At The Lake Summer 2024

At The Lake

Geneva Lake Area Magazine

Lake Geneva

How a midcentury Italian boat has captivated collectors Rivas

Photo by Stoffer Photography Interior Design by Amy Storm & Co.

WE CALL THIS HOME.

WE LIVE HERE. WE WORK HERE. WE’RE LAKE GENEVA’S REAL ESTATE MARKET EXPERTS.

880 West Main Street, Lake Geneva

Dear readers,

The summer after I graduated from Williams Bay High School, I called up an old family friend and inquired about an internship at a new-ish business he had recently started up: WLKG-FM. It turned out to be an incredibly fun summer job, driving around with the other interns in the company van to hand out bumper stickers in parking lots, helping set up live broadcasts at festivals and meeting so many locals and visitors to the Lake Geneva area along the way. Hard to believe WLKG is celebrating its 30th anniversary on the air this summer (page 26)! We wish them all the best.

Decades later, I still love working in local media, and meeting so many fascinating people. In this issue, we introduce you to Sean “Slats” Slattery, who is now in his 26th summer working his most-loved summer job, as a member of the Water Safety Patrol boat crew (page 50). Speaking of boats, you’ll also learn about collector Charlie Johnston and his quest to find a vintage Italian Riva (page 70). And for design lovers, we can’t wait to introduce you to Angela Turner and her partner, Kevin Kolb, who fell in love with an 1872 Victorian house in Lake Geneva’s Maple Park neighborhood and made it their own (page 94).

Summer in Lake Geneva is a special season, and we’ve got everything you need to make the most of it this year. Start with our photo portfolio, which combines iconic summer photos with responses to our poll that asked, “Do you have a beloved annual summer tradition in the Geneva Lake area?” (page 58). You can also learn about the area’s incredible golf courses from the editor of Midwest Golf Magazine (page 141). If you’re looking for a perfect summer dinner, order up some brisket or ribs from our guide to barbecue restaurants in the area (page 155). Or pick up a few items for a day at the beach from some of our favorite local shops (page 118).

We can’t wait for another summer… At The Lake.

Anne Morrissy Editor anne@ntmediagroup.com

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BEE BOUNTY

I adore natural honey, with its many distinctive flavors. On page 122, meet the local beekeepers who make sure there is plenty of it to go around.

TOES IN THE SAND

I love this beautiful and functional beach towel from Gordy’s Pro Shop. For more beach day must-haves, check out Trending at the Lake (page 118)!

SUPPER CLUB STUNNER

For generations, The Village Supper Club on Delavan Lake has been one of my family’s favorites. I couldn’t be happier with its stunning renovation — for the full story, turn to page 160.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

At The Lake® magazine is published quarterly and available free of charge at select businesses and newsstands — a $6 value per issue. Why not have it delivered to your door? For a one-year subscription (4 issues), send $24.95 to Nei-Turner Media Group, 400 Broad St., Lake Geneva, WI 53147 or call 262-729-4471.

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122 Honey of a Hobby

Meet some of the Walworth County beekeepers who are protecting our pollinators and making local honey.

By Shelby Deering

32 Playing Through

Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Big Foot Country Club and its legendary golf course.

By Maura Keller

50 Saving the Day

The Water Safety Patrol’s Sean “Slats” Slattery shares his 26-year-long history of rescues, assists and teachable moments. By Amanda

N. Wegner

58 Time-honored Traditions

A photo portfolio illustrating the annual Geneva Lake traditions submitted by our readers.

By Anne Morrissy

70

La Dolce Riva

How a midcentury, Italian runabout became the most coveted type of boat on Geneva Lake.

Story and Photos by Holly Leitner

94 Victorian Charm Reimagined Tour a beautifully appointed historic home in Lake Geneva’s Maple Park neighborhood. By Lauren Eve

PUBLISHER Barbara Krause bak@ntmediagroup.com

EDITOR Anne Morrissy anne@ntmediagroup.com

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Lauren Harrigan lharrigan@ntmediagroup.com

PHOTOGRAPHER & IMAGE EDITOR Holly Leitner holly@ntmediagroup.com

DIGITAL DIRECTOR Kristen Rouse krouse@ntmediagroup.com

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Cici Rindy cici@ntmediagroup.com

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Deann Hausner deann@ntmediagroup.com

ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Amy Jacobs ads@ntmediagroup.com

SALES SUPPORT Kaleigh Krause ktk@ntmediagroup.com

ACCOUNTING Nadine Seitz accounting@ntmediagroup.com

CIRCULATION Eric Johnsen eric@ntmediagroup.com

Photo by Holly Leitner

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Elgin Club, a subdivision of 20 homes on the lake’s north shore, will celebrate its 150th anniversary this summer.

Through the Decades

Elgin Club subdivision, one of the lake’s oldest, celebrates 150 years

BY ANNE MORRISSY

This summer, the Elgin Club subdivision will celebrate 150 years on the lake’s north shore. Founded in 1874, Elgin Club is one of the oldest residential subdivisions on Geneva Lake. It was established when two fishermen from nearby Elgin, Illinois, bought 16 acres of lakefront property from John Wyckoff for just $400. The men recruited eight friends from their hometown and other nearby towns to help them purchase the parcel, naming it the “Lakeside Park Club of Elgin.” This was one of the first such associations established on Geneva Lake, and it helped to set the precedent for many others.

Cousins Barbara Snell and Martha Redeker are fifth-generation Elgin Club residents, having inherited the home that their great-greatgrandfather built in 1878. Redeker has become an expert in the history of Elgin Club. She says that, at first, members camped in tents before building rustic cottages to shelter from the weather. Meals were served in a communal clubhouse that was built during Elgin Club’s first summer. “Getting to Elgin Club in [the 1870s] involved a train trip, or horse-drawn conveyance, followed by a boat trip to the pier in front of the clubhouse,” she explains.

A few years after establishing Elgin Club, the original group recruited 10 additional members, including Redeker’s ancestor, and each stakeholder was given a 50-footwide lakefront lot. Redeker says that the cottages built on these lots were “mostly used as place to sleep that would be dry in a storm, or warm in the spring and fall, with a fireplace

and, later, a potbelly stove in the living room.” Eventually, owners added modern amenities like indoor plumbing and kitchens, in some cases choosing to remodel the existing homes, with others choosing to build new homes on the original lots. Throughout the decades, the club continued to embrace its communal living roots with boat races, picnics and Sunday night singalongs.

Today, the lakefront community still comprises 20 homes, three of which remain in the families of the original Elgin Club founders, like the one shared by Redeker and Snell. Others, like the home owned by Andrea Gibbs and her husband, were built by later owners, but remain in the families of those that built them. Another throughline for the club is the presence of an on-site caretaker who lives on the property with their family. Redeker explains that, in the past century, Elgin Club has been served by just five caretaker families, and describes the caretaker as “the stabilizing factor that keeps things safe and running smoothly.”

To celebrate the 150th anniversary this summer, Elgin Club residents plan to commemorate the event at their annual association picnic in July. The highly anticipated event involves children’s games, tennis and pickleball matches, a golf outing, a parade to meet the Mailboat, food and music in the evening. This camaraderie is what keeps families coming back to Elgin Club year after year. “We’re one of the smaller associations … the families over the years grew up together,”

Gibbs explains. “People made lifelong friends there. Kids played together, spent their summers on the piers together.”

Snell agrees. “What keeps people in Elgin Club coming back for generations is its value as a center of family life and memories,” she explains. “Learning to dive off the pier, swimming out to the buoy, catching your first fish and meeting the Mailboat are all core memories for each successive generation. Watching your grandchildren make sandcastles at the beach and capture fireflies in the evening takes you back to your own early years. Time seems to slow down here, as we appreciate the simpler ways of life.”

Preserving a Piece of History

Geneva Lake Conservancy dedicates the Anglin Family Nature Preserve in Lake Ivanhoe

Last fall, the Geneva Lake Conservancy (GLC) dedicated its newest parcel of land conservation on the shore of Lake Ivanhoe, six miles east of Lake Geneva. The 42acre parcel consists of two wetland areas and two wooded areas, and it adjoins additional, state-conserved lands to make a total protected area of around 120 acres. The new preserve

is named the Anglin Family Nature Preserve, in honor of pioneering Lake Ivanhoe developer Frank Anglin, who, along with partners Jeremiah Brumfield and Bradford Watson, founded the community of Lake Ivanhoe in 1926 as a safe space for Black families to enjoy a vacation area free of the racial discrimination prominent at the time.

The three men originally purchased an 83-acre farm on the shores of what was then known as Ryan Lake, and divided the property into buildable lots, naming many of the streets after famous Black figures like Frederick Douglass, Major General Oliver Otis Howard and General Clinton B. Fisk. They also constructed a large pavilion overlooking the lake which hosted community events and concerts, including one by jazz legend Cab Calloway. The Lake Ivanhoe community continued to thrive as a majority-Black vacation community through the 1990s, when a housing program shifted the demographics in the area.

At the dedication ceremony last October, representatives of the Geneva Lake Conservancy appeared alongside members of Anglin’s family, including his granddaughter Paula Anglin, who spoke of her childhood summers spent on Lake Ivanhoe and the impact that experience has had on her. Peter Baker, longtime resident of Lake Ivanhoe and president of the Lake Ivanhoe Homeowners’ Association, spoke on his recent efforts to commemorate the pioneering

community, including the 2022 placement of an historical marker from the Wisconsin Historical Society.

Karen Yancey, executive director of the GLC, says the site’s importance is both historical and ecological. “The new Anglin Family Nature Preserve protects the rare wetland plants and fens on these parcels as well as honors the history of the property as Wisconsin’s first African American resort community,” she says. “We are grateful to Paula Anglin and all those who helped us protect this important property.”

The Anglin Family Nature Preserve was made possible by two grants, the Department of Natural Resources Knowles Nelson grant and Ducks Unlimited’s North American Wetland Conservation Act grant, as well as donations from many private donors. It will open to the public this fall. For more information, visit genevalakeconservancy.org

On the Air

WLKG-FM celebrates 30 years in Lake Geneva

In 1990, Tom Kwiatkowski was paging through the Lake Geneva Regional News when he came across a legal notice announcing that there was an FCC license available for a radio station in Lake Geneva. “I never read the legal notices, but for some reason, that day it caught my eye,” he says. He responded

to the ad, and asked the advice of a friend who owned several radio stations in Illinois, who connected Kwiatkowski with an FCC attorney and a radio engineer. “I made two phone calls and the ball was rolling,” Kwiatkowski says.

On June 6, 1994, WLKG-FM went on the air for the first time, with the nickname “Lake 96.1.” It was an auspicious day for a debut — the country was celebrating the 50th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. So, for his first interview on the new radio station, Kwiatkowski chose Gunnar Anderson, a D-Day veteran living near Lake Como. The first song played on Lake 96.1 was Kenny Loggins’s “This Is It.” From the start, WLKG played music in a format known as “adult contemporary.” It also quickly established itself as an important presence in the community, broadcasting live from the Walworth County Fair, Venetian Fest and other popular local events, while also sending its staff out on “Prize Patrol” shifts at local businesses.

General Manager Nancy Douglass has been with the station for 22 of its 30 years. She says that, since its beginning, WLKG has done a great job of balancing the local interest while sounding like a station in a much larger market. “We consider ourselves a southeast Wisconsin radio station,” she explains. “[Our signal] covers all the way to I-94 in Kenosha and west to Janesville. With a small-market radio station,

Tom Kwiatkowski, owner of WLKG-FM.

you have to be super relevant and in tune with local events, politics, everything. Then you have to factor in the fact that we’re competing with four large markets … we’re right in the middle of it. We have to sound like a large-market station, and maintain that local relevance. We’ve managed to do that all these years.”

Looking to the future, Kwiatkowski says that he and Douglass have a succession plan in place for her to eventually take over ownership of the station. “Most of my friends retired 20 years ago, and here I am still working!” he laughs, though he points out that he has mostly stepped away from on-air work.

To commemorate WLKG’s 30th anniversary this summer, Douglass says that on June 6th, they will have Kwiatkowski back on the air with current deejays Mike Mason and Eric Paulson to share stories about

the radio station’s early days. They’ll also play special songs that have had meaning or relevance to the station throughout the years. And the annual summer promotion (which still includes the Prize Patrol!) will be themed around the station’s landmark anniversary. Douglass says she’s excited to celebrate with listeners this year. “In a small market, we get emails and messages and Facebook comments from everyone,” she says. “[Listeners] really just like interacting.”

Silver Screen Winner

Local filmmaker wins awards for short film

Local filmmaker Neil Gowan along with his father and directing partner, John Gowan, recently screened his

latest short film, Who Followed Us Home, at several prestigious film festivals throughout the United States. The 28-minute film tells the story of Mel, an eccentric hermit who is followed to her remote home in the Andean highlands. Her mysterious stalker appears to have been raised from the dead, and together the two must figure out how to co-exist.

WILLIAM NELSON ART

Neil Gowan (left) with one of the New Hope Film Festival founders, Thom Mulligan.

currents new & noteworthy

This past spring, the film was selected for inclusion in the Beloit International Film Festival, the New Hope Film Festival in New Hope, Penn., and the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival, where it received the top honors of “Best Indie Short” and “Best First-Time Male Directors” for the Gowans. The film also received a nomination for best actress.

“It’s so encouraging to know that the project is having an impact on audiences around the world,” Neil Gowan says. “What I have found to be most rewarding, though, are the relationships we’ve been able to form as a result of being on the circuit with other filmmakers. I’ve always felt rather isolated as a filmmaker here in Lake Geneva, and the more our short gets out there, the more I’m able to meet likeminded professionals — even right here in southeast Wisconsin.”

Director Neil Gowan graduated with a degree in digital cinema from John Brown University. He began his professional career at Big Idea Studios, before cutting his teeth in the live-action world under the mentorship of highly successful documentarians including Barry Poltermann. Director John Gowan studied acting at Biola University, Cal State Sacramento and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts West. He led the theater program at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California for five years before he and his wife Sharon moved to Ecuador, where John serves as a missionary specializing in TV and film production.

Neil Gowan says that their short film was produced as a proof-of-concept project for a larger, independent feature film. After their festival success, they are now discussing partnerships with producers,

financiers and actors. “While we are likely going to be partnering with folks from more cinemadriven communities like Hollywood and Atlanta, I also love the idea of wrangling up a team of southeastern Wisconsinites to participate in the excitement of the motion picture industry,” Gowan says. “So while the festival run is winding down for the short film, our journey is just getting started.”

John Gowan poses with the trophies he and son Neil won at the Indie Short Fest in LA in April.

Playing Through

Celebrating the Centennial of the Big Foot Country Club

BY MAURA KELLER

HISTORIC IMAGES COURTESY OF BIG FOOT COUNTRY CLUB

PRESENT DAY PHOTOS BY HOLLY LEITNER

Golf course architect Tom Bendelow

hen it comes to milestones, this one stands out in the Geneva Lake area: The Big Foot Country Club, located in Fontana, is celebrating its 100th year as a private club. Originally founded in 1924, the club was organized by 20 founding members who were eager to transform 690 acres of beautiful land in the village of Fontana into a first-class golf course. Today, the club boasts more than 300 members and has fulfilled the vision of its early founding members by attracting top golf talent and serving as a sought-after social hub for its membership. To celebrate its anniversary, the Big Foot Country Club is preparing a party for its membership this August, so it seemed like the perfect time to look back on the 100-year-long history of this local landmark.

An original 1924 sketch for the BFCC Clubhouse. This is the same clubhouse still used today.

EARLY HISTORY

According to Bill Ring, past president and long-time Big Foot Country Club member, the first nine holes of the course opened for the 1924 summer season, with the initial 100 members paying fees of $250 each. So how did the name Big Foot come to evolve? Long before the club was established, from the late 1600s to the 1830s, the area around the Big Foot Country Club was inhabited by Potawatomi Indians. Living in a series of three villages in the area, the tribe was led by Chief Maunk-suck, who was given the nickname “Big Foot” by white settlers.

By the late 19th century, the property that today makes up the Big Foot Country Club was owned by two businessmen from Chicago. One of those owners was a former business partner of Marshall Field’s named Levi Leiter. When Leiter died, he willed the property to his widow and children, who continued to own the property until 1923 when it was purchased by a group of local businessmen operating as the Geneva Lake Improvement Association. Within a year, the land was acquired by the 20 founding members of the Big Foot Country Club.

C.C. Douglas, first BFCC president, practicing his putting in a cutout from a 1924 photo.

Today, a century later, the club boasts over 200 golfing members, approximately 50 social members and 80 junior members. The Big Foot Country Club also welcomes others to relish in the beauty of the local landscape by hosting numerous golf tournaments throughout the season, not only for its members but also their guests. In addition to golf, members of the Big Foot Country Club enjoy activities like bridge, tennis and trap shooting.

A GATHERING SPOT

The historic clubhouse boasts a sprawling ballroom and large dining area, as well as an upstairs, outdoor deck and lower-level patio, both offering idyllic views. The clubhouse was completely renovated in 1992 and again in 2023, ushering in new, state-of-the-art amenities, while maintaining the historic charm of the building’s original design.

Throughout its 100-year-history, the clubhouse has played host to many celebrations and events, and will be the venue for the club’s 100th anniversary party in August. The last time such an event was held was

(This photo) Golfers putting at the BFCC in 1934. (Below) Spectators observe a tournament at the BFCC in this circa-1950s photo.

Women golfers play a round in the summer of 1926: Mrs. H.B. Megran, Mrs. C.C. Douglas, Mrs. W.H. Schulzke (wife of the golf course architect), Mrs. Mary Bell Higgins.

