Full set of pics here
Sunday
-Mental soundtrack ---> The Bluetones
-Argh BART but yay AC Transit
-Also yay OAK and yay Southwest
-The drive from Chicago to Milwaukee and the first glimpse of the city in the gloaming
-Settling in at the uber-cool Brewhouse Inn & Suites, housed in a converted Pabst brewery
-Dinner at Odd Duck: cocktail #27 + cheese plate + Korean pancake + sesame deviled eggs
-Bowling (and karaoke recon) at Landmark Lanes
Monday
-Mental soundtrack ---> Bahamas
-Milwaukee when it rains
-The desert and tropical domes of the Mitchell Park Conservatory
-A peanut butter chocolate (PBC) from Holey Moley Doughnuts
-A punt in the form of an easy chain restaurant lunch when faced with an unexpected "closed" sign at Mazos
-One scoop chocolate, one scoop vanilla frozen custard from Leon's
-Watching artisan cheese being made at Clock Shadow Creamery and a taste of ripe ground cherries from the nearby roof garden
-Caramel peanut parfait from Purple Door Ice Cream
-Dinner at Mader's: a stein of New Glarus Spotted Cow + mushroom napoleon with spaetzle
Tuesday
-Mental soundtrack ---> Saint Etienne
-A morning stroll along the lake and then meeting up with Ms Alicia in time to watch Calatrava's wings unfurl at the Milwaukee Art Museum
-Tea and conversation in the museum cafe running rampant through the collection
-Lunch at Zaffiro's: an olive and cheese pizza, party cut
-Many delicious beers, cheese curds, and a most entertaining tour at Lakefront Brewery
-Bibliophile heaven at Boswell Book Company
-German delicacies (and crazy murals) at Usinger's and a traipse along the Riverwalk to find the Bronze Fonz
-Dinner at Blue Jacket: the daily grog + fried Brussels sprouts + asparagus with remoulade + mascarpone and potato gnocchi + cardamom truffles in miso-caramel sauce
-A Bramble at Bryant's Cocktail Lounge
-One truly giant pretzel
Wednesday
-Mental soundtrack ---> The Mary Onettes
-Packing up for the four-state drive to Michigan
-Lunch at the Comet Cafe: Sprecher Orange Dream + veggie BBQ riblets sandwich
-Rest stop by the water at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
-The very stylish CityFlatsHotel in Holland
-Sushi dinner at Mizu and then ice cream scoops from Kilwin's by an outdoor fireplace
-Ginger peach cider at the New Holland Brewing Company
Thursday
-Mental soundtrack ---> Missing Persons
-Grandma's 100th birthday celebration extravaganza! Family and food and kittens galore
Friday
-Mental soundtrack ---> Neko Case
-Breakfast at JP's: chai latte + fruity oatmeal
-Morning at Ottawa Beach
-The drive back to Chicago
-Lunch along the way at Pleasant House in Three Oaks: mushroom and kale pie + mash + coriander chutney
-A Potbelly veggie sandwich for the plane
-And home to kitties