Friday is Funday

Friday night is a good night to be out in Milwaukee.  There is always some entertaining activity going on, though at times they all seem to pile up on the same day.  Example: One Friday night I went to MAM After Dark, Fish Fry and a Flick (just for gelato), and Irish Fest all within a matter of hours.  Thankfully, another nice aspect to Milwaukee is how close these events are.  It only took me five minutes to walk from one to the other.  MAM After Dark really has to be one of my favorite Milwaukee inventions.  The Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM if you haven’t figured that out yet) is open from 5-midnight with various activities, usually centered around a theme. 

This past one that I went to in August was awesome.  Backyard BBQ.  We enjoyed coleslaw and pulled pork sandwiches with a side of corn on the cob.  There was a lovely beer tasting, bluegrass music, arts and crafts, and a photo booth.  And another perk: the deck was open so we got to sit outside and enjoy ourselves. 

Their hair matches their beer selections!

In between this we popped over to Irish Fest to enjoy the Red Hot Chili Pipers (not to be confused with the Peppers), a Celtic-rock band that features piano, guitars, drums, and, of course, bagpipes.  They play fantastically fun music, and it doesn’t hurt that most of the band is made up of hot guys in kilts.  **fansself**

  

After the concert we headed back to MAM After Dark for some more drinks and music.  (As you can see below, we stopped by the MAM’s fountains for some photo fun). 

More recently, I went to Fish Fry and a Flick, another awesome Milwaukee invention where a movie (usually a more adult one) is screened right on Pier Wisconsin.  

This time around the movie was The Big Lebowski which I’ve always wanted to see.  My friend and I went and indulged in free samples (beer and popcorn), bought some of that popcorn, ate crepes (lemon/sugar and nutella), ate some really crappy expensive pizza, and camped out to watch the cult classic.  I really enjoyed the film, but mostly I enjoyed sitting out on the lake, taking in the city lights, laughing along with a bunch of other Milwaukeeans.  It was a good night.  

AND…I got this awesome Pabst Theatre T-shirt for only $5.  What a steal!

So really, if you live in Milwaukee or the vicinity, there’s no excuse to stay in on Friday night in the summer. 

MAM After Dark: Mr. Wright (A Brief Review)

This past Friday I went to the Milwaukee Art Museum's best event: MAM After Dark.  This month's theme was Mr. Wright, a rather clever title that touched on its two major features: the opening of the Frank Lloyd Wright exhibit and Valentine's Day.  I went with these awesome people.              

We listened to Frank Sinatra-style music, ate German food and cookies, drank disgusting liquor, looked at architectural floorplans and designs, made paper valentines, took fun photos, and generally had a good time.  Anna walked into a tire sculpture and injured herself (see above photo).  Alyssa walked into a marble statue and did not injure herself.  Neither one broke anything so none of us was arrested.  Whew.  

Hopefully I will have more pictures of this MAM After Dark and the last one up soon. 

Michael Came to Visit Me!

This is Michael.  Michael and I have been friends for over fifteen years.  He was born in Wisconsin, but grew up in Indiana and now goes to school in Minnesota, so I don't get to see him very often.  However, he was able to come visit me this past weekend!  Yay!

Michael is a total Renaissance man.  He plays trumpet and piano, sings and conducts.  He's quite a good writer, and has fantastic taste in literature and music.  He knows a lot about art, mathematics, science, politics, philosophy, and is full of random facts.  His knowledge base puts me to shame.  To top it off, he's got a great sense of humor: an essential element for any Renaissance man or woman.

I took him to the Milwaukee Art Museum (he was very excited about the wings opening and closing).  This picture was taken there, and I "framed" it in Picnik to go along with the art museum theme.

008/365: Michael and Museum (February 5, 2011)