“I’m

25 years ago, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the club’s founding. Each year, members are invited to enjoy other celebrations in the space as well, including the Holly Ball Gala in December, the club’s annual Fourth of July Family Party and the Memorial Day and Labor Day dinners.

AN 18-HOLE PARADISE

The club’s location makes good use of its stunning landscape, including rolling hills, spring-fed streams, creeks, ponds and old-growth woods. The topography was formed 50,000 years ago during the last glacial period to affect Wisconsin. Few spots in the state can match the beauty and unique landscape of the Big Foot Country Club and its majestic golf course.

The golf course is celebrated for its unique design, offering players memorable experiences at every hole. The property boasts seven natural, spring-fed ponds that dot the course’s landscape and offer

Founding members John Morelock (left) and A.M. Dick (right) with Robert Holt in a cutout from a 1926 photo.

a stunning backdrop from many areas of the club. “The golf course architect was Tom Bendelow, who designed hundreds of courses throughout the country, including Medinah, Olympia Fields and helped Donald Ross fortify the layout of Beverly Country Club in the Chicagoland area,” Ring explains. “The grounds of the club contain a wealth of character no one would expect just driving around the perimeter of the property — including hills, valleys, springs, creeks and ponds. Woods surround the course and provide privacy. There are also terrific vistas of Lake Geneva as well.”

And while the golf course has maintained the same basic layout since it was originally designed, it has been renovated to adjust to today’s golfing trends, maximizing the spectacular views and adjusting to the modern pace of play. “Like most golf courses, improvements have been made to the course throughout the years which have enhanced fairways, greens and tees,” Ring says.

GIVING BACK TO THE CADDIE COMMUNITY

Of course, creating a welcoming environment for members and their guests has been at the forefront of the Big Foot Country Club’s mission, and the club and its members are also proponents of giving back to others. The club participates in the Chick Evans Scholarship program, a four-year, full tuition and housing scholarship, which was established in 1930 by the Western Golf Association and celebrated amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr. as part of the Evans Scholars Foundation.

“The Foundation’s mission was to provide full tuition and college scholarships to exceptional caddies with limited Original BFCC ad published in Chicago Golfer Magazine in 1926.

Jamie Eggleston

During its 100-year history, the BFCC golf course has hosted many major golf events, including:

• The 1992 USGA United States Open Qualifying

• The 1995 PGA Wisconsin Stroke Play Championship

• The 1998 USGA Senior Open Qualifying

• The 2003 U.S. Junior Qualifying

• The 2003 Wisconsin State Open Qualifier

• The 2009 Wisconsin PGA Stroke Play

• The 2012 U.S. Women’s Open Sectional Qualifier

• 2013 U. S. Senior Open Sectional Qualifier

financial means, with an emphasis on strong academic standards,” Ring says. The first two Evans Scholars enrolled at Northwestern University in 1930, and since then, 12,040 outstanding young men and women have graduated as Evans Scholars.

Big Foot Country Club members are extremely proud of the club’s legacy of assisting in changing young men and women’s lives with this honored award. “This year, there are 1,130 Evans Scholars enrolled at 24 leading universities nationwide, and Big Foot Country Club currently has 35 alumni with eight currently enrolled at four different universities,” Ring says. “We are honored to have a record year this year with six new recipients this past winter, with them enrolling in four different universities. Big Foot is number-one in the state of Wisconsin with the number of caddies being recipients of the Evans Scholarship award.”

One of the recent recipients of the scholarships, a Big Foot Country Club

caddie, says he feels like he’s grown up so much by working at BFCC, and is excited to be part of celebrating the club’s 100th anniversary. “My first year was the 94th year for the club, and I remember thinking, ‘I’m going to be so old if I’m still here for [the centennial].’ Well, here I am. I would say that the entire experience of being at Big Foot Country Club … getting to talk to so many different people and eventually getting to know a lot of different people really well, has in many ways made me who I am today,” he explains. “The Evans Scholarship is just a massive blessing, one I couldn’t have expected when I first started out. The beautiful thing about the Evans program is that the process to getting the scholarship is arguably as valuable as the scholarship itself, because you learn so much about how to improve yourself, represent yourself and eventually represent your entire club really well. I’m really glad for the club making it to the centennial, it’s a great community that’s given

me and many others a lot of great opportunities.”

A BRIGHT FUTURE

Looking ahead, as the Big Foot Country Club embarks on its next 100 years, Ring says it is uniquely positioned for continued success and will continue to be a proud member of the Village of Fontana and Geneva Lake communities. From its humble beginning as a 9-hole course, the golf course today has hosted some of the top players in the state and the region, and will continue to attract golf’s luminaries.

Ring says the club has always been committed to serving a membership drawn from the local community, and intends to remain that way. “Our members are residents of the area, both on a full- and part-time basis,” he says. “We will continue to look for new activities that enhance the club and will continue to be one of the foundations of the Fontana village area.”

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Saving Saving THE DAY

Sean Slattery marks his 26th season with the Geneva Lake Water Safety Patrol

BY AMANDA N. WEGNER

For many Geneva Lake residents and regular visitors, Captain Sean “Slats” Slattery is a constant presence on the lake each season, helping keep boaters and water recreationists safe, and standing ready to respond to emergencies.

“Helping people on the water is something I love to do,” says Slattery. “Whether you call it a calling or a passion, I feel so lucky that I get to do it.”

Slattery has worked with the Geneva Lake Water Safety Patrol for 26 seasons, serving as an assistant director for 18 years, and now a senior staffer on the boat crew. The Water Safety Patrol is a private, nonprofit organization founded more than 100 years ago with a mission to keep Geneva Lake safe. The organization provides lifeguarding services and educational classes, including swimming lessons and boating safety courses. But the hallmark of the organization is its boat patrol, which is on duty from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day during the summer, and on-call for emergencies 24 hours a day.

Slattery has spent more than two decades and countless hours patrolling the lake as a member of the Water Safety Patrol. His longstanding love of the lake and water safety is rooted in summers on “those magic waters” and being in the right place at the right time.

A SELF-PROCLAIMED “LAKE RAT”

Originally from the northwest side of Chicago, Slattery spent his summers at his family’s home in Glenwood Springs on the west end of the lake. “My dad’s family made the original connection in the ’50s,” says Slattery. “Grandpa was a mailman, and Grandma was a teacher; they had a dual income, which was a rarity, and they decided to buy a house up here. One of the joys of being here for so long is having relationships with other families you’ve known for generations.”

During Slattery’s summers at his grandparents’ house, he mostly spent his days on the water. “I was what you call a ‘lake rat,’” he explains. “We didn’t have cable, we didn’t have A/C, so we kids would wake up every morning and go down to the lake, playing ragtag and ‘king of the pier.’ I would spend every day on the water, and I fell in love with it, those magic waters.”

As a child, Slattery took swim lessons through the Water Safety Patrol. When looking for a job as a teen, he turned again to the Patrol, first working as a lifeguard at age 17. “I lifeguarded for one year, and after working my first boat crew shift for the Venetian Festival fireworks my rookie year, I knew the boat was where I wanted to be.”

The following year, Slattery primarily worked on the boat crew, and, summer after summer, he returned, even after completing a degree in communications with a major in radio broadcasting.

“It just kept gnawing at me,” says Slattery of his desire to work on the water after graduation. “When summertime

came around, I thought, ‘Well, I guess I better scratch that itch.’ So, I chose a path on the water instead of on a microphone.” Today, Slattery works at Streblow Custom Boats and will serve his 26th year on the Patrol this summer.

RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME

Aside from his love of the water — and an addiction to boats — it was a chance occurrence that helped Slattery realize the importance of water safety. He explains that at age 9, he was near two young brothers, about ages 3 and 5, standing on a pier. The children’s father walked away to look at someone’s boat, and while unattended, the older brother hit the younger one, knocking him into the water.

“No one was around, so I had to do something,” says Slattery, who pulled the younger brother from the water, saving his life. “I was in the right place at the right time.”

That experience sat with him, and the importance of staying safe around the water became ingrained in him.

“You never know when something is going to happen. The lake is my happy place, and no one thinks someone will almost drown in front of them. But if you’re not paying attention, not acting properly, it can happen.”

In addition to working on the Water Safety Patrol boat crew, Slattery teaches water and boat safety as a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) boating safety instructor. “It is a real treat to be on the water and to teach the next generations of boaters and lake enthusiasts.”

Slattery is also trained as a first responder and has his EMT certification. He notes that these trainings allow him to be better educated and more prepared.

RISING TO THE CALL

According to the WDNR, Geneva Lake is the most heavily used body of water, per acre, in the state. In addition, the Geneva Lake Environmental Agency website estimates that between boats, paddleboards and other watercraft on buoys, lifts and piers, there were

SEAN ’ S SAFETY TIPS

1. CLIP BEFORE YOU DIP. Before you enter the water from your boat, put on a life jacket (PFD) , no matter how strong a swimmer you are.

2. On Geneva Lake, anyone being towed on a tube, waterskis, wakeboard, surfboard, etc., is REQUIRED to wear a PFD.

3. Make sure you have enough life jackets on board the boat for everyone, in the proper size and fit.

4. If someone needs help in the water, DON’T jump in before putting a life jacket on yourself. Many people have drowned

while trying to save someone else. Better yet, try to reach the person with something (a rope, paddle, waterski), or throw something to them (a PFD, seat cushion, rescue ring).

5. Anchor your boat if you intend to swim from it. This will help to prevent it from drifting away. Always make sure that someone is left on board who can operate the boat if needed.

6. Swimmers are REQUIRED to stay within 50 feet of the boat while in the water. Have a rope with a PFD attached to it tied to your boat while people are swimming so they can stay close.

more than 5,000 watercraft on the lake last year, and that doesn’t even include day-trippers.

“We have every kind of boat and water toy imaginable, even the occasional seaplane,” says Slattery. “Given the variety and number of people out here, it [creates] the need to keep this lake safe, and it’s good our lake forefathers were smart enough to start this service.”

On weekdays in the summer, there are typically two Water Safety Patrol boats on Geneva Lake. There are additional Patrol boats dispatched on weekends and holidays, says Slattery, to provide better coverage, especially during what crew members call “the witching hour,” which is about 3 p.m. On the weekends, the lake tends to get more “active” around this time.

“The sunshine, the motion of the boat, what was had for lunch or not had for lunch, what has been consumed from one’s cooler, general shenanigans — you have to rise to the call and respond accordingly,” Slattery explains.

When not responding to emergencies or assisting with issues such as distressed watercraft or runaway boats, Water Safety Patrol boat crews are focused on interacting with and educating the public to ensure users’ safety on the lake. For lake users who “aren’t responsive” to the Patrol’s safety messages, “we’ll talk to our partners on the police boat to help remind them that their choices are financially not in their best interest,” Slattery explains.

In addition to working with the “police boat” (more accurately identified as the Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency or GLLEA), the Patrol also coordinates with WDNR wardens. “The DNR only has a few wardens per county,” says Slattery. “They are spread thin, and they view Lake Geneva in good hands between the GLLEA boats and ourselves. Not to toot our own horn, but Geneva Lake is fortunate to have us and the law enforcement boats on the water.”

At the end of the day, Water Safety Patrol is focused on ensuring users can have fun and be safe.“We want to make sure anyone who uses this water body, regardless of age, race, creed, color or bank account, goes home at the end of the day in one piece,” says Slattery. “It’s never fun when your day on the lake ends up at the hospital or somewhere else because of bad luck or bad decisions.”

A HUMBLING EXPERIENCE

Through his two-plus decades with the Water Safety Patrol, Slattery has experienced some memorable rescues but also tragic events. “You either remember the things that went really well or really bad,” says Slattery. “But there’s a lot of stuff in the middle.”

On the bad end, Slattery shared the story of his first fatality incident, when too many individuals packed on a 21foot rental boat made questionable choices on the water, and the boat’s driver ran over one of the passengers

in the water. “That happened on a fateful Monday in July and is one I will never forget,” recalls Slattery, adding the body wasn’t recovered until Thanksgiving of that year.

He also recalls his first rescue on the boat crew; a little girl fell while playing ragtag at her subdivision pier and cut open her shin on the diving board, exposing her shin bone. She “took it like a trooper,” says Slattery, and her mother took her to the hospital to get patched up. Several years later, while doing a lifeguard orientation meeting, two new guards came up to Slattery, reminding him of that incident.

“One came up and said, ‘You may not remember us from Sunset Hills, but you helped my girlfriend. We remembered that … it was really cool, and it made us want to work for Water Safety Patrol,’” says Slattery, noting they moved up to boat crew and became good crew members. “Getting to have moments like that is wonderful.”

There was also an incident where a young girl got whipped off her tube while tubing behind a boat. Her parents were nervous that she had whiplash, so they called the Patrol, who backboarded the girl and put her in a cervical collar. “At first glance, she had no apparent injury, but we learned later she hyperextended every ligament in her neck,” recalls Slattery.

About a week later, he was out on shift and received a call to swing by the pier to pick something up. As he pulled up to the pier, he saw the girl’s mother standing there with a tray of cookies. She wanted to meet the rescuers who helped her daughter and shared that her daughter could have been paralyzed without the boat crew’s help due to her injuries. “I’m tearing up now thinking about it,” says Slattery. “It’s a humbling and unique experience to be part of so many people’s stories. I’m very thankful to have the privilege to work for such a unique organization and to put my blood, sweat and tears into it.”

Time-honored

Traditions

At The Lake readers share some of their favorite annual Geneva Lake activities

BY ANNE MORRISSY

ecently, we posted a poll to our website and asked readers, “Do you have a beloved annual summer tradition in the Geneva Lake area?” Many people responded with personal stories, charming anecdotes and tales of family activities that have been passed down generation to generation. It seems that, once you fall in love with Lake Geneva, you keep coming back through the decades.

The people who responded to our poll shared everything from their favorite on-the-water activities to their favorite annual festivals. They reminisced about beloved vintage cottages they’ve stayed in over the years and their favorite viewpoints to look out over the lake. They also frequently mentioned their favorite small pleasures and intangibles: enjoying a simple meal or an ice cream cone; observing a sunrise or sunset; or just taking the opportunity to relax and unwind with family and friends.

In this photo portfolio, we’ve chosen photos that perfectly illustrate the beloved annual Geneva Lake traditions submitted by eight of our readers. We chose these traditions because we feel they provide strong representation of the types of memories that were shared by all of our respondents. In fact, these traditions represent the types of memories shared by so many people who come back to the lake year after year, eager to revel in old traditions and to make a few new ones at the same time. What tradition will you start this year?

Every last week in July, I host my 12 dearest girlfriends at our home in ‘Fun- tana.’ These friendships began 50-plus years ago… Now we are scattered around the country. Every year we set aside four or five days to spend together, walking the Shore Path, visiting shops, bars and restaurants but mostly laughing and enjoying our long and forever friendship. No better place than Geneva Lake.

— Ellen Soto

We have a large family — living both in Wisconsin and Illinois. Every summer we try to all get together for ‘Fontana Family Fun Day!’ Some years have had us on the [baseball] diamond at Reid Park… most years playing volleyball, building sand castles and digging on the beach and in the water at Fontana Beach, and others at our Indian Hills subdivision pier.

Tami Burke

Venetian Fest is a tradition my family and I do not miss. The carnival rides, smell of fresh corn on the cob, funnel cakes and the electric atmosphere is what draws us to the event every year. We always enjoy the live entertainment, delicious food in town and the locals that come and enjoy the festivities. The grand finale on Sunday with the boat parade and glistening fireworks dazzle the crowd. My family and I will take our seats on our boat, have a pizza from Gino’s East and watch the show. What a great way to end a fantastic event!

— Megan Malcom

Conference Point Center has been the place to go for our family, the last week in July, for about the past 78 years. My grandmother, parents, aunts, uncles and cousins loved this scenic over-look before I came along. [We’ve been] staying in the vintage cottages and antique buildings throughout our lives. Some of our adult children attend each summer with their kids, so it seems we’re into the fourth generation of loving CPC, the glorious lake and the sound of water lapping onto the shore.

Elizabeth Marshall

We have had a summer home in Powers Lake for five generations and have always considered a drive over to Lake Geneva a mini ‘vacation’ ... walking through the town, having ice cream for dinner, taking the Mail Boat cruise ... it’s so close, yet a completely different world!

”

Colleen Moore

Early morning water ski runs are one of our favorite Geneva Lake traditions!

— Chelsey Knuth

Pier 219 is very near and dear to my heart. Each summer, I look forward to stepping on the pier with my bare feet. I love the feeling of the uneven, weathered boards underneath my feet. This experience immediately brings me back to my childhood growing up in Cedar Point Park. Pier 219, which is quite possibly my favorite place on earth, evokes a profound sense of appreciation for my connection to such a beautiful area. With each step I take on my magical pier, I feel like I’m finally home.

Pam Lindley

I go up to the farmers market at least once a month, usually with my Uncle Den … We have lunch at one of the fabulous local restaurants, then we take a drive over to Lake Como. My grandparents and many members of the family had summer cottages there. I grew up fishing from a rowboat, building bonfires, swimming at the beach and grabbing an ice cream bar on a hot day at the Blue Spruce. Great memories.

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LA DOLCE RIVA

How a midcentury Italian boat became the ultimate status symbol on Geneva Lake

STORY AND PHOTOS BY HOLLY LEITNER

One summer evening in 2000, Charlie Johnston sat at the end of his pier watching boats drive by the Geneva Lake shoreline. Evening cruisers bobbed along, but it was one particular boat that turned his head — mahogany beamed in the goldenhour light, and the boat made a gentle hum and left delicately scalloped waves in its wake. Johnston read “Riva” on the side of it.

“It was a floating piece of art,” Johnston says. “I was smitten.” And thus began his quest to know more about this Riva and find his dream boat. What exactly was a Riva? Where were they made? How could he find one? The journey to track down his own floating work of art had begun.

