Milwaukee in Three Days

Monday August 18 started early. 4:00am to be exact. Our flight was due to depart at 0550. We were all packed the night before, had taken Bailey to the Carricos and gotten to bed at a decent hour. Sleep eluded me, but that's nothing new. The flight left on time. This was Connor's first time to fly and Garrett's second. One of the reasons we wanted to take this mini vacation was to give them the experience of flying. It's was a speedy flight and we got into Midway about 40 minutes early. By 0750 we were leaving in our rental. Of course we met rush hour traffic immediately, making the drive to Milwaukee longer than our flight! We stopped at a Perkins on Kenosha around 10:00 for breakfast then headed to the Lakefront Brewery, arriving at 11:45 just in time for the 12:00 tour. Mike, our guide, expanded the home brew process that led the two owners to eventually establish their craft brewery downtown. For $7 we got to tour, sample 4 beers then received a pint glass at the end. Their beers were delicious and I learned that a dark beer San actually be smooth and tasty we ended with some Bavarian pretzels and souvenir shopping. We checked into the airport BW at 2:30. By 2:35 Connor, Garrett and Steve were asleep! I even took a nap, something usually so hard for me to do. 

That evening we drove back downtown because I wanted authentic German food   The Old German Beer Hall did not disappoint. We sat outside and had cheese curds, which taste like fried mozzarella sticks, and beef jerky which looked and tarted like Summer sausage. Then we all ordered some variation on sausages. They're all made at a factory, Usingers, across the street. It was the best bratwurst I have ever tasted. More beer, just one, then back to the hotel because we were pooped!

   (Downtown)

Tuesday August 20

Let the boys sleep in until we finally had to wake Connor up at 11:20.  We went to the Harley-Davidson museum, first getting the boys some lunch then doing the tour. It was more interesting than I thought it would be. By the end, I was wanting to go on a motorcycle ride! After that we drove down to the waterfront to look at Lake Michigan. There is a very large park there where lots of festivals are held. There's also a marina. I was looking for a beach so I could stick my toes in the water, but evidently it's at another park. Oh well. We walked around a bit then drove a few blocks into downtown so I could get a picture of the Bronze Fonz down on the River walk.  Accomplished that task, so now the things I wanted to do were done. We drove back to the hotel to rest before heading to the baseball game. That was the big reason for this trip: a chance for Connor to see the Toronto Blue Jays play. Tonight they did not prevail. The Brewers showed why the are the #1 NL team right now. It was a very quiet ride back to the hotel. 

(My fantasy bike--I would learn to ride this!)

       Bronze Fonz

       Riverwalk

       Racing sausages

Wednesday August 20

You know, three days in one spot is just long enough. Because the ball game was at 1:10, we didn't try to squeeze in much more sightseeing. The boys needed to sleep in. Once they were up and packed, the hotel breakfast had ended. So, we checked out and scooted a block away to Denneys for an all-American breakfast for them  and lunch for me and Steve. When the opportunity presents itself...

There was still plenty of time before the game so I did navigate us to the Basilica of St Josephat. It was built by Polish immigrants in the 1800's. Massive and beautiful. We were there only briefly, but it was noon so the Angelus rang from the bell tower. I felt like I was in front if St. Henry Church at Grandma's or that I could have even been transported to Europe. Sometimes I get déjà vu moments that make me feel like I belong in that setting. As if it were a part of me. Sometimes my reality of being a Catholic minority in the South doesn't jive with who I feel like I'm supposed to be. Weird.

( The restaurant near our hotel withe prop plane on the roof and the giant cow out front. Americana. )

   (St. Josephat Basilica)

    (The Bob Ueker statue)

    (Winner winner chicken dinner!)

So from there we wound our way to the stadium through older neighborhoods. They were only slightly rundown, most homes and town homes being very well kept. You can tell that the ethnicity has changed over time: from Polish and German to Hispanic, Asian and Black. Overall, I thought Milwaukee is a beautiful old city. Full of history. 

The ball game was a much better outcome. The Blue Jays won 9-5. Connor was much happier. We left from Miller Park and headed straight to Chicago. I had hoped we might drive through downtown so the boys could see how massive the city really is. But, we were all tired and hungry and just ready to settle at the hotel before dark. I found Rosati's Italian Restaurant and Red Hots on Urbanspoon and thought, why not? We stopped there in Gurnee to have some good authentic Chicago pizza. From there it was straight to Bedford Park right next to Midway and the Sleep Hotel. Tiny room, but great location which made flying out Thursday morning much easier. A one hour flight delay due to thunderstorms gave us time for breakfast at Harry Caray's bar at the airport. 

We were home by noon with Caroline and Noah there to greet us. I was very glad we had those days to spend with the boys. They enjoyed being together and it filled my heart to hear them laugh and kid with each other.