Perfect night in Milwaukee. The main event was seeing the fabulous Haim sisters perfect during the latest stop of their I Quit tour. They did not disappoint. Nice Jewish girls (as they proved to be when I met two for the three in Rome in 2023) who can really rock! It was great to see them in the funky Rave/Eagle Club, an old ballroom with tons of character and 4,000 capacity, which seems intimate compared to the United Center where they played in Chicago the night before (23,000 capacity or some such.) Most of the place is standing only, although there are seats for pay (primarily) in the balcony.

Dinner was at the atmospheric Barnacle Bud’s, along the docks in an industrial backwater. We ate nothing fancy crab cakes and fried fresh at an outdoor table, watching pontoon boats glide past dry dock boat storage and old industrial stuff.

This from AI: The Rave/Eagles Club in Milwaukee was built in 1927 by the Fraternal Order of Eagles…it was the grandest Eagles building in America, serving as a multi-use athletic and social club with a large ballroom. . In 1986, the Eagles Club was added to the National Register of Historic Places. 

The creepy part, which I’m glad I didn’t know until now:

• 1940s: A young girl is said to have drowned in the venue’s pool. 
• Present: The drained pool is a site of reported paranormal activity, including sounds of splashing and screams. 

The concert ended just in time for us to stop at the 80 year old Leon’s frozen custard (closing time, technically 11 pm although they were serving after the clock struck 11…).

The weather was so gorgeous today when we arrived after a short 90 minute drive from Chicago that we couldn’t bear to go indoors, which meant skipping one of Milwaukee’s main attractions- the stunning art museum designed by Santiago Calatrava that looks like a massive white bird landing on Lake Michigan’s shimmering blue waters. We did walk down from our cozy Irish hotel, the county Clare, to watch the huge outstretched white wings of the museum slowly, slowly, slowly close into the base of the museum at 5 p. M. And will try to be present when the wings open again at 10 a.m. What other building does that?

Compared to Chicago, Milwaukee’s lake front is marvelously undeveloped with huge green lawns stretching out to the rocky shore, sometimes with sandy beach. We were amazed at how few people were around, again compared to Chicago. We walked various stretches of the lakefront to the north, near downtown and in the south neighborhood of Bay View where Three Brothers, the famous Serbian restaurant in an old wooden corner tavern endures in a now trendy residential. (I ate its specialty , a massive filo dough and cheese concoction, Burek, there years ago, following my old friend Johnny Apple’s orders.)

Lunch was tacos in the zocalo food truck courtyard in the hipster Walker’s Point neighborhood followed by an obligatory stop at Leon’s Frozen Custard, which was so creamy and delicious. Nearby, on Burnham Street, we found six FLwright houses all on the same block, surprising modest and small by design. Wright was experimenting with creating affordable housing. I wondered if they are affordable today. (VRBO offers an overnight in one for $231.) They’re on a busy street in a working class neighborhood. One has siding which I am guessing would appall Frank.

Dinner was at Bavette in the lively Third Ward area, which has massive old brick forever warehouses with interesting restaurants and shops. Who knew a hamburger could be so good and original – quality meat served rare with a slice of grilled eggplant and tomato, feta, tzatziki, something vaguely spicy. Dirck was happy with his Cuban sandwich.