THE RIVA MYSTIQUE

Fifty years earlier, it was a time of rapid economic recovery and a creative flourishing in post-war Italy, epitomized by films like La Dolce Vita; that era of Fiats and Ferraris, bold fashion and Aperol spritz afternoons. The beaches of Italy were Hollywood’s sun-soaked hangout and

the new water statement piece were Riva boats. With its finesse, fine lines and luxurious exclusivity, the Riva was the epitome of the era that came to be known as la dolce vita. Stars and royals were among Riva’s owners: Sophia Loren, Brigitte Bardot, Elizabeth Taylor and other stylish icons of the time all owned them.

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Today, Riva continues to hold legacy luxury brand status with people with famous last names like Prada, Ferrari, Cartier and Chanel. It continues to turn heads of royalty and stars alike — Sean Connery owned one, and George Clooney famously docks his on Lake Como (the one in Italy, not Walworth County). Due to their perennial appeal, the boats continue to make guest appearances in Hollywood films, including The Italian Job, Ocean’s Twelve and several James Bond movies.

FINDING THE PERFECT BOAT

Back in 2000, Johnston was busy scouring the international boat market for the perfect Riva. After searching for a year and a half through overpriced or worn-out options, he finally found his boat. A 1969 Riva Aquarama with twin, Chevrolet 454 engines, each 350 horsepower. Before purchasing the classic boat, he had it inspected by two wooden boat specialists, and arranged for its restoration by St. Lawrence Restoration in New York.

The Aquarama, that boat that 1960s Hollywood fell in love with, was the

flagship model of the Riva line. It was produced from 1950 to 1996, with only 769 Aquaramas ever made. With a short hull, delicately tapered design, seamless mirror finish, gleaming chrome fixtures, glowing aquamarine upholstery and a wraparound, automotive-style windshield, it was the premier luxury boat of its time.

Rivas were made for car lovers, and boasted an oversized steering wheel on the port side. (Most boats feature steering wheels on the starboard side, the opposite of cars in most countries.) The name Aquarama was a nod to the then-cutting-edge American technology called Cinerama, a widescreen process of filmmaking that created an expansive moviegoing experience. Similarly, the Aquarama was designed to evoke a cinematic experience of the water.

THE BIRTH OF RIVA

Although Riva didn’t gain international stardom until the mid-20th century, the company was established along the

shores of Lake Iseo in Sarnico, Italy by Pietro Riva in 1842. Riva’s repair business quickly grew into boat building as word spread of the young carpenter’s skills. Each of his next four generations would further evolve the boats and the brand. Pietro’s son Ernesto introduced boats powered by the internal combustion engine. In the next generation, Serafino transitioned from transport vessels to speedboats. But it was the fourth generation, Carlo, that forever established the Riva brand we know today, seducing stars, royalty and wealthy collectors around the world.

In the 1950s in Italy, luxury was booming, and Carlo had a vision: to build a “water-borne sports car.” He wanted to bring boats to the same level as the luxury automotive industry. He was fascinated by American boats, especially those made by Chris-Craft, which was leading the international market for high-end runabouts at that time. Carlo saw the superiority of American-made engines, and

opted to install Chris-Craft engines in his boats.

During this decade, Carlo introduced several new models of luxury boats that featured automotive-style dashboards and steering wheels: the Corsaro, the Tritone, the Ariston and the Florida. Prices for these new models soared as people began to covet the sleek design and expert craftsmanship. Soon, Carlo and the Riva brand achieved worldwide stardom.

However, when Riva presented the Aquarama model at the Milan Boat Fair in 1962, the boat builder achieved truly international attention. The Aquarama was a little more than 26 feet in length, made of mahogany with two 8V Chris-Craft engines. Improving on the first model, the Aquarama’s successor would be the Aquarama Super, which could hit a top speed of more than 55 mph with two 320 horsepower engines. The company continued to refine the

LOCAL. JUST

model, eventually introducing the Aquarama Special.

Riva Aquaramas are identifiable by the distinctive aquamarine color of their seats. Carlo Riva’s granddaughter Lia told a journalist that her mother had inspired the color. “My mother bought a dress in Paris, and my father was so smitten,” she said. “He loved the turquoise so much that he made it a color of the Aquarama’s upholstery.”

Carlo Riva understood luxury branding. He repeated this color scheme everywhere — even the delivery trucks that carried his Rivas to Italian international ports had chrome wheels and the signature aquamarine shade adorning the sides.

A NEW ERA

By the late 1960s, the economic climate of Italy had begun to change. In 1969, Carlo Riva sold his family’s company to an American firm called Whittaker, but remained as a chairman and general manager for a few years. Today, Riva is held by the Ferretti Group, which manufactures luxurious motorboats and yachts.

The classic mid-century models of the Riva company are no longer produced. As a result, these coveted floating masterpieces are rare to find today, driving up their value. Owners hold on to their Rivas for the next generation, realizing they hold prized possessions. Rivas in good condition generally sell in the high six figures.

INSPIRING LOCAL COLLECTORS AND BOAT BUILDERS

Many have been enchanted by Riva boats. In addition to Johnston, three other collectors on Geneva Lake keep Rivas in the water. And local boat builder Lars Bergersen, owner of Bergersen Boat Co. in Lake Geneva, is in the midst of making a Riva replica. For the past three years, Bergersen has been working on a vintage replica in his Lake Geneva-based shop, using original Riva blueprints. The custom order was commissioned by a client who loves the look of a Riva.

“What makes Rivas so special or stand apart is that they have the prettiest lines of any wood boat,” Bergersen explains. “A lot of the manufacturers of new boats, including Chris-Craft, have copied that shape [on newer models] because it’s such an iconic look.”

Bergersen is building the replica out of red mahogany for authenticity. “Riva built the first boat in mahogany and found it was too costly, so they opted for molded plywood veneer from there on out,” he explains. By building the replica out of mahogany, the client will have a Riva that is closest to the original model.

Although this creates an extra challenge for the boat builder, Bergersen says the end result will be worth it for his client. “Rivas perform very well on Lake Geneva,” he points out. “With their size being 27 to 28 feet, it really helps with handling rough water and boat chop.”

Rivas continue to be heralded as some of the most beautiful runabouts of all time. Just to see them skimming Geneva Lake is a glimpse of la dolce vita itself. “When you say, ‘I have a Ferrari,’ [do] you need to say, ‘I have a car’? Everybody knows what a Ferrari is,” explained Alberto Galassi, CEO of The Ferretti Group in a 2022 interview. “A Riva is the same thing. Riva is beyond boating. It is a myth.”

WNEW & INVITING RENOVATIONS

Stebnitz Builders breathed new life into a lakefront property with a whole-home renovation and dramatically reimagined landscaping

hen you think of lakeside living what comes to mind? Pristine white environs teeming with light from expansive windows that frame stunning lake views? An inviting porch, overlooking the lake while offering the ideal place to relax and unwind? Stunning landscape elements that celebrate all that lakeside properties have to offer?

This beautifully renovated Williams Bay home by Stebnitz Builders boasts these attributes and so much more.

Since 1972, Stebnitz Builders, a full-service, design-build general contractor, has provided award-winning craftsmanship for home renovations throughout the Lake Geneva area. Blending form and function was the cornerstone of this home’s renovation, completed for a semi-retired couple in Williams Bay. A refined version of a Craftsman cottage, the 4,200-squarefoot home’s design celebrates its unique lakeside locale, while offering a classic cottage-style feel to the space.

As Jeff Auberger, remodeling consultant at Stebnitz Builders, explains, the home’s interior renovation was relatively straightforward and only required minor room size adjustments. The Stebnitz team’s primary focus was enhancing the home’s interior design and functionality, transforming the space from a second home to a primary residence.

Throughout its long history, Stebnitz Builders has efficiently managed complex renovation and construction while remaining sensitive to the human elements of designing and renovating a family’s home. In addition, the company strives to delight homeowners with an exceptionally well-designed and renovated home as soon as they open the front door.

“This project not only showcases the skills of our master craftsmen, but, those of our amazing trade partners, highlighted by the beautiful work of

both the Laura Design Co. and C&D Landscaping and Design,” Auberger says.

The home’s complete renovation included adding upscale finishes throughout, as well as enhancing the kitchen with new cabinets. Various custom built-ins throughout the main floor and lower level enhance the livability of the home’s multiple levels. In addition, the home’s four baths were all renovated to blend modern amenities with timeless design trends.

To capture the essence of lakeside living, the home’s screened porch was converted to a three-season space, complete with a SunSpace window system, radiant ceiling heaters and cable railing, offering a wonderful retreat during the spring, summer and fall months.

Of course, no lakeside home would be complete without an aweinspiring patio where homeowners can entertain guests, or enjoy a quiet meal or glass of wine as the sun sets across the lake.To enhance the existing walkout concrete patio space, Stebnitz Builders added outdoor cabinets, two beverage centers and a paver-stone overlay — creating the ideal space to enjoy all that Geneva Lake has to offer.

The second level features an owner’s suite, complete with a private balcony overlooking the lake, as well as two additional guest bedrooms, full bath and laundry room.

While the main-floor great room provides the ideal spot to relax and entertain, the lower level boasts an expansive entertainment space with a media area and built-in seating, and access to the outdoor paver patio.

The entire property was also enveloped in updated landscaping, with massive boulders, complementary softscapes and down-lighting, resulting in a uniform renovation through the home’s interior and exterior spaces. The steep slope to the lake was reconstructed using High Format outcropping walls, stairs and pavers to address erosion and safety concerns, while dramatically enhancing the beauty and longevity of the property.

“The stabilization of the shoreland and associated retaining walls to preserve the property long-term presented a number of challenges,” Auberger says. “The shore yard was extremely steep and provided limited space for staging the landscaping materials and access for the long-reach equipment required to place those materials. Additionally, we needed the involvement of multiple structural and soil engineers, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) review, as well as village permitting and oversight. It required creative planning and orchestration to manage this entire phase of the project. While incredibly challenging, the results for this amazing lake home and shoreland transformation affirm it was worth all the effort.”

204 Commerce Ct., #3

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STEBNITZ BUILDERS INC.

Victorian Charm Reimagined

A family transformed a house in Lake Geneva’s historic Maple Park district into a dream home

BY LAUREN EVE | PHOTOS BY SHANNA WOLF

Angela Turner is the founder and principal of a nonprofit management consulting firm, but, outside of office hours, she channels her creativity as a self-taught interior designer redecorating historic homes. Influenced by her daughter Sarah’s love for Lake Geneva, and after spending many years renting homes in Lake Geneva during the summer, Turner, her partner Kevin Kolb and their family decided to create a more permanent home here. To do this, they chose an historic home, built in Lake Geneva’s Maple Park District in 1872, which is listed on the Wisconsin Register of Historic Places.

Angela Turner and Kevin Kolb

This two-story, Italianate-style home was built during the Victorian era when it was a popular trend for homeowners to choose brightly painted exteriors featuring contrasting colors. These homes were often referred to as “painted ladies,” and are perhaps most famous in San Francisco’s Alamo Square neighborhood. The home Turner purchased in Lake Geneva was formerly the Davis House, named for its first owner, William Davis. Davis was a shopkeeper in Lake Geneva and one of the founders behind the dry-goods store Davis & Slade’s. This historic home and many others like it can be seen on the walking tours hosted by the Wisconsin Historical Society.

Turner is no stranger to historic homes. Having raised her children in various older homes dating back as far as the early 1900s, Turner values the unique architectural details of historic properties. After exploring numerous homes in Lake Geneva, she was drawn to this particular house for its ornate craftsmanship, as well as the square footage — the Davis house boasts nearly 5,000 square feet with five bedrooms, four full bathrooms, a finished basement and an addition that was built by the previous owners. “For our family, this house represented the best of all worlds,” explains Turner. “A quiet neighborhood, leisurely walks by the lake, shopping and restaurants, all within walking distance.”

The previous homeowner had initially decorated the home with period-appropriate features: dark woodwork, heavy wall moldings and traditional flooring. Turner envisioned a transformation of the space that included white-painted woodwork and abundant natural light in every room. “For 17 years, I spent my summers in Bay Head, New Jersey, on the Jersey shore,” she explains. “My kids woke up to crashing waves for 15 of those summers,” says Turner. “I knew, living by the lake, I wanted to create a similar beach vibe.”

Peacock wallpaper and vintage-inspired light fixtures adorn a reading nook in the upstairs hallway (right). The breakfast table and chairs in the kitchen were sourced from Walter E. Smithe Furniture (below).

Turner also recognized the significant amount of work that would be needed for the renovation she envisioned. Beginning in the summer of 2021, Turner was introduced to Lake Geneva designer Tammy Schmidt, who helped bring her vision to life. Turner also enlisted the expertise of family friend and contractor, Pawel Krawczyk. “Over the years, Pawel and I built a trusted relationship,” says Turner. “His carpentry skills and attention to detail were invaluable to me. He knows my standards.”

In the original, 1872 section of the home, a curved wall is enhanced by dramatic wainscoting and Fine Arrowroot wallpaper in Dark Blue Denim (above). Unexpectedly, the Horchow Peacock chairs in the living room became a design inspiration for the house (right).

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To start the renovation, Turner chose to lighten up the interiors with paint, transforming the dark interiors with Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace. For this significant painting and interior work, she sought the expert guidance of interior designer Schmidt from Novel Interiors, as well as interior painters from Wall Pro.

The spacious kitchen (a result of the earlier addition) underwent a significant transformation. Rather than fully redesigning the kitchen, Turner modernized the existing layout with extensive updates. She decided to have the original cabinets painted, which presented a challenge, she says, because they required thorough cleaning, sanding, priming with shellac and then four coats of Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace paint.

Next, Turner added a large, solid-wood island with elegant bar stools for more seating. Travertine flooring from The

Designer Amber Cook of Lake Geneva’s Brick & Mortar helped Turner update the dining room, pairing modern furniture and fixtures with the vintage fireplace and mantel mirror.

Tile Shop replaced the existing ceramictile checkerboard floor. Krawczyk skillfully installed the travertine to preserve the hardwood border. Once the kitchen floor was in place, Lake Geneva’s Timeless Flooring refinished the floors in the adjacent rooms to match the border of the kitchen floor. The final touch in the kitchen included custom quartz countertops and backsplash in Unique Calcutta Gold from Crafted Countertops in Genoa City.

In the library, Krawczyk added custom wainscoting and crown molding along the unique, curved walls. Using the same process

The home’s sizable kitchen is the result of a renovation and addition by a previous homeowner. Turner opted to paint the cabinets in Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace (above). The 48-inch stove is anchored by a dramatic hood and marble backsplash (right).

as the kitchen cabinets, Wall Pro primed and sprayed multiple coats of Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace on the bookcases. Turner selected the light fixtures from Schonbek Milano in Florentine Bronze to complement the space. “I was inspired by peacock chairs from Horchow when choosing wallpaper,” Turner explains. “I opted for Fine Arrowroot Wallpaper in Dark Blue Denim to mirror their design. It is by far one of my favorite parts of the library!”

On the exterior of the home, Turner was guided by other historic “painted ladies” from the Victorian era. She turned to Bob Buckter, better known as “Color Dr,” a color consultant from San Francisco who is an expert in the period and the style of architecture. Together, they selected a palette of six hues, including greens, blues, deep burgundy and a striking 23 kt. gold accent, which was meticulously executed to enhance the home’s brightness by local painter Dave Barnes. Buckter then sent Turner a complex map of where to place each color on the house, using a “paint by numbers” approach.

Elsewhere on the exterior, the existing brick patio behind the house was expanded into a walkway leading to the front sidewalk. The driveway was redesigned and outlined in charcoal, executed by hardscaping expert Timothy Richter from Granite Ridge. Another charming touch is an old-fashioned, rope-and-board swing hanging from one of the oldgrowth trees next to home, just off the open side porch.

As with many renovation projects, Turner says she ran into numerous challenges throughout the remodel. Reimagining the kitchen floor required careful removal of tile without compromising the integrity of the hardwood border. Several of the bedrooms, bathrooms and living areas required significant updates. Outside, the alley and slant of the driveway caused flooding in the garage during heavy rain. “Despite these hurdles, my many experiences working with older homes prepared

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me with the skills I needed to overcome every obstacle along the way,” Turner explains.

For Turner and Kolb and their blended family of six children and three grandchildren, the completed remodel project transformed the house into her ultimate dream home. When asked if she had to choose a favorite room, she admits her heart belongs to the library, a space she holds dear for its unique charm and family memories. “Every time I step inside, I feel content and joyful, moving from room to room with no regrets,” Turner says. “It’s the most beautiful home I’ve ever created, with every room meeting my expectations.” For Kolb, it is the front porch. “Sitting on the front porch is the most relaxing place to start and end a day.”

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home & garden

Everything Under the Sun

Expert tips for designing your ideal outdoor oasis

BY JESSICA RIGGIO

Asummer walk along the Shore Path allows everyone to glimpse majestic and incredible homes in a wide range of architectural styles. But, sometimes, even more impressive than the homes themselves are the beautiful outdoor living spaces associated with these homes. From the piers and boathouses to the gardens, patios, decks and outdoor kitchens glimpsed along the Shore Path, there is an abundance of outdoor living inspiration on view, and elements from these luxe properties can be incorporated into any backyard.

Amber Cook, interior designer with Brick & Mortar Home and Outdoor in Lake Geneva helps clients create outdoor spaces that are personalized, unique and functional. “For anyone who appreciates nature and the sun, it’s nice to have an area to gather,” Cook says.

Designing the ideal outdoor living space depends on the features of the property: is there water frontage? Is there a large backyard? Is there a patio? Is there an outdoor entertaining area attached to the main house?

