll over to Bryant’s,
near the historic Mitchell
Street. Billed as Milwaukee’s
oldest cocktail longue
(est. 1938), Bryant’s exterior
looks something like
a house, but the interior is
glorious. The old-school
booths are cozy, surrounded
by plush velvet walls. But
I prefer sitting at the bar,
watching them make the
Pink Squirrel which they
invented and you need to
order. It’s also a great seat
to spy the vintage McIntosh
audio system that drives
the smooth soundtrack. The
whole experience feels like
a bygone era in the best way
possible.
If the weather is still nice,
Boone & Crockett is a riverside
spot with great cocktails,
highlighted by some of
the barrel-aged options. The
patio at the old location was
the place to be, but I haven’t
had a chance to check out
the new space just yet.
The Foundation Bar is
known for its Mai Tais and
hits the tiki spot. And Lost
Valley Cider Co., amid
a hub of breweries, also
should be on the radar of
those looking to stray from
the city’s beer-heavy offerings.
But for those seeking
more of a Milwaukee-style
party, the dive atmosphere
of Wolski’s includes all
of the staples, such as
darts, popcorn and a neighborhood
patio space.
And those who close it
down get a sticker for their
efforts.
I’ve also never turned
down a good gimmick
when executed well, which
is why I have to mention
SafeHouse. Family friendly
during the day, 21-plus at
night, the restaurant’s theme
is apparent from the second
you enter (I won’t spoil it).
What really makes it work,
though, is how every room
is elaborately constructed
with that theme in mind.
You’ll want to tour the place
when you’re done eating,
and certain drinks send you
home with a souvenir (actual)
glass.
Bonus: There is a Safe-
House in Chicago, too, but
I love the alley entrance off
Front Street for the Milwaukee
spot. And it is not even a
block away from the Bronze
Fonz near the river. Make
sure to snap a fun picture.
Get out of Town! is a monthly
travel column focusing on
relatively local destinations
and activities, with helpful
tips, readers’ stories and more.
“The Will County Fair is sort of a family tradition – I tortured my kids
and took them to [those] dusty, smelly fairgrounds, and now it’s time for
me to torture their children in the same absurd ritual. For several years,
we took the kids to the fairgrounds, and they enjoyed petting the animals,
climbing on the tractors, eating large portions of greasy, fatty foods, and
going on the carnival rides. ... The aroma of pork, beef and every other
creature [wafts] throughout the grounds, and we were drawn to the food
court in the metal-roofed enclosure with rows of picnic benches.”
Dennis Lindeman — Tinley Park resident
Editor Bill Jones and his wife, Sarah, pose for a photo with
the Bronze Fonz in Milwaukee, circa three drinks.
Bill Jones/22nd Century Media
Packing it in
Tips for camping in hot
weather from Assistant
Editor Amanda Stoll
Are you thinking about
squeezing a last-minute
summer camping trip
into your weekend
plans? Even with fall
right around the corner,
chances are you still will
be dealing with warm
temps for a few more
weeks. Keep everyone
cool with these three
tips for camping in hot
weather.
1. Hydrate, hydrate,
hydrate
This may seem like an
obvious one, but when
you’re tipping back a
couple of cold ones
or your children have
been drinking sugary
beverages all day, it is
easy to forget to drink
enough good ol’ H2O. Try
plopping a few ice cubes
in the doggie bowl to
keep Fido cool, too.
2. Don’t drain your coolers
Keeping food at a safe
temperature in a cooler
can be a challenge in
the heat, and foodborne
illness is something you
definitely don’t want
when you’re miles from
home. The ice and
water mixture provides
the most surface-area
coverage for the items in
your cooler. Make sure to
store food in watertight
storage containers,
though, or you may end
up with watery pasta
salad. No one wants that.
3. Let the air flow
Allowing a breeze to drift
through your tent is the
best way to stay cool on
warm summer nights.
Zip open those windows
and, if there isn’t rain in
the forecast, consider
ditching the rain fly
altogether. Depending on
the location, you might
even see a few shooting
stars.
Bonus tip: Consider
packing a light fleece
blanket instead of a
heavier sleeping bag.