Cook explains that a fundamental step in designing an outdoor living space is to think about how the space will be used and envision what would be most functional. “When it comes to creating outdoor spaces, are you looking at entertaining and dining, or lounging?” Cook asks.

Strategic placement of furniture at different levels can help create that feeling of shared experience by opening lines of sight. One trendy way to achieve this is to incorporate higher dining settings and backyard bar-top experiences — a design option that has been growing in popularity. “It’s great if you’re putting a dining space off a deck or a balcony with rails because if you sit up a little bit higher, you’re looking out over your rails and into the view, versus sitting down lower,

looking into the rail,” Cook says.

An outdoor space is also an opportunity to be creative and have fun with your home design and to create a space personalized for relaxation. “Right now, the world of design is very neutral, and the outdoor decor usually flows with your interior decor,” Cook says. “[But] an outdoor space is also a good space to go out of our comfort zone and add a pop of color.”

Landscape designer Corinne Livingston at Creative Edge Landscapes in Twin Lakes agrees, and points out that a pop of color can easily come from strategically placed, lowmaintenance annuals like geraniums. “You can have just one small pocket where you put a geranium and you’ll have that pop of color all season long,” Livingston says.

Livingston says that for a bolder look, she’s also seeing increased use of statement plantings alongside bistro-style outdoor settings, usually consisting of a single type of plant. “I’m seeing a lot of hydrangeas — some minimalist-type plantings, and then throw in a hydrangea to make that impact,” Livingston says.

Edible landscaping is another trendy way to enhance outdoor living space and generate ingredients for grilling withing arm’s reach. Fruit trees

(Top) Flowers act as a privacy screen on a lakefront property. (Middle) A fire table and Polywood chairs from Fontana Home provide outdoor lounge space. (This photo) Katie Oglesby inspects a vegetables and herb garden she designed for a lakefront client.

are trending at a higher rate than ornamental trees, and herb gardens are growing in popularity.

While it’s nice to have that herb garden close to the kitchen, Livingston points out it’s important to give plants enough space from the foundation of the house. Allow enough room for the plant to grow to make that investment last a little longer and envision its full size when planting. “Plants grow just like people and pets do, they need space,” Livingston says.

According to Cook and Livingston, easy upkeep is one of the top requests they receive, in everything from potted plants to classic outdoor furniture. In fact, a trending material for classics like Adirondack chairs is recycled plastic, which ensures easy upkeep, versatility and durability.

“They make everything [out of recycled plastic]: deep seating, dining, fire pits — this product will last you a lifetime, it’s very low-maintenance, stain resistant, doesn’t rust and you don’t have to sand it,” Cook explains. “They’re investment pieces that can

handle the Midwest weather yearround.”

Of course, true classics never go out of style, and Cook says crisp, white wood Adirondack chairs are still popular for piers, lawns or other outdoor gathering areas. “There’s something special about the pop of white against the natural backdrop,” Cook says. “It’s timeless.”

Sometimes homeowners are looking for a way to increase their privacy, especially for the first 6 to 8 feet outside of the house. In tighter spaces, the solution may be a privacy fence. These fences are usually 12 to 18 feet in length and 6 to 8 feet high, and often double as planters or supports for blooming vines. The effect adds beauty to your space as well as your neighbor’s.

“Some people grow grapes on pergolas, and even half-pergolas are becoming kind of popular,” Livingston explains. “The combination of plants and fencing make it more neighborly.”

Cook concurs; she suggests using natural elements like plants and wooden fencing to create privacy walls. She says it’s also popular to create walls with greenery using planters. “We sell a lot of planters with boxwoods that give you some height and privacy,” Cook says.

Woven fabrics add texture and warmth to the space, Cook adds. Grays and taupe, soft tans and creams are popular for outdoor areas. In the Geneva Lake area, where “lake life” is often the central design focus, accents in navy are dominant as well. “Having so much water around, naturally the nautical theme is very popular,” Cook explains. “If someone is picking an accent, most likely they’re picking navy to play off all the lake homes and water we have.”

Home away from Home

4 Unique Getaways in the Lake Geneva area

BY JESSICA RIGGIO

From girls’ weekends and golf trips to family reunions, summers in Lake Geneva are always a great time. Where you stay can be extraordinary, too. There are rental properties for every budget and type of getaway in the area surrounding Geneva Lake. From downtown glamping to lakefront living, we’ve got some suggestions of unique places to stay this summer.

1 | GIRLS’ WEEKEND

Charming canvas tents and tall leafy plants make this loft rental in downtown Lake Geneva perfect for catching up. It’s a place to get the girls together for an epic sleepover, complete with swings that serve as barstools.

This historic and sun-soaked loft sleeps 12, has a full kitchen and is just a few minutes’ walk to the Riviera Beach. Each tent set up within the spacious loft is a suite unto itself with enough space to create some privacy. Conveniently located in the heart of downtown, it’s an escape with options that fit everyone’s idea of fun. Where to rent: genevalakesvacations.com.

2 | GOLF GETAWAY

Kick back in sophisticated style at this Lake Como home after a day of golfing at the Geneva National Resort and look over the links during evening cocktails on the deck. This home sleeps 11, has 4.5 bathrooms and the living room is decked out with a sleek fireplace and a mounted TV. It’s the perfect golfers’

getaway near Lake Como, and is also close to Lake Geneva for boating and other water sports.

When you’re ready to come home from the links, there’s a game room in the basement of this trendy home and each bedroom is equipped with upscale amenities like smart TVs and a walk-in shower. It’s also close to a private park and basketball court as well as other diversions to entertain everyone in your group. Where to rent: grandwelcome.com.

3 | FAMILY RETREAT

This light-filled, newly remodeled Fontana home is situated in the middle of multiple golf courses, near Geneva Lake for water activities and is a short drive from several downtown areas that offer dining and shopping. It’s a perfect family retreat that sleeps 12 and offers spacious rooms with plenty of seating, as well as an open floor plan.

With two decks, a campfire ring and plenty of space to run, it’s a great spot for families with young kids or a

multigenerational group that likes to spend time outdoors. The property is also near the Fontana Beach and is located close to several parks, playgrounds and other amenities. Where to rent: vrbo.com.

4 | LAKEFRONT PROPERTY

The yard of this rental home opens directly onto a channel of Delavan Lake, and a sprawling deck offers perfect water views. With four bedrooms, the space sleeps 12 and is a perfect place to spend a long summer weekend with family and friends.

Enjoy a full kitchen and a bright, airy vibe in the home and enough rooms to find privacy when needed. It’s just a walk through the yard to go for a boat ride as well, and the rental property offers the option of a rental boat (with driver) for guests to use to tour the lake. Where to rent: airbnb.com.

For links to these exceptional vacation rentals and extra content, including additional unique rental options in the area, visit atthelakemagazine.com/ lake-geneva-unique-rentals.

trending at the lake

better than a summer day at the beach? Make the most of it with these fun beach accessories from local shops.

Honey Hobby of a

Local beekeepers share a passion for pollinators and their sweet rewards

BY SHELBY DEERING

There are few activities that can actually change the world, and beekeeping is one of those pursuits. Thanks to their ability to pollinate plants, trees and bushes, bees are vital to our food supply and an irreplaceable part of the ecosystem of our world. However, bee populations have been threatened in recent years by a mysterious disease known as Colony Collapse Disorder, which some data indicates may destroy up to 50 percent of an apiarist’s hives in a given season.

This high rate of loss has made beekeeping a more important activity than ever, as apiarists must actively replace the lost colonies each year in order to keep steady the number of bees available for pollination. Luckily, there has been a surge of interest in beekeeping in the United States. The Washington Post reports that since 2007, the honeybee has been the fastest-growing livestock segment in the country. And the most recent data from the U.S. Census of Agriculture suggests that, due to this sharp rise in beekeeping, America’s honeybee population may be at an all-time high.

Locally, there are many hobbyist and small-business beekeepers working to keep the bees successfully pollinating the Geneva Lake area. These local beekeepers are doing their part to raise and maintain healthy bee colonies, which in turn provides invaluable pollination to the area’s flowers and trees. The bonus is that these beekeepers also harvest the bees’ excess honey at the end of each season, and sell it in various forms directly to local consumers.

BUZZING BEGINNINGS

Ayla Guild is a veterinarian, beekeeper and co-owner of The Hive Taproom in East Troy, a meadery she opened with her brewer husband, Tim, in 2018. Mead, an alcoholic beverage similar to cider, is made from honey. So Guild started beekeeping in order to provide the raw material for The Hive’s rotating list of meads, but also because she wanted to have more “Zen moments.”

“I wanted to harvest my own honey,” she says. “I wanted to see if I could apply my veterinary skills to make a difference and keep bees healthy.

I wanted to provide more pollinators to my community. I wanted to learn more about the bees.”

In learning the art of beekeeping, Guild was mentored by Dan O’Leary of East Troy’s Honey Valley Beekeeping. Today, Guild’s hives contain as many as 70,000 bees and produce enough honey for she and her husband to brew several different varieties of dry-session meads made from 100 percent raw honey, including popular year-round flavors like Cherry Love and Pineapple Express.

Stephanie Slater, owner and apiarist at Jam Session Honey and Preserves in Elkhorn, knew little about beekeeping growing up on a Walworth County dairy farm, but that changed when she attended an Earth Day event at Elkhorn’s Gateway Technical College and listened to a female beekeeper’s presentation.

“I was so intrigued,” she remembers. “Although I no longer lived on a farm, I contemplated how I could start beekeeping. It turned out that a friend with a hobby farm outside Elkhorn wanted to host some [bee] colonies.” Slater’s business was born from that serendipity.

Beekeeping can also be a family affair, as is the case with Lake Geneva’s Klug family. There’s John Klug, the

Bloom In

Grow a Pollinator Garden to Help the Honeybees

If you’d like to do your part to help the local honeybee population, consider planting a pollinator garden in your yard. Board member Tom Nickols of Yerkes Observatory leads a volunteer group that has been working on landscape restoration around the historic property, including the inclusion of a pollinator garden and five on-site beehives managed by a company called Bee All About, owned by Kim Kulton.

Nickols says trees and bushes are generally the first things to bloom in the spring, which may attract the earliest honeybees of the season.

“Red maples, lilacs, redbud, magnolia, lindens, willows and fruit trees are good choices,” Nickols says. “These trees provide a huge amount of pollen and nectar.” For summer blooms, he suggests planting clover, peonies, columbines and native wildflowers such as coneflowers, black-eyed Susans and asters.

patriarch who is nicknamed “Old Master” (OM) as a nod to his many years of beekeeping experience; Marc Klug, John’s son; and Marc’s son Andrew Klug. It all started when John’s wife gave him a beehive for Christmas in 1968 — he has raised bees almost continually since then. Marc became a beekeeper shortly thereafter in 1975 at 10 years old. And Andrew became a beekeeper in 2012 at 11 years old. Family friends Nick Staggs and Johnny Packard have also been inspired to become beekeepers as a result.

Guild, of the Hive Taproom, says that she tries to open up the hives as little as possible, since it disrupts the bees’ home. She has a list of things she’s looking for when she opens a hive. Do the bees have honey? Do they have pollen? She’ll also look for signs of a healthy queen — if she sees eggs, she knows the queen has been there within the past three days. She checks developing larvae to make sure they look healthy, and she observes the adults, looking for drones (male bees) and worker bees (female bees).

“All of us have been drawn in by the pure enjoyment that beekeeping brings and the satisfaction of seeing the hives grow and thrive,” Andrew Klug says. “And of course, once you taste fresh honey, you can’t go back.”

BUSY AS A BEE

While a beekeeper’s operations may vary, Slater says that small-scale beekeepers generally inspect their colonies on a weekly basis. These inspections can include assessing the health and nutrition of the honeybees and making sure they have enough space in the hive. A beekeeper may also provide some supplemental nutrition, as well as pest and disease treatments. “Unlike cows or other livestock, honeybees don’t require daily care,” Slater points out.

But mostly, Guild explains, she prefers to observe the colonies without opening up their hives. “I watch them fly in and out of their hive and watch for [the bees] bringing back pollen,” she says. “If the hive is bringing in pollen, there’s a good chance they’re raising brood, or baby bees.”

FACING CHALLENGES

Guild is quick to point out that it’s not all sunshine when it comes to raising bees. Sometimes, even the most enthusiastic apiarists meet challenges that make beekeeping seem daunting and even heartbreaking.

John Klug experienced his “biggest challenge” in the late 1980s, when Varroa mites infiltrated his hives. These microscopic, parasitic mites feed on honeybees and destroy colonies. As a result, having the hives overtaken by mites is one of

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Photos courtesy of Unilock.

the worst things that can happen to a beekeeper. Before the mites arrived, Klug had 70 hives; after their arrival, he lost nearly all of his hives in one season. “It was a huge emotional and financial hit,” he says.

Slater knows the toll mites can take on an apiary. She says that the battle to keep mites at bay is a top priority. She has to continually work to keep the numbers of mites low throughout the year. “But we’ll never get rid of them all,” she adds.

As with all activities, there are also a lot of dull moments or tasks that require hard work. “As cool as this is, a lot of beekeeping isn’t sexy,” says Guild, of the Hive Taproom. “It’s a lot of lifting heavy boxes awkwardly and cleaning equipment. But it’s the moments that you’re out with the bees that are super memorable.”

A SWARM OF SURPRISES

Many people think beekeeping is a fairly straightforward venture, but the apiarists all point out that it can be tricky when you first get started. “It’s more than just putting

some bugs in a box,” Slater explains. “It’s probably a steeper learning curve than caring for other animals. Every single year is different. By having a solid understanding of honeybee biology and behavior, a beekeeper will be able to adjust to seasonal differences.”

Marc Klug agrees, and says he has also picked up on bees’ idiosyncrasies over the years. “The bees can sense who is nervous and who is calm,” he says. “For instance, in our group, Andrew, Johnny and OM are calm, and Nick and I give off nervous energy to the bees. As a result, Nick and I are targeted more by the bees.”

Guild adds that most people are surprised to learn that honey is extracted only once a year, toward the end of the blooming season. “Therefore, our honey is a mix of everything the bees have been sampling and collecting from April until the first week of August,” she says. “Each year, our honey tastes a

little different — sometimes there are more pronounced floral notes, citrus notes or mint notes.”

At The Hive Taproom, Guild and her husband use the honey they harvest to create several different flavors of mead. “I love that when you taste our session meads, you are literally tasting the results of the weather patterns,” she says. “It’s a bit spacetime continuum bending when you think about it.”

HIVES WITH HEART

There’s one quality that all beekeepers seem to share: they genuinely love their honeybees and care about them deeply. It also gives beekeepers a chance to focus on an activity they enjoy while connecting with nature in a meaningful way.

Try This At Home

Beginning beekeeper? Our experts give advice.

For those interested in taking up beekeeping, Slater recommends that new apiarists join a local beekeeping association, such as the Walworth County Beekeepers Association or the Wisconsin Honey Producers Association. She stresses the importance of networking and education in the field, and points out that aspiring beekeepers can gain access to valuable resources, and form friendships along the way. Joining an association can also provide opportunities to shadow experienced beekeepers in their apiaries.

In addition, Slater advises that it’s important to understand your town, city or municipality’s ordinances (you may not be able to keep hives in your backyard, for example), and since there is a “steep learning curve in beekeeping,” as she says, new beekeepers should look for classes and conferences in January and February, long before summer arrives.

“I love the Zen that comes from being in flow with the bees,” Guild explains. “Standing over an open hive lights up all your senses. You can smell the honey… You can hear the vibrations of the bees’ wings, and in the summer, you can feel the air currents that the bees are putting through the hive as they work to cool it down. Each colony has its own personality. You can feel their collective energy as they all work together to accomplish a goal. It’s really powerful. They teach me to slow down, be present, pay attention and be curious.”

Marc Klug agrees. “Working with bees is a sort of meditation … when you are inspecting a hive with 20,000 bees in it, you are only thinking of what you are doing and nothing else.”

Johnny Packard describes the practice as “therapeutic”: “You are forced to slow down, be in the moment and try to understand something that is very different from yourself.”

Slater says that her favorite activity is competing in honey shows, where apiarists enter their honey and honeycombs to be judged and ranked by experts. In 2023, Slater’s liquid honey received “Best of Show” honors at the American Honey Show hosted by the American Beekeeping

Slater also relishes the opportunities to be outdoors when she’s working with the bees. “Sunny days in June are great days to be in the apiary,” she says. “Everyone, including the bees, is happy. And extracting honey is always exciting in the fall. There’s a sense of pride when people ask for more of my honey because it’s the best they’ve ever tasted.”

For more information, including where to purchase products, scan this QR code.

Arvind Ahuja M.D.

Sheri Dewan M.D.

better living Serenity Now

Learn & Inspire

Williams Bay emerges as an epicenter of wellness, from yoga and massage to organic food

BY SARAH KOEHLER

When most people think of wellness destinations, they likely think of yoga retreats in the Utah desert or a visit to the hot springs of Colorado. They might even consider exotic and international places, like the geothermal-heated pools of Iceland or the ancient bathhouses of Greece. But closer to home, there is a location with many options for health, wellness and, yes, even pampering.

Nikelle Burrough, owner of Crescent Moon Wellness Center in Williams Bay, leads a yoga class.

Over the past few decades, Williams Bay’s small downtown area has evolved into a Geneva Lake-area niche full of diverse wellness options. Whether you’re looking to spend some time outdoors, take a yoga class or indulge in well-deserved pampering, Williams Bay has options for anyone looking to treat themselves to some “me time.”

One of the newest additions to the Williams Bay wellness scene is Heatwave Hot Yoga Studio, owned by Gianna Hogan. She grew up visiting Lake Geneva in the summers, but made Williams Bay her fulltime residence in 2020. In opening Heatwave Yoga, Hogan wanted to put a new spin on traditional yoga, Pilates and barre classes, all of which she says are responsible for helping her change her life for the better.

“We put a twist on each [class] to make it exciting and fresh each time a client steps into the studio,” Hogan explains. “Our advanced infrared heating system is the icing on the cake for a lot of people, [who love] getting all the same health benefits that an infrared sauna would offer while simultaneously getting a workout in.”

Another space that focuses on wellness in Williams Bay is Crescent Moon Wellness Center, owned by Nikelle Burrough. Crescent Moon’s expert staff focuses on providing multiple types of massage, and the center also offers yoga, meditation,

acupuncture and other wellness opportunities. Crescent Moon began with just one massage therapist 10 years ago, but has grown to four rooms and seven massage therapists who focus on whole-body wellness.

Burrough, a licensed massage therapist, certified body coach and yoga instructor, opened her space in Williams Bay because of a personal love for the area. Like Hogan, she grew up spending summers on the lake. After marrying her husband, a Williams Bay native, Burrough became a full-time resident, and she loves that there are so many options for self-care in Williams Bay. “You can start your day with a class at Crescent Moon ... continue down the block for lunch at Green Grocer or Harpoon Willie’s, connect with nature in Kishwauketoe then finish the day with a deep tissue massage,” Burrough says.

Some of the yoga classes available at

Crescent Moon are affiliated with a group called Yoga Lake Geneva. In addition, Burrough and her staff host mindfulness workshops, breathwork, sound healing and other wellness events that allow clients “to dive inward and find deep lasting change.”

Karen Babcock, owner of Your Beautiful Life, embraces this wholeself approach to wellness as well. In her Williams Bay space, she offers traditional massage services, but also provides several unique options for clients, including massages targeted specifically for prenatal care, geriatric needs, oncology patients and even hospice massage. On top of this, Babcock’s Brain Health Coaching services can help clients with emotional pain, such as grief, stress, anxiety, trauma and depression, as well as strategies to help manage Attention Deficit Disorder.

Of course, wellness can also involve even more pampering forms of selfcare. Since 2005, Clear Waters Salon Med Spa’s flagship location in Williams Bay has offered a wide variety of options for this kind of relaxation. The full-service salon and medical spa is perhaps best known for services like massages, facials, manicures, pedicures, and haircuts and colors. Unique to Williams Bay, the med spa also employs a registered nurse, a medical director and support staff, which allows the spa to provide advanced medical treatments such as Botox, Juvéderm, Restalane and a number of other options for filling

The current location of the Green Grocer, Clear Waters Salon Med Spa and Heatwave Yoga.

fine lines and wrinkles, improving skin conditions and helping clients look and feel their physical best.

Dawn Marie MancusoLicht, co-owner with Jennifer Veith and her twin Jane Larson, recently broke ground on a new, state-of-theart space for Clear Waters Salon Med Spa, kitty-corner from the current space. Mancuso-Licht says the first floor of the new space will include a wine bar and outdoor seating, while the second floor allow space for salon services. “The hope is the new place will be open by June 1, 2025,” Mancuso-Licht says. “The current building is more than 100 years old, so the maintenance is a lot. The new space is much bigger, newer and will allow for more custom use of the interior space.”

Next door, and owned by the same trio as Clear Waters, is the Green Grocer Deli and Cafe, which serves organic and locally-sourced options for breakfast and lunch. The adjacent coffee shop space offers a full coffee bar, teas and pastries. In everything they stock and serve, the Green Grocer’s emphasis is on high-quality, organic ingredients and produce, as well as products made locally and in neighboring counties.

Wellness can also be found in something as simple as a day spent in nature, and Williams Bay is an ideal spot for that as well, thanks to Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy. With nearly four miles of dedicated and maintained walking trails, a 15-acre arboretum and restored historic woodlands, a hike through Kishwauketoe provides

an unparalleled glimpse of a variety of landscapes and wildlife.

Burrough of Crescent Moon Wellness points out that the wide range of wellness options in Williams Bay is really quite impressive for a small town. “Being part of a like-minded community motivates me to serve the community and continue to learn, utilize and promote holistic care,” she says. “I love that the Bay is a home for wellness. It adds charm to its already serene and comfortable vibe.”

A hiking boardwalk in Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy.

On the Page

“Cicada Summer” author shares her Lake Geneva inspiration

BY SARAH KOEHLER

For author Maureen Leurck, setting two of her novels in Lake Geneva was as easy a decision as digging into a cheeseburger at Chuck’s or listening to live music at Mars Resort — some of her own favorite local activities. Leurck, who grew up visiting the same Powers Lake cottage her mother frequented as a child, says the Lake Geneva area holds a special place both in her heart and in the pages of her books.

Leurck’s first novel set in Lake Geneva, “Cicada Summer,” may have extra resonance with readers during our current cicada summer. It tells the story of recently divorced house-flipper Alex Proctor. “[Alex] undertakes the restoration of a century-old house just a few blocks from Geneva Lake during a cicada summer,” Leurck explains. “Amid overgrown grounds and rooms brimming with debris, she finds treasures — pocket doors, hardwood floors hidden beneath layers of linoleum and grime — and carved initials that reveal a long-ago love story involving an elderly neighbor, Elsie, and another cicada summer.”

against the backdrop of beautiful Lake Geneva.”

wonderful place to the page, and share it with readers.”

Leurck explains that the story is one of second chances and redemption, a

Leurck, who also writes under the name Maureen Kilmer, says that her childhood days in Wisconsin were almost rustic, with no access to television, phone or air-conditioning, and yet, she says they were some of the best days of her life. “We thought it was the most fantastic vacation ever,” she recalls. “Visiting the Lake Geneva area was one of the best parts of childhood, and I’m proud to say that I’ve continued the tradition with my kids, who love it as much as I do. There is nothing more beautiful or idyllic than the lake on a warm summer day. I wanted to bring this

“Cicada Summer” isn’t the only time that Leurck has used Lake Geneva as the setting for one of her novels. Another book, “Monarch Manor,” published in 2020, is also set in Lake Geneva, and Leurck says she suspects these won’t be the last of her works to use the picturesque setting. “I visit the area several times a year, usually at least once a month,” she explains.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, when she visits the area now, one of her favorite places to stop is a place filled with books — the Lake Geneva Public Library. “It’s such a wonderfully peaceful retreat away from the hustle and bustle of the town, and the lake views are unmatched,” she says. “There is something truly magical about the building.”

In recent years, a new phenomenon in book exchange has emerged — the Little Free Library (LFL). The LFL program began as the dream of Todd Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin. As a tribute to his mother, a schoolteacher and avid reader, and inspired by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, Todd built a model oneroom schoolhouse about the size of a mailbox, filled it with books and posted it outside his home. He invited his neighbors and members of his community to, “take a book, leave a book.”

His idea caught the attention of UW-Madison’s Rick Brooks, and together they began building and distributing the structures to other people who were interested in hosting an LFL on their property. By 2011, LFLs were so popular that Bol and Brooks formed a nonprofit organization to oversee the program. Based in St. Paul, Minn., Little Free Library’s mission is to serve as “a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers and expanding book access for all,

Take a Book, Leave a Book

Little Free Libraries add charm and promote literacy and neighborliness

BY SARAH KOEHLER

through a global network of volunteerled Little Free Library bookexchange boxes.” The group believes that access to books should never be limited by space, privilege or time.

By 2013, the program that Bol had started in his yard began garnering national accolades. Little Free Library received the Innovations in Reading Prize from the National Book Foundation, and Bol and Brooks were bestowed with the Movers and Shakers award from the American Library Association in recognition for their role as thought leaders in the library industry.

In 2015, Little Free Library was awarded the Library of Congress Literacy Award for its effective implementation of best practices in literacy and reading promotion.

The Little Free Library concept has turned out to be an idea with hugely universal appeal. By 2022, more than 150,000 LFLs had been established in all 50 states and more than 150 countries worldwide. Locally, Lake Geneva has multiple LFLs, with locations in front of Simple Cafe, along the Shore Path and near the First Congregational Church in Lake Geneva, among

many other spots. There are also LFLs in Delavan, Williams Bay, Fontana, Lake Como and other nearby towns and municipalities as well. Most of the libraries are built or maintained by individuals with a love for reading, or by groups doing service work, such as the Geneva Lake Conservancy, the Leadership Dynamics group at Badger High School or the Delavan-Darien graduating class of 2013.

To find LFLs near you, visit littlefreelibrary.org and use the “World Map” function to type in any ZIP code or city. You can also visit the website to start your own LFL (you can purchase the ready-made structures and posts for about $450), or shop for materials to stock existing libraries. The LFL organization also sponsors literacy programs, book exchanges and indigenous and minority-centered programs which help to get books into the hands of those who do not always see themselves represented in mainstream literature.

THE BARK RIVER CHRONICLES: STORIES FROM A WISCONSIN WATERSHED

BY MILTON J. BATES

to Lake Koshkonong, Bates touches on glacial landscapes, the Blackhawk War, Milwaukee’s brewing industry and other fascinating tidbits of southern Wisconsin’s history.

THIMBLE SUMMER

BY ELIZABETH ENRIGHT

Growing up on a farm in Depression-era Wisconsin, nine-year old Garnet discovers a silver thimble in a dry riverbed. Shortly afterward, a long drought ends, marking the start of Garnet’s lucky “thimble summer.” Kids and adults will both love this charming classic of children’s literature.

STEAM TRAINS TO GENEVA LAKE: C&NW’S ELGIN-WILLIAMS BAY BRANCH

BY P.L. BEHRENS

Longtime visitors to Lake Geneva will recall the days when a visit to Geneva beaches did not require fighting for a parking spot. Passenger lines from Illinois to Lake Geneva operated from 1871 until 1975, and were key to making Lake Geneva a tourist destination in the late 19th century. Behrens’s history of the Elgin-Williams Bay line adds an oft-forgotten layer to local lore.

out & about

Teeing Up the Perfect Summer

An abundance of top courses makes the Geneva Lake area a premier golf destination in the Upper Midwest

BY GLEN TURK

For golfers, the Geneva Lake area is paradise. From Lake Geneva to Delavan to Elkhorn, the area boasts eight hallmark properties perfectly situated between Milwaukee and Chicago, offering an amazing 200+ holes and myriad on-site and nearby lodging options. Remarkably, seven of the eight golf courses have at least 27 holes, allowing golfers the opportunity to play the summer away in Lake Geneva.

Golfers putting on hole 6 at Abbey Springs Golf Club.

We begin our deep dive by spotlighting Destination Geneva National, where three icons — Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, and Lee Trevino — were asked to put their stamp on a 1,600-acre tract in the early 1990s. To this day, Destination Geneva National has the distinction of being the only property in the world to have courses designed by “The King,” “The Black Knight” and “The Merry Mex” — a trio who combined for 22 major victories and are on a short list of the most popular players of all time.

The Palmer Course reflects Arnold Palmer’s risk/reward mentality, as the property tumbles and heaves through tree-lined holes before it crescendos to one of the finest finishing stretches in the state. Arnold Palmer himself called the Signature 17th hole one of his favorites, placing it at number 11 in his personal “Dream 18” in the eastern part of the United States.

During the fall of 2023, longtime Arnold Palmer Design Company Senior Golf Course Architect Brandon Johnson updated holes 1, 2, 6, and 14 to enhance an already outstanding playing experience. The public will be able to experience these updates beginning this summer.

The Player and Trevino courses are known for their fun, yet challenging designs that provide the perfect complement to each other. If you asked 100 players their favorite course on property, you’d get close to a 1/3 split for each, a true credit to the design acumen of the legendary triumvirate.

It’s important to note that Destination Geneva National is a hybrid model club, as one of the three championship courses is available only for member play each day, while two are always open to the public. Members are treated to their own clubhouse and practice area, among many other perks. The property is also ideal for buddies and couple’s trips, thanks to multiple lodging options including the creation of  The Suites in 2020. Finally, DGN’s new Himalayas-style putting course, The Dance Floor, which debuted in 2022, has hosted the WSGA (Wisconsin Golf Association) State Putting Championship the past two years.

Grand Geneva Resort & Spa also features a “who’s who” list of golf course designers, thanks to the influence of Jack Nicklaus and Pete Dye. In fact, The Highlands is the only course in the state to be co-designed by the

iconic duo. Grand Geneva Director of Golf Ryan Brown says that The Highlands is the southernmost course in the state reminiscent of Northwoods Wisconsin. “The Highlands’ rolling fairways surrounded by the tall pines are breathtaking with the ‘Up North’ feel,” explains Brown. “The layout is challenging and so much fun to play at the same time.”

The Brute, designed by Robert Bruce Harris, is a big and brawny layout hallmarked by massive bunker complexes and dynamic elevation changes. It’s the perfect pairing with The Highlands and makes for an ideal day of 36 holes. It’s also important to mention there are no residences on property, which really differentiates Grand Geneva in the region.

This summer the resort has the honor of hosting the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame Celebrity Golf Outing presented by Network Health. The event, hosted by Packers legends Jordy Nelson and Donald Driver, is set for Monday, July 29. Grand Geneva is no stranger to entertaining stars of sports and screen, as the property was formerly The Playboy Club-Hotel from 1968-1981.

In nearby Fontana, 2021 was an important year for Abbey Springs in Fontana-On-Geneva-Lake; after 50 years of harsh, unyielding Wisconsin winters, “Wisconsin’s Most Beautiful Golf Course” got a makeover.

The scope of the $2.5-million project was massive, including the complete

HOLLY LEITNER, LAUREN HARRIGAN

reconstruction of green complexes, greenside features and bunkers. All greens including the practice green received the new state-of-the-art, 007-variety bent grass. New fairway drainage was also installed on 15 holes, and seven ponds were expanded and regraded. Finally, the renovation included rebuilding 10 fairway bunkers, regrading five fairways, and redesigning the short game area.

Now, more than two years after completion, the spoils are endless at Abbey Springs. “The feedback has been tremendous from members and guests alike,” explains Jack Shoger, PGA Professional at Abbey Springs, who is in his 42nd year at the property. “The renovation project by Lohmann Quinto Golf Course Architects has really enhanced the natural beauty of the property,” Shoger adds.

Make no mistake, golf is in a great place, with participation and interest at an all-time high. That has led to multiple Lake Geneva properties investing in upgrades to heighten the guest experience. At Lake Lawn Resort in nearby Delavan, a recent renovation project has been well received. Last year, Lake Lawn’s onsite golf course, Majestic Oaks, reset the sequence of their 18-hole course, so now the front nine embrace the lakefront, while the back nine focus on the inland portions of the course. The addition of a few new tee boxes in 2024 are designed so golfers of all abilities will thrive.

According to Brandon McConnell, Corporate Executive of Marketing for Delavan Lake Lawn Management, the essence of the overall golf experience has continued to evolve beyond just the round itself. “Being able to not only enjoy a day on the course but to then have an opportunity to enhance that beyond the clubhouse to include custom craft cocktails [and] signature lakeside dining for either lunch or dinner is paramount when creating a memorable experience,” he says. “Plus, the ability to add in a relaxing massage and even make it an

overnight and sneak in another round in the morning is what it’s all about when it comes to maximizing your stay at Lake Lawn Resort.”

Nestled between the ski hills and a legendary music theater,  Alpine Valley Resort in Elkhorn offers a picturesque setting situated along the banks of Sugar Creek. The family-owned-andoperated golf course is surrounded by mature trees and features stunning elevation changes one would expect to find near a ski hill. The serenity of Alpine Valley is bolstered by 16 water features and memorable 360-degree vistas.

The resort offers accommodations in their Swiss-Alps style lodge, and their affordable stay-and-play packages that include lodging, dinner, breakfast and 27 holes per day. After golf, guests can

Other amenities of note include mountain bike trails, an 18-hole disc golf course and a new outdoor dining pavilion at the center of the property.

Hawk’s View, which features a spectacular championship course, Como Crossings, and one of the finest par-3 venues in the state, Barn Hollow, is always rated as one of the area’s best. Local favorites also include Evergreen Golf Club in Elkhorn and Delbrook GC in Delavan.

YEAR-ROUND

FUN

to the Lake ESCAPE

How to make the most of 72 hours in the Geneva Lake area | BY NAT WEXLER

There is nothing quite like summertime in Lake Geneva: the lake dotted with boats, an ice cream cone in hand as you enjoy an outdoor patio. A certain magic exists in watching daylight evaporate into a stunning sunset that paves way for the moon to glisten over the still water — all while enjoying the warm summer air. But what does a perfect long weekend in Lake Geneva look like? Of course, the answer to this will be different for everyone. But, inspired by a similar and famous New York Times series, we decided to craft an itinerary for the perfect 72-hour getaway that highlights all of the areas around Geneva Lake.

THURSDAY

6:30 p.m.: After spending an hour or two in transit getting to Lake Geneva, you’re probably a bit hungry. Stop at the Flat Iron Tap (150 Center St., Lake Geneva) for a delicious burger and fries.

10 p.m.: To kick off your vacation in an iconic way, stop by Chuck’s Lakeshore Inn in Fontana for a cocktail. If it’s nice outside, sit outside and enjoy the moonlight reflecting over Geneva Lake.

FRIDAY

8 a.m.: Start your morning with coffee! Head over to Boxed & Burlap’s original location just north of Williams Bay (2935 WI-Hwy 67, Delavan) to indulge in a pastry and specialty latte.

10 a.m.: Lake Geneva Cruise Line’s U.S. Mailboat tour is a must-do, and the boat leaves promptly at 10 a.m. every day! Make your way over to the Riviera Docks (812 Wrigley Dr., Lake Geneva) to board this cruise around the perimeter of Geneva Lake while taking in the gorgeous architecture of the lakeside homes and watching a “mail jumper” leap from the moving boat to the piers and back again in their quest to deliver the mail.

1 p.m.: Once back on land, make your way over to Tuscan Tavern (420 Broad St., Lake Geneva) for lunch on the open-air patio or the enclosed porch, or inside the beautiful Italian villa-inspired dining room.

3 p.m.: Walk to Library Park to relax on a bench (or bring a blanket!). Don’t forget your copy of At The Lake for maximum enjoyment.

5 p.m.: Head over to Studio Winery (401 E. Sheridan Springs Rd., Lake Geneva) to taste a selection of wines and listen to live music.

7:30 p.m.: In Wisconsin, a Friday night can only mean one thing: fish fry! For a truly delicious feast, visit The Duck Inn Supper Club (N6214 WI89, Delavan). Make sure to order the cheese curds as an appetizer and a grasshopper for dessert!

SATURDAY

10:30 a.m.: After a restful night of sleep, begin your day with brunch with incredible lake views at 1878 on the Lake (2400 Geneva St., Delavan). The Bananas Foster French Toast and the chorizo egg tacos are not to be missed!

12:30 p.m.: Make your way to the Geneva Lake Museum (255 Mill St., Lake Geneva) to see some incredible artifacts and exhibits that tell the story of the area.

2:30 p.m.: If the Mailboat tour whetted your appetite for getting out on the lake, head over to Jerry’s Majestic Marine (352 Lake St., Fontana) or Marina Bay Boat Rentals (300 Wrigley Dr., Lake Geneva) to rent a Wave Runner or a boat, water skis, tubes and wakeboards.

SHANNA WOLF

6 p.m.: Make your way over to Mars Resort (W4098 South Shore Dr., Lake Geneva) for cocktails and dinner. On the weekends, there is a bit of a wait, but you can sit on the shore of Lake Como sipping a cocktail while waiting for your table to be ready. It’s well worth it, as they serve some of the best cheese curds, charred chicken and burgers in the area.

10 p.m.: For a late-night treat, swing by Dip in the Bay (105 North Walworth Ave., Williams Bay) for a handdipped ice cream cone, sundae or milkshake! On Fridays and Saturdays, they’re open until 11 p.m.

SUNDAY

in 1954. The pork chop and eggs are absolutely amazing!

12 p.m.: Go for a walk on the Shore Path. The lakefront path is a 21.9mile foot path around the circumference of Geneva Lake. Walking a section of the Shore Path allows you to get your exercise in and enjoy the various architectural marvels surrounding the lake. Pick up At The Lake’s handy, pocket-sized Shore Path Guide ahead of time to learn tips, routes and background on points of interest you’ll see on your walk.

Lake Geneva), Cornerstone Shop & Gallery (214 Broad St., Lake Geneva), and Haberdapper (253 Broad St., Lake Geneva) all have wonderful and quirky offerings!

10 a.m.: Spend your last brunch of the weekend dining at Joni’s Diner (111 South Wells St., Lake Geneva), a classic diner that was originally built

4 p.m.: On your way out of town, stop by downtown Lake Geneva to pick up a quintessential Lake Geneva souvenir to commemorate your weekend. Delaney Street Mercantile (905 West Main St.,

events at the lake

BIG FOOT LIONS CLUB LOBSTER BOIL & STEAK FRY

JULY 27

Enjoy fresh lobster and steak at this beloved annual festival featuring live music. Advance orders required to guarantee a lobster dinner. Reid Park, Fontana; visit bigfootlionsclub.org

WILLIAMS BAY LIONS CLUB CORN & BRAT FESTIVAL

AUG. 9-11

Enjoy delicious brats and fresh-roasted corn, as well as live music on Friday and Saturday night, and fireworks on Saturday. Edgewater Park, Williams Bay.

WALWORTH COUNTY FAIR

AUG. 28-SEPT. 2

One of the largest county fairs in Wisconsin. Live music, demolition derby, carnival midway and livestock exhibits. Walworth County Fairgrounds, Elkhorn; 262-723-3288 or walworthcountyfairgrounds.com/calendar.

FARMERS’ MARKETS

BURLINGTON

Thursdays, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wemhoff Square, Burlington; 262-210-6360 or burlingtonwifarmersmarket.com

DELAVAN

Market at Tower Park, Thursdays, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. through Aug. 31. Historic Tower Park, Delavan; 262-728-5095 or visitdelavan.com.

ELKHORN

Saturdays on the Square, featuring local handmade products, fresh locally grown produce and food vendors. Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Aug. 31. Veteran’s Park, Elkhorn; elkhornchamber.com

LAKE GENEVA FARMERS’ MARKET

Local farmers and vendors offer local produce, flowers and goods. Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Oct. 31. Horticultural Hall; 262-745-9341 or horticulturalhall.com.

WHITEWATER CITY MARKET

Tuesdays, 4-7 p.m. through Sept. 22, 4-6 p.m. through Oct. 29. Historic Train Depot, Whitewater; downtownwhitewater.com.

WILLIAMS BAY FARMERS’ MARKET

Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Aug. 29. Edgewater Park; 262-475-6333.

WATER SKI SHOWS

BROWN’S LAKE AQUADUCKS

Brown’s Lake. Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. Viewing from Fischer Park, Burlington; aquaducks.org

SOUTHERN WAKES UNITED

SWU is a merger of the Lauderdale Aqua Skiers and the Whitewater Lake Sports Club (Minneiska.) Performance sites: Elkhorn Lake, Whitewater Lake and Middle Lake (Lauderdale Lakes.) Visit southernwakesunited.com for show times and locations.

TWIN LAKES AQUANUTS

Every Wednesday and Saturday, 6 p.m., Twin Lakes. Viewing from Lance Memorial Park, Twin Lakes; aquanutwatershows.com.

MAY 25, JUNE 29, AUG. 31 VALLEY OF THE KINGS TOUR

VOTK in Sharon provides refuge for abused, abandoned or retired lions, tigers, wolves and other animals and is not normally open to the public. Tours are rain or shine, advanced registration required; call 262-275-2117 or visit bigfootrecreation.org

JUNE 2

35TH ANNUAL MODEL A DAY

Enjoy antique Model A’s, reenactors, a variety of vendors, live music and food available. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Downtown Clinton. Call 262-745-2863 for more info.

JUNE 4

11TH ANNUAL GOLF OUTING

SUPPORTING OPEN ARMS FREE CLINIC

Participants will choose from two courses of 18 hole-golf with a cart, plus receive lunch, a 19th hole reception and VIP access to on-course games. Check-in opens at 8 a.m. or 10 a.m. depending on the course chosen, 5 p.m. cash bar for cocktails and 6 p.m. dinner and awards. Hawk’s View Golf Course, 7377 Krueger Rd., Lake Geneva; 262-379-1401 or email events@openarmsfreeclinic.org to register.

JUNE 7-8

ELKHORN CITY-WIDE RUMMAGE SALE

Check out the Google map or grab a printed copy from the Elkhorn Chamber. Visit elkhornchamber.com

JUNE 13

HANDS-ON HISTORY WORKSHOP: ALES AND LAGERS IN OLD WISCONSIN

Step into the shoes of a historic Wisconsin farmhouse brewer and then savor a delicious lunch along with a selection of historic beers. $100 per person. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Old World Wisconsin, Eagle; visit wisconsinhistory.org for tickets.

JUNE 14, 28; JULY 12, 26; AUG. 9, 23

BIG FOOT RECREATION

DEPARTMENT CLASSIC SUMMER

MOVIE SCREENINGS

Admission is $2 per person and concessions will be sold. 8:30-10:30 p.m., Fontana Beach, Fontana; call 262-275-2117 or visit bigfootrecreation.org.

JUNE 14-16

“THE LITTLE MERMAID, JR.”

Performed by the Lakeland Players Ltd. Youth Theater. 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday. Sprague Theater, 15 W. Walworth St., Elkhorn. Visit lakeland-players.org.

JUNE 15

FATHER’S DAY DINNER TRAIN

Indulge in a four-course meal on a 2.5-hour train ride. Paid reservations required. Check-in begins at 5 p.m. and train leaves at 5:30 p.m. East Troy Railroad Depot, 2002 Church St., East Troy; $115 per person. Call 262-642-3263 or easttroyrr.org.

JUNE 15, JULY 13, AUG. 10

BEER BARONS OF LAKE GENEVA

Enjoy an afternoon cruising Geneva Lake while learning about the history of the beer barons that vacationed and lived along its shores. Beer tastings, snacks and a souvenir brewery memento included. 12:30-4 p.m. Price is $70 per person. Cruises leave from the Riviera docks, Lake Geneva. Call 262-248-6206 for tickets.

JUNE 15

WALWORTH COUNTY DAIRY BREAKFAST

The Davis Family Farm invites you to join them on their five-generation family farm for a delightful breakfast. Farm tours and kids’ activities will be available. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for kids ages 5-12 and are available at local businesses. 6-10:30 a.m.; N999 County Rd. K, Sharon.

JUNE 19

ANNUAL PORK CHOP COOKOUT

Dine-in or drive-thru at this fundraiser to support the Walworth County Fair. 4-7 p.m., Walworth County Fairgrounds, Elkhorn. Visit walworthcountyfairgrounds.com/calendar .

JUNE 19-23

LAKE GENEVA JAZZ AND BLUES FEST

A celebration of the food, culture and music of one of America’s most original and beloved art forms. Two stages will showcase local, regional and national talent, alongside vendors offering food, crafts and activities. For tickets, visit lgjazzfest.com.

out & about calendar of events

JUNE 20

LIBERTY & UNION, A CIVIL WAR

LIVING HISTORY EXPERIENCE

Enter a fully realized soldier camp as you experience how the Civil War left its mark on early Wisconsin folk. Old World Wisconsin, Eagle; visit wisconsinhistory.org for tickets.

JUNE 21, JULY 19, AUG. 16

PARANORMAL PARLOR GAMES

FEATURING JOE DIAMOND

Explore the mysterious side of Black Point Estate and Gardens after dark. Enjoy a complimentary glass of wine and explore the first floor of the estate with Joe Diamond, television host and “America’s Greatest Mind Reader.” Price is $90 per person; 7-9 p.m. Black Point Estate, W4270 Southland R., Lake Geneva. Call 262-248-6206 for tickets.

JUNE 21-22

DAVE MATTHEWS BAND

Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy; 262-642-4400 or alpinevalleymusictheatre.org for tickets.

JUNE 22

AN EVENING WITH AGATHA CHRISTIE

Local historian Chris Brookes brings the best-selling author of all time, Agatha Christie, back to life for an intimate evening of mystery and conversation. Price is $35 per person; 6-8 p.m. Black Point Estate & Gardens, W4270 Southland Rd., Lake Geneva; call 262-248-1888 for tickets.

HUNTER’S FIFTH ANNUAL GOLF

OUTING TO BENEFIT LAKELAND SCHOOL

Cost to participate is $100 per golfer and includes 18 holes of golf and cart, a free golf towel, two drink tickets, plus breakfast and dinner. Delbrook Golf Course, 700 S. 2nd St., Delavan; visit df4cg.org/events to register.

RAILFAN DAY

Enjoy a fun and informative day at the East Troy Railroad Museum. All operating equipment will be out and on

display, and a different train runs every hour. First ride departs at 10 a.m.; last train departs at 3 p.m. Also enjoy face painting, model railroad displays, free popcorn, ham radio demonstrations and more. East Troy Railroad Depot, 2002 Church St., East Troy; 262-642-3263 or easttroyrr.org

JUNE 28

ELKHORN FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS

Enjoy a memorable and festive fireworks display. Dusk, Sunset Park, Elkhorn.

JUNE 29

INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION

Fireworks at dusk. Community Park, 1220 South Shore Dr., Delavan. 262-728-3471 or townofdelavan.com.

LAKEFEST AND FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS

Delavan Lake Community Park, 1220 S. Shore Dr., Delavan. Visit townofdelavan.com for more info.

JUNE 30, AUG. 11

May 25- 7PM PHIL

June 8- 7PM The Britins

June 15- 7PM Take it Easy

June 22- 7PM Eric Diamond

June 29- 7PM Gimme Skynyrd

July 4- 6PM Eliminator

July 6- 7PM Jonny Lyons & Pride

July 13- 7PM A Long Way Home

July 20- 7PM Foreigner 4 Ever

July 27- 7PM Made in America

Aug 3- 7PM Dancing Queen

Aug 10- 7PM 7th Heaven

Aug 17- 7PM Chicago Experience

Aug 24- 7PM Hypnotized

Aug 31- 7PM Gabriel Sanchez- Prince Exp.

Sept 14- SCARECROW FEST- 7PM Radio Gaga

ELKHORN ANTIQUE FLEA MARKET

Over 500 dealers both inside and outside. Free parking, $5 admission. Opens at 7 a.m., Walworth County Fairgrounds, 411 E. Court St., Elkhorn; elkhornantiquefleamarket.com

JULY 1

LAUDERDALE LAKES FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS

9:30 p.m., Lauderdale Lakes. Visit visitelkhorn.com

JULY 4

DELAVAN FOURTH OF JULY PARADE AND FESTIVITIES

Call 262-728-5095 or visitdelavanwi.com

FONTANA FIREWORKS

Independence Day display over Geneva Lake. Dusk, Fontana Beach, Fontana.

JULY 5

FAMILY DAY

10 a.m. to noon, Helen Rohner Fishing Park, Williams Bay. For information or event registration visit genevalakeconservancy.org or call 262-275-5700.

JULY 6

INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION AND LUAU

Enjoy a buffet-style feast, lawn games and live entertainment. 4-7 p.m. Lake Lawn Resort, 2400 E. Geneva St., Delavan; 262-728-7950 or lakelawnresort.com/events.

KISHWAUKETOE 5K RUN/WALK

Registration opens at 7:30 a.m., kids’ run begins at 8 a.m. and the 5k begins at 8:30 a.m. Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy, Williams Bay. Visit friendsofknc.org/events-scheduled-activities.

WILLIAMS BAY LIONS CLUB

PANCAKE BREAKFAST

All-you-can eat pancakes. 7-11:30 a.m., Edgewater Park, Williams Bay.

JULY 10-14

ELKHORN RIBFEST

The National Rib Competition returns to the Walworth County Fairgrounds. Sample a wide array of barbecue offerings and enjoy great entertainment, carnival rides

and an artisan village. Walworth County Fairgrounds, 411 E. Court St., Elkhorn; 262-723-3228 or wisconsinribfest.com

JULY 12-14

REV UP WEEKEND AND THE CARS TIME FORGOT CAR SHOW

Events kick off Friday night with a community-wide street dance from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. On Saturday, attend the Drive Delavan Rally from 4:30-5:30 p.m. with a live band at Phoenix Park to follow.

Sunday is the main event, with over 1,000 classic cars, trucks and custom vehicles on view from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lake Lawn airstrip. Lake Lawn Resort, 2400 E. Geneva St., Delavan; Visit carstimeforgot.com.

JULY 13

CHICAGO DAY

Celebrate Chicago’s railway history and the 100th anniversary of the museum’s three Chicago elevated trains. There will also be National Park rangers from Indiana Dunes State Park on hand to explain the history of the South Shore Line and the connection

to the museum’s collection of the line’s cars from the 1920s. Trains run on the hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. East Troy Railroad Depot, 2002 Church St., East Troy; 262-642-3263 or easttroyrr.org

NOAH KAHAN

Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy; 262-642-4400 or alpinevalleymusictheatre.org for tickets.

STARS & STRIPES DINNER TRAIN

Indulge in a four-course meal on a 2.5-hour train ride. Adults only; paid reservations required. Check-in begins at 5 p.m. and train leaves at 5:30 p.m. $115 per person. East Troy Railroad Depot, 2002 Church St., East Troy; 262-642-3263 or easttroyrr.org

JULY 14

FONTANA CENTENNIAL & GARDEN

WALK, FEATURING THE MILL HOUSE GARDENS

10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mill House, Fontana. For information or event registration visit genevalakeconservancy.org or 262-275-5700.

JULY 17

13TH ANNUAL STEAK DINNER

Drive-thru, carry-out or dine-in at this fundraiser to support the Junior Beef Project. 4-7 p.m.; Walworth County Fairgrounds, Elkhorn. Visit walworthcountyfairgrounds.com/calendar.

JULY 18-21

COUNTRY THUNDER FESTIVAL

This four-day country music festival brings some of the top country music talent in the country to Twin Lakes, including Eric Church, Nickelback, Lainey Wilson, Koe Wetzel and Bailey Zimmerman. Camping and multi-day passes available. 2305 Lance Dr., Twin Lakes; visit countrythunder.com

JULY 19-28

“THE SOUND OF MUSIC”

The Haylofters present the beloved musical. Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. Malt House Theater, Burlington. 262-763-9873 or thehaylofters.com

JULY 20

WILLIAMS BAY FIRE DEPARTMENT CHICKEN ROAST

Enjoy a chicken dinner and raise funds for the volunteer fire department. 12-7 p.m., Edgewater Park, Williams Bay.

JULY 21

LAKE GENEVA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PERFORMANCE

4 p.m.; Phoenix Park Bandshell, Delavan. Call 262-728-5095 or visitdelavanwi.com.

JULY 25

GENEVA LAKE CONSERVANCY SUMMER CELEBRATION

Featuring speaker Doug Tallamy. Yerkes Observatory, Williams Bay. For information or event registration visit genevalakeconservancy.org or call 262-275-5700.

JULY 26-28

PHISH

Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy; 262-642-4400 or alpinevalleymusictheatre.org for tickets.

JULY 27

ELKHORN TRUCK & SHUCK

Celebrate Elkhorn’s Corn & Brat days as

it transforms into a Saturday-only food truck event, including a fleet of food trucks, live music and craft vendors. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Veterans Park, Elkhorn; visit elkhornchamber/truck-and-shuck

JULY 27-28

WILLIAMS BAY FINE ART & MUSIC FEST

Juried show featuring fine art and music from Wisconsin and Illinois. Edgewater Park, Williams Bay; visit wbcaa.net

AUG. 2-3

NEON NIGHTS MUSIC FESTIVAL

Presented by Kunes Auto Group, this festival will light up the Walworth County Fairgrounds with electrifying country music performances from Wynonna Judd, Trace Adkins and more. Visit neonnightswi.com.

AUG. 3

GENEVA LAKE WEST ROTARY CLUB CORN AND BRATWURST FESTIVAL

Featuring live entertainment, corn and brat meals and a drive-thru option. Devil’s Lane Park, Walworth.

MILWAUKEE DAY

Celebrate Milwaukee’s electric railway history and ride on an historic Milwaukee Streetcar or a newly-restored Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Silverliner car. Trains run on the hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. East Troy Railroad Depot, 2002 Church St., East Troy; 262-642-3263 or easttroyrr.org

AUG. 6

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT

Explore and climb aboard Walworth County rescue vehicles, patrol cars, fire engines and water patrol craft. Live demos highlight K-9 units, Flight for Life and more. Visit walworthcountryfairgrounds.com/calendar

AUG. 9-10

DELAVAN MAXWELL STREET DAYS

Enjoy sidewalk sales and in-store specials. Call 262-728-5095 or visitdelavanwi.com

AUG. 10

HOOTIE AND THE BLOWFISH

Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy; 262-642-4400 or alpinevalleymusictheatre.org for tickets.

AUG. 10

WINE AND CHEESE TRAIN

Taste fine wines and cheese on this 2.5-hour train ride. Adults only; paid reservations required. Train leaves at 4 p.m. East Troy Railroad Depot, 2002 Church St., East Troy; 262-642-3263 or easttroyrr.org

AUG. 10-11

ART IN THE PARK

Juried fine art show featuring more than 80 artists, sponsored by the Geneva Lake Arts Foundation. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Flat Iron Park, Lake Geneva. Visit genevalakeartsfoundation.org/art-inthe-park

AUG. 12

WINE EVENT WITH AMERICAN WINE PROJECT

Sip a selection of wines while dining on locally sourced meats and produce in the Old World Crossroads Village. Old World Wisconsin, Eagle; visit wisconsinhistory.org for tickets.

AUG. 13

ANNUAL PIG ROAST TO BENEFIT WALWORTH COUNTY SPECIAL OLYMPICS

Enjoy a pig roast dinner while participating in an upscale raffle and drawing, with all proceeds supporting the nonprofit organization. 4:30-8:30 p.m., Champs Sports Bar & Grill, 747 W. Main St., Lake Geneva. For tickets or more information, call Betty Aguirre at 262-248-3034.

AUG. 14-18

LAKE GENEVA JAYCEES

VENETIAN FESTIVAL

This five-day festival in downtown Lake Geneva features carnival rides, live music nightly, food vendors, and a lighted boat parade and fireworks display on Sunday night. Flat Iron Park, Lake Geneva; venetianfest.com

AUG. 17

JASON ALDEAN

Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy; 262-642-4400 or alpinevalleymusictheatre.org for tickets.

AUG. 18

THE AVETT BROTHERS

Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy; 262-642-4400 or alpinevalleymusictheatre.org for tickets.

AUG. 23

NATIONAL RESOURCES

FOUNDATION FIELD TRIP

Join a hike around Lake Ivanhoe. Anglin Family Nature Preserve, Lake Ivanhoe. For information or event registration visit genevalakeconservancy.org or 262-275-5700.

AUG. 23-25

MAXWELL STREET DAYS

Enjoy sidewalk sales and special in-store shopping experiences during Lake Geneva’s annual Maxwell Street Days celebration. Throughout downtown Lake Geneva.

AUG. 31

BEER TASTING TRAIN

Indulge in a beer tasting led by an expert from Black Point Estate. Adults only; paid reservations required. Check-in begins at 5 p.m. and train leaves at 5:30 p.m. $125 per person. East Troy Railroad Depot, 2002 Church St., East Troy; 262-642-3263 or easttroyrr.org

While we do our best to ensure a comprehensive, accurate listing of events, we recommend that you contact each event host ahead of time. If you’d like to include an event in our upcoming calendar, please email anne@ntmediagroup.com or submit it via our website: atthelakemagazine.com/ submit-an-event. Submission deadline for the autumn issue is July 15.

Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera app to view more summer events in the Geneva Lake area.

LAKE GENEVA WINDOW & DOOR

REPLACEMENT

food & drink

All about cuisine

Sizzle and Smoke

Our resident foodie rounds up some of the best local spots for barbecue

BY BRIAN THALHAMMER

PHOTOS BY HOLLY LEITNER

Nothing quite beats the sizzle of authentic barbecue on a scorching summer day, and in the Geneva Lake area, diners are truly spoiled for choice when it comes to indulging in savory smoked meats. From family-owned smokehouses steeped in tradition to trendy eateries pushing the envelope of tradition, Lake Geneva and its nearby communities offer a vibrant barbecue scene that caters to nearly every palate. Barbecue restaurants celebrate the spirit of community

Sliced beef brisket at LD’s Barbecue, East Troy

and the individuals who dedicate themselves to perfecting their craft and sharing their love for smoked meats with others, infusing each dish with their passion and expertise. It ’ s not just about the savory cuts or the tantalizing sauces; it ’ s about the camaraderie forged over sizzling grills, the laughter shared among friends and family gathered around picnic tables and the sense of belonging that permeates every bite. It’s family. It’s friendship. So, fire up your appetite, grab your friends and family and tackle these barbecue hotspots.

WILSON’S WHISTLE STOP

A seasonal gem in Elkhorn, Wilson’s Whistle Stop is a family affair, according to Amber Wilson, daughter of the owner. What sets this spot apart is its commitment to the farmto-table concept, with the family sourcing pork straight from their own farm. “It was originally my dad’s idea,” she explains. “He wanted to do a farm-to-table concept, raising pigs, so we could have control over the quality.” This dedication to quality shines through in every bite, with beautifully marbled, dark pork forming the backbone of their menu. From burgers and

brats to brisket and pork belly, all prepared using authentic, old-school grilling methods, every dish is clear evidence of their passion for topnotch ingredients. Barbecue fanatics need to experience their pulled pork and butterfly pork chop sandwiches, accompanied by delectable sides like fresh coleslaw and crispy homemade chips. With live music on Saturdays and a relaxed ambiance, Wilson’s Whistle Stop offers a true taste of rustic, family-focused charm.

LD’S BARBECUE

If you’re craving authentic barbecue that’s been slow-smoked to perfection, LD’s Barbecue in East Troy is the place to be. Owner Leon Davis ensures that no corners are cut in delivering tender, juicy meats, slow-smoked over 100-percent seasoned oakwood. “There is smoke in the air from very early in the morning until late in the evening,” says Davis, highlighting his restaurant’s commitment to quality and consistency in every platter served. From mouthwatering mac and cheese dinners topped with the finest smoked meats, to loaded nachos and signature sandwiches like The Hocking (smoked sausage covered with pulled pork) and The

Drake (all three meats sandwiched together!), LD’s menu is a carnivore’s delight. Dip into their sample platter for a taste of everything, featuring ribs, chicken, brisket and smoked sausage. With sides and meats also available by the pound, LD’s offers the ultimate barbecue feast for any and all occasions.

TURF. SMOKEHOUSE

For a smokehouse experience with a touch of sophistication, look no further than turf. Smokehouse at Geneva National. Perched amid picturesque golf course views,

The brisket sandwich at Wilson’s Whistle Stop, Elkhorn.

Meat platter at David Alan Alan’s in Mukwonago.

this year-round clubhouse-style restaurant and bar promises enticing hickory-tinged aromas and a menu teeming with flavor. From smoked Wagyu brisket tacos to cedar-planked Ora King salmon, turf. Smokehouse takes barbecue to the next level with its innovative, Tex-Mex-inspired dishes. Diners

would be daft to miss their legendary turf. burger or prime rib sandwich, paired perfectly with sides like truffle fries and jalapeno cheddar cornbread. And save room for dessert, with indulgent treats like bourbon pecan pie and smoked apple-bread pudding. With offerings for breakfast, lunch and

dinner, turf. Smokehouse is a mustvisit destination for foodies seeking a truly upscale barbecue experience.

JACOBS SMOKEHOUSE

Tucked away in Burlington, Jacobs Smokehouse is a local favorite renowned for its mouthwatering fare and welcoming atmosphere. From loaded fries to barbecue mac and cheese, the dishes at Jacobs are full of flavorpacked pleasure. Unique offerings like the crayfish special and smoked surfand-turf showcase the restaurant’s creative flair, earning rave reviews from patrons addicted to the menu. “This is authentic barbecue,” says Jason Jacobs, owner of Jacobs Smokehouse, accentuating his allegiance to handcrafted, real-deal barbecue. With topof-the-line prime cuts and a pedigree that includes the National Pro BBQ Tour, Jacobs Smokehouse delivers an unforgettable dining experience that has guests spreading the word like barbecue wildfire.

A variety of sauces to complement the barbecue at David Alan Alan’s in Mukwonago.

DAVID ALAN ALAN’S SMOKEHOUSE & SALOON

Just off the interstate in Mukwonago, David Alan Alan’s Smokehouse & Saloon (DAASS) is the brainchild of local duo Dave and Tina O’Bryan, whose shared love for authentic smoked food and craft beer has fueled their barbecue dreams. The two met in 2010 at a local sports bar, and found that Tina’s passion for hospitality and Dave’s talent for smoked food sparked an idea for their dream establishment. At DAAS, it’s all about bringing people together over mouthwatering smokehouse fare and an extensive beer selection. Whether you’re stopping by for their irresistible, $1 smoked drummies during Monday’s all-day happy hour or indulging in their smokehouse taco platter on Taco Tuesday, there’s something to satisfy every craving. But it’s not just about the specials — every dish at David Alan Alan’s is crafted with care, with a dedication to freshness that’s hard to beat. And for cocktail enthusiasts, don’t miss the smoked old-fashioned, made with smoke-infused brandy!

THE WATERFRONT RESTAURANT AT THE ABBEY RESORT

Situated within Fontana’s Abbey Resort, The Waterfront Restaurant offers a laid-back harborside atmosphere and a menu brimming with lakeside-worthy flavor. Whether you’re craving barbecue salmon or a hearty barbecue stack burger, you’ll find it here, accompanied by classic sides like Wisconsin cheese curds and crispy fries. The Waterfront’s Friday fish fry and Sunday “Burnin’ Down the Docks” events, featuring live entertainment and house-smoked barbecue treats, make summer evenings even more of a paradise than they already are. With a tempting array of cold brews and hand-crafted cocktails to complement your meal, The Waterfront is the ideal spot to soak in the lake vibe, savor the flavors of summer and listen to melodies from local artists.

A selection of barbecue options at David Alan Alan’s in Mukwonago.

Barbecue ribs from LD’s Barbecue in East Troy

Head for the most adventurous craft distillery, just over the stateline from Lake Geneva. Live music, craft cocktails, tours and tastings, private events. Come for the good times. Come back for more.

Seek the creek wherever craft spirits are sold or served.

country

Just a short

drive from Lake Geneva.

UPDATING A CLASSIC

The new Village Supper Club on Delavan Lake gets a modern glow-up while embracing its past

BY KATIE SCRIVANO

The highly anticipated revival of The Village Supper Club on Delavan Lake has delighted diners traveling from near and far excited to experience this reimagined lakeside destination.

Owners Loretta and Allan Kaplan purchased the property in 2021 from the Marsicano family, who owned the beloved spot for 50 years. The Kaplans set out to preserve the Village’s history while offering a fresh take on Wisconsin’s favorite dining tradition. To do this, they worked with DMAC Architecture & Interiors and Beloit-based Corporate Contractors to breathe new life into every inch of the site. The dramatic result has left patrons’ mouths agape upon entering the space, and most of those diners hurry to book their next reservation.

A NEW LOOK WITH A NOD TO THE PAST

An outdoor stone fireplace in an asymmetric shape greets patrons at the street-side entrance, and, once inside, floor-to-ceiling windows offer unobstructed lake views from

virtually every seat. But the visual appeal doesn’t stop there. Visitors are sure to savor the smaller design details as well. Loretta Kaplan not only showcases her personal supper club memorabilia, but also hand-picked the whimsical serving ware and quirky wallpaper in the restrooms. Designers incorporated several elements of the original restaurant, including its charming fish logo, a salvaged lighted sign and wood from the old building to use as a fireplace beam and wainscoting in the private dining room.

The founder of the Wisconsin Supper Club Chasers group has visited 151 state supper clubs and shares stories with 22,000 Facebook fans. He describes the new space as modern and progressive. “It’s a whole different vibe,” he says. “It’s clear they put a lot of effort into the design. If others are going to build on the water, they should do the same.”

CRAFTING AN INTIMATE DINING EXPERIENCE

General Manager Rob Johnson is a long-time Delavan resident, who has spent decades in food operations in the Geneva Lake area at Lake Lawn, Geneva National and the Beloit Club.

He says that since opening, the Village Supper Club has consistently hosted large numbers of patrons — up to 200 diners on Fridays and Saturdays. But he stresses that you won’t notice the crowd. Special design elements such as tiered, stadium-like seating and hidden soundproofing in the A-frame ceilings absorb noise and create a pleasant dining experience.

“The vibe is very energetic, and people really love it,” Johnson says. “Some people are thinking it’s the old style, but there’s somewhat of a ‘wow’ factor when they first come in.”

While some have called the restaurant upscale, Johnson insists on creating a relaxed feel — no need for fancy attire. “It’s a modern take on a supper club — great service, great food, but in a casual atmosphere,” he says. “We don’t want it to feel stuffy, we want it to be comfortable.”

REINTERPRETING BELOVED SUPPER CLUB FARE

Johnson says to expect fish fry on Fridays, prime rib on Saturdays and a boneless ribeye every night. “Yes, we’ve revamped some of the old recipes, but you can expect modern options,” he says.

In fact, Johnson said recent specials like coconut chicken skewers and stuffed cod have been popular. He’s also proud to have intentionally priced the menu for locals, with great wines for “much less than you’d find nearby.” Johnson explains he’s still working on a cocktail menu, but as expected, the bar already has served many old-fashioneds and martinis.

Executive Chef Zach Miller is no stranger to the area’s culinary scene; he worked most recently at the Lake Geneva Yacht Club. Miller says the owners gave him freedom to express new dishes with his personal style, such as his Swiss almond spread that anchors the relish tray appetizer — a supper club staple — or his favorite entree: almond-crusted walleye.

“Usually, you start with a menu and create a restaurant around it, but the restaurant was here, and then we created the menu,” explains Miller. “The owners like to enjoy other supper clubs. They had a very soft blueprint of what they wanted, and I was able to give them my vision and interpretation.”

Miller says his cooking style is very minimalistic, and describes the current menu as a starting point, having already introduced a new item — the wedge salad with house-made green goddess dressing — in place of his initial chopped salad. “There’s also been an outcry for duck,” he adds, so he’s exploring it as a new entrée. “We took some of the ideas from the old recipes, but everything else is our own.”

Another new addition is a pastry chef to create a dessert menu, who

will join an experienced culinary team with many combined years of experience in high-volume service.

EMBRACING THE SUMMER SEASON

Johnson says that the restaurant expanded its private pier to accommodate up to 10 boats, and plans to open the attached outdoor patio for dinner and limited lunch service.

The patio, which features a louvered roofing system that will close when it senses rain or wind, contains its own bar, fireplace and, of course, great Delavan Lake views. Miller also plans lighter lunch fare for outdoor service — both small bites and shareables — and is planning to experiment with gazpacho.

“We feel that we are going to be a great spot to stop this summer,” Johnson says.

food & drink dining guide

dining at the lake

Information is subject to change. Please contact individual restaurants for hours of operation. Inclusion in this directory should not be considered an endorsement by At The Lake Visit atthelakemagazine.com to view the full directory online.

Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera app to see our full list of Geneva Lake-area dining options.

LAKE GENEVA

THE BAKER HOUSE

AMERICAN $$ -$$$ 327 Wrigley Dr., Lake Geneva; 262-248-4700 bakerhouse1885.com/restaurant

BARRIQUE BISTRO & WINE BAR

SPECIALTY $ -$$ 835 Wrigley Dr., Lake Geneva; 262-248-1948 barriquewinebar.com

THE BOAT HOUSE

BAR & GRILL

CASUAL $$ 2062 S. Lake Shore Dr., Lake Geneva; 262-812-4126 theboathouselakegeneva.com

THE BOTTLE SHOP

WINE BAR $ 617 W. Main St., Lake Geneva; 262-348-9463 thebottleshoplakegeneva.com

CHAMPS SPORTS

BAR AND GRILL

CASUAL $ 747 W. Main St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-6008 champslakegeneva.com

CLAW’S CHICAGO-STYLE HOT DOGS

CASUAL $ 90 E. Geneva Square., Lake Geneva; 262-732-5112 clawshotdogs.com

COLD STONE CREAMERY

ICE CREAM $ 859 W. Main St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-4900 coldstonecreamery.com

DRAGON CITY ASIAN $ 98 E. Geneva Square, Lake Geneva; 262-249-8867

EGG HARBOR CAFÉ

AMERICAN $ 827 Main St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-1207 eggharborcafe.com

FLAT IRON TAP

CASUAL $ -$$ 150 Center St., Lake Geneva; 262-812-4064 flatirontaplg.com

FOLEY’S BAR & GRILL

IRISH $ -$$

W3905 State Hwy. 50 (at Hwy. 50 and Chapin Rd.), Lake Geneva; 262-245-6966

GENEVA CHOPHOUSE

STEAKHOUSE $$$

Grand Geneva Resort, Lake Geneva; 262-249-4788 grandgeneva.com/restaurants/ geneva-chophouse

GENEVA TAP HOUSE

BEER TASTING $ 252 Broad St., Lake Geneva; 262-812-8099 genevataphouse.com

GINO’S EAST

CASUAL/ITALIAN $ -$$ 300 Wrigley Dr., Lake Geneva; 262-248-2525 ginoseast.com/lake-geneva

THE GRAND CAFÉ

AMERICAN/CASUAL $ -$$ Grand Geneva Resort, Lake Geneva; 262-249-4788 grandgeneva.com/restaurants/ grand-cafe

GRANDMA VICKIE’S CAFÉ

DINER $

522 Broad St., Lake Geneva; 262-249-0301

Blackened Tuna Salad at Pier 290 in Williams Bay.

THE GRANDVIEW RESTAURANT

AMERICAN $$ -$$$ N2009 S. Lake Shore Dr., Lake Geneva; 262-248-5690 thegrandviewrestaurant.com

GUAC STAR

MEXICAN $ 120 Broad St., Lake Geneva; 262-203-5084 guacstarlg.com

HILL VALLEY CHEESE SHOP & BAR

CASUAL $ 510-512 Broad St., Lake Geneva; 262-684-9542 hillvalleydairy.com

HOGS & KISSES

CASUAL $

149 Broad St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-7447 hogsandkisses.com

HOUSE OF BOGINI

CASUAL $

152 Center St., Lake Geneva; 262-903-8003

THE HUNT CLUB STEAKHOUSE AT GENEVA NATIONAL STEAKHOUSE $$$

555 Hunt Club Ct., Lake Geneva; 262-245-7200 huntclubsteakhouse.com

INSPIRED COFFEE COFFEE HOUSE $

883 W. Main St., Lake Geneva;  262-683-8604 inspiredcoffee.org

JACKSON’S HOLE

CASUAL $ 1798 Genesee St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-1995

JONI’S DINER

DINER $ 111 Wells St., Lake Geneva; 262-348-9565 jonisdiner.com

KILWINS CHOCOLATE AND ICE CREAM SHOP

ICE CREAM/CONFECTIONS $ 772 W. Main St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-4400 kilwins.com/lakegeneva

LAKE-AIRE RESTAURANT DINER $

804 W. Main St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-9913 lakeairelg.com

LAKE CITY SOCIAL CASUAL $$ 111 Center St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-7047 lakecitysocialwi.com

LAKE GENEVA PIE COMPANY BAKERY/CAFE $ 150 E. Geneva Square., Lake Geneva; 262-248-5100 lgpie.com

LINKS BAR & GRILL

CASUAL $ -$$ Grand Geneva, Lake Geneva; 262-249-4788 grandgeneva.com/restaurants/linksbar-grill

LORELEI BITTNER’S BAKERY BAKERY $

495 Interchange N. (Hwy. 120), Lake Geneva; 262-248-2330 loreleibittnersbakery.com

LUIS’S PIZZA

CASUAL/ITALIAN $ -$$ W3410 S. Lake Shore Dr., Lake Geneva; 262-248-6810 luisspizza.com

MAGPIE’S DEN & PEN

CASUAL $$

642 W. Main St., Lake Geneva; 262-249-2302 magpieslg.com

MAMA CIMINO’S

CASUAL/ITALIAN $ -$$

131 N. Wells St., Lake Geneva; 262-348-9077 ciminoslakegeneva.com

MASHTUN BREWING BREWERY $

700 Veterans Pkwy., Unit 203, Lake Geneva; 262-999-4677 mashtunbrewing.com

MEDUSA GELATERIA & KOUZINA

CASUAL/ICE CREAM $

272 Broad St., Lake Geneva medusagelato.com

MOOSE + MAPLE NORTHWOODS

FAMILY DINING

CASUAL $ -$$

Timber Ridge Lodge at Grand Geneva, State Hwy. 50, Lake Geneva; 262-249-3400 timberridgelodge.com/eat/smokeys

NEXT DOOR PUB & PIZZERIA

AMERICAN/CASUAL/ITALIAN $ 411 Interchange North (Hwy. 120), Lake Geneva; 262-248-9551 nextdoorpub.com

NICHE

COFFEESHOP/WINE BAR $ -$$ 715 Hunt Club Dr., Unit C, Lake Geneva; 262-581-6800 nichelg.com

OAKFIRE RESTAURANT & PIZZERIA

CASUAL/ITALIAN $ -$$ 831 Wrigley Dr., Lake Geneva; 262-812-8007 oakfire.pizza

OLYMPIC RESTAURANT

DINER $

748 W. Main St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-6541 olympicrestaurantlakegeneva.com

POPEYE’S

CASUAL $ -$$$

811 Wrigley Dr., Lake Geneva; 262-248-4381 popeyeslkg.com

food

RISTORANTÉ BRISSAGO

ITALIAN $$ -$$$

Grand Geneva Resort and Spa, Lake Geneva; 262-249-4788 grandgeneva.com/restaurants/ ristorante-brissago

SABAI, SABAI

ASIAN $$

306 Center St., Lake Geneva; 262-812-4114 sabaisabailakegeneva.com

SIMPLE CAFÉ

AMERICAN/BAKERY $ -$$ 525 Broad St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-3556 simplelakegeneva.com

SOPRA: AN AMERICAN BISTRO AMERICAN/FRENCH $$ -$$$

724 Main St., Lake Geneva; 262-249-0800 soprabistro.com

SPEEDO’S HARBORSIDE CAFÉ

CASUAL $

100 Broad St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-3835

SU-WING’S CHINESE

RESTAURANT

ASIAN $ -$$ 743 North St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-1178 suwinglg.com

TAIL FEATHERS

CASUAL $ -$$

Hawk’s View Golf Club, W7377 Krueger Rd., Lake Geneva; 262-348-9900 hawksviewgolfclub.com/club/tailfeathers-bar-and-grill

TAQUERIA EL GALLO DEL ORO

MEXICAN $ 820 Williams St., Lake Geneva; 262-729-4055 taquerialg.com

TOPSY TURVY BREWERY

BREWERY $ 727 Geneva St., Lake Geneva; 262-812-8323 topsyturvybrewery.com

TUSCAN TAVERN AND GRILL

AMERICAN/ITALIAN $ -$$ 430 Broad St., Lake Geneva; 262-248-0888 tuscanlg.com

YOGEEZE FROZEN YOGURT FROZEN YOGURT $ 253 Center St., #300, Lake Geneva; 262-203-5550 yogeeze.com

ZAAB CORNER BISTRO

STEAK/SEAFOOD/BBQ $$ -$$$ 501 Broad St., Lake Geneva; 262-203-5434 zaabcornerlg.com

BURLINGTON

BEIJING GARDEN

ASIAN $ 464 S. Pine St., Burlington; 262-767-1188

THE CHARCOAL GRILL AND ROTISSERIE

CASUAL $ 580 Milwaukee Ave., Burlington; 262-767-0000 charcoalgrill.com

FLIPPY’S CASUAL $ 401 N. Pine St., Burlington; 262-763-6754 flippysfastfood.com

FRED’S CASUAL $ 596 N. Pine St., Burlington; 262-763-8370 freds-burgers.com

JACOBS SMOKEHOUSE BARBECUE $ -$$ 133 E. Chestnut St., Burlington; 262-287-6495

LOS COMPADRES

MEXICAN $ 725 N. Milwaukee Ave., Burlington; 262-763-6018 loscompadreswi.com

LUCKY STAR PUB AND EATERY DINER $ -$$ 864 Milwaukee Ave., Burlington; 262-763-2155 eatatluckystar.com

NAPOLI RESTAURANT & PIZZERIA CASUAL/ITALIAN $ -$$ 132 N. Pine St., Burlington; 262-763-8390

RUSTIC ROOTS

AMERICAN $$ 597 N. Pine St., Burlington; 262-661-4653

THE WATERFRONT ON BROWN’S LAKE STEAK/SEAFOOD/AMERICAN $$ 31100 Weiler Rd., Burlington; 262-763-9989 waterfrontbrownslake.com

ZUMPANO’S RISTORANTE & PIZZERIA

ITALIAN $ -$$ 180 E. Chestnut St., Burlington; 262-767-0581 zumpanospizza.com

DARIEN

COUNTRYSIDE

CASUAL $ W9695 U.S. Hwy. 14, Darien; 262-882-3224

DARIEN ICE CREAM SHOPPE

ICE CREAM $ 30 W. Beloit St., Darien; 262-882-5060

WEST WIND DINER

DINER $ 620 N. Walworth St., Darien; 262-882-5515

DELAVAN

1878 ON THE LAKE

AMERICAN $$ -$$$ Lake Lawn Resort, 2400 E. Geneva St. (State Hwy. 50), Delavan; 262-728-7950 lakelawnresort.com/dining/1878-onthe-lake

food & drink dining guide

ARANDAS MEXICAN GRILL

MEXICAN $

322 S. 7th St., Delavan; 262-725-6518 arandasmexicangrill.com

ARCADIA BAR AND GRILL

CASUAL $

215 E. Walworth Ave., Delavan; 262-267-8973 arcadiabarandgrill.com

BOXED & BURLAP

COFFEE HOUSE $

2935 State Hwy. 67 (intersection of highways 50 and 67), Delavan and 230 E. Walworth Ave., Delavan; 262-374-5497

boxedandburlap.com

CHINA GARDEN

ASIAN $

136 E. Walworth Ave., Delavan; 262-749-3111 chinagardendelavanwi.com

CLOCK TOWER PIZZA/ FRANK’S

CASUAL/ITALIAN $

5576 State Rd. 50, Delavan; 262-203-5092 clocktowerpizza.com

DELAVAN FAMILY RESTAURANT

CASUAL $

505 S. 7th St., Delavan; 262-728-1715

THE DUCK INN

SUPPER CLUB $$ -$$$

N6214 State Hwy. 89 (intersection of County Rd. A and State Hwy. 89), Delavan; 608-883-6988 duckinndelavan.com

ELIZABETH’S CAFE

DINER $

322 E. Walworth Ave., Delavan; 262-728-3383

THE ENDZONE BAR & GRILL

CASUAL $ 4112 Blue Gill Rd., Delavan; 262-728-2420

FIRE2FORK

AMERICAN $$ -$$$ 2484 S. County Rd. O, Delavan; 262-725-7388 fire2fork.com

GREENIE’S CLUBHOUSE

CASUAL $ At Delbrook Golf Course, 700 S. 2nd St., Delavan; 262-728-1339

INN BETWEEN

CASUAL $ 1522 Beckman Dr., Delavan; 262-728-9824

ISLE OF CAPRI CAFÉ

COFFEE HOUSE $

Lake Lawn Resort, Delavan; 262-728-7950

lakelawnresort.com/dining/isle-ofcapri-cafe

JAIME’S CAFE

CASUAL $

239 E. Walworth Ave., Delavan; 262-749-3107

JO JO’S PIZZA & PASTA

CASUAL $ -$$

308 State Hwy. 50, Delavan; 262-728-5656 jojospizzadelavan.net

JONATHAN’S ON BRICK STREET

AMERICAN $$ -$$$

116 E. Walworth Ave., Delavan; 262-725-7715 jonathansonbrickstreet.com

LA GUANAJUATO

MEXICAN RESTAURANT

MEXICAN $

233 E. Walworth Ave., Delavan; 262-728-8615

THE LOOKOUT BAR AND EATERY

CASUAL $

Lake Lawn Resort, Delavan; 262-728-7950 lakelawnresort.com/dining/lookout-bar-eatery

LOPEZ’S ANCHOR IN

CASUAL $

1325 Racine St., Delavan; 262-728-2391

LOS AGAVES RESTAURANT

MEXICAN $

401 E. Walworth Ave., Delavan; 262-728-4039 losagavesmexicanfood.com

OL’ WISCO BAR AND GRILL

CASUAL $

328 E. Walworth Ave., Delavan; 262-725-6000

OPUS AT THE BELFRY HOUSE

FRENCH $$$$

3601 State Hwy. 67, Delavan; 262-394-3939 dineopus.com

PEPPERONI PUB

CASUAL/ITALIAN $

627 S. Second St., Delavan; 262-723-2222 pepperonipub.com

RIGA-TONY’S

CASUAL/ITALIAN $ 5576 State Hwy. 50, Delavan; 262-740-2540 rigatonysdelavan.com

SPICE OF INDIA

INDIAN $

212 S. 7th St., Delavan; 262-728-6443 thespiceofindia.org

SWEET AROMA RISTORANTÉ

ITALIAN $$ -$$$ W7404 County Rd. X, Delavan; 262-728-6878 sweetaromaristorante.com

VESUVIO’S LITTLE ITALY

CASUAL/ITALIAN $

617 E. Washington St., Delavan; 262-740-1762 delavanpizza.com

THE VILLAGE SUPPER CLUB

SUPPER CLUB $$ -$$$

1725 S. Shore Dr., Delavan; 262-456-3400 villagesupperclubdelavan.com

WATERFRONT CASUAL $

408 State Hwy. 50, Delavan; 262-728-4700 waterfrontdelavan.com

YO-SHI JAPANESE RESTAURANT ASIAN $$ 1823 E. Geneva St. (State Hwy. 50), Delavan; 262-740-2223

EAST TROY

2894 ON MAIN

COFFEE/CASUAL $ -$$ 2894 Main St., East Troy; 262-642-9600 2894onmain.com

BARLEY’S HOPS AND MALT CASUAL $ N8720 County Rd. N, East Troy; 262-642-7811

DOS AMIGOS 2 MEXICAN $

2678 E. Main St., East Troy; 262-642-6446 dosamigos2llc.com

EAST TROY BREWERY BREWERY/CASUAL $ -$$ 2905 Main St., East Troy; 262-642-2670 etbrew.com

GENOA PIZZA CASUAL/ITALIAN $ 2678 E. Main St., East Troy; 262-642-9775

GOLDEN DRAGON ASIAN $

2763 Main St., East Troy; 262-642-5518 goldendragoneasttroywi.com

GUS’S DRIVE-IN DINER $

3131 Main St., East Troy; 262-642-3679 gussdrivein.com

J. LAUBER’S ICE CREAM PARLOR

ICE CREAM $ 2010 Church St., East Troy; 262-642-3679 jlaubers.com

LD’S BBQ BARBECUE $ -$$ 2511 Main St., East Troy; 414-610-7675 ldsbbq.com

PRINCESS CAFÉ DINER $ 2695 Main St., East Troy; 262-642-5905

ELKHORN

ALPINE BISTRO AT ALPINE VALLEY RESORT

AMERICAN/CONTEMPORARY $$ -$$$

W2501 County Rd. D, Elkhorn; 262-642-7374 alpinevalleyresort.com

ANNIE’S BURGER TOWN

CASUAL $

645 N. Lincoln St., Elkhorn; 262-723-3250 anniesburgertown.com

ELK RESTAURANT CASUAL $ 13 W. Walworth St., Elkhorn; 262-723-4220

ENZO’S PIZZA

CASUAL/ITALIAN $ 464 E. Geneva St., Elkhorn; 262-379-2022

HOLI CANNOLI

ITALIAN $ -$$

N7065 U.S. Hwy. 12, Elkhorn; 262-742-2500 holicannoli.com

LAKEHOUSE BREAKFAST BAR & GRILL

CASUAL $ -$$ N7073 State Hwy. 12/67, Elkhorn; 262-742-3300

LARDUCCI PIZZERIA

ITALIAN $ -$$ 20 S. Washington St., Elkhorn; 262-723-6668 larducci.com

LAUDERDALE LANDING

CASUAL $ -$$ W5625 West Shore Dr., Elkhorn; 262-495-8727

LEFTY’S CHICAGO-STYLE HOT DOGS

CASUAL $ N7033 U.S. Hwy. 12, Elkhorn; 262-215-8266 leftysdogs.com

LOS TRES HERMANOS MEXICAN $$

31 N. Wisconsin St. Elkhorn; 262-379-1658 lostreshermanoswi.com

LUKE’S MARKET STREET ITALIAN SANDWICHES

CASUAL $

117 W. Market St., Elkhorn; 262-723-4676

MOY’S RESTAURANT ASIAN $

3 N. Wisconsin St., Elkhorn; 262-723-3993 moysrestaurant.carry-out.com

PASTRIES BY CHAD

BAKERY $

29 N. Wisconsin St., Elkhorn; 262-279-1187 pastriesbychad.com

PERKUP

COFFEE HOUSE $

27 N. Wisconsin St., Elkhorn; 262-723-1287 perkupelkhorn.com

PIZZA ALLEY

CASUAL/ITALIAN $

30 S. Wisconsin St., Elkhorn; 262-723-1900

LAKE GENEVA SPICE COMPANY

food & drink dining guide

THE PUB AT EVERGREEN GOLF CLUB

CASUAL $

N6246 U.S. Hwy. 12, Elkhorn; 262-723-5722 evergreengolf.com/the-pub

ROOTS & ROCKS

AMERICAN $ 20 S. Wisconsin St., Elkhorn; 262-723-8021 roots-rocks.com

SOMEPLACE ELSE

AMERICAN $

1 W. Walworth St., Elkhorn; 262-723-3111 someplaceelserestaurant.com

STILLWATER COFFEE COMPANY

COFFEE HOUSE $ 1560 N. Country Club Pkwy., Elkhorn; 262-723-2301 stillwatercoffeecompany.com

WILSON’S WHISTLE STOP

BARBECUE $ -$$

100 Clark St., Elkhorn; 262-379-1577 wilsonswhistlestopbbq.com

FONTANA

240˚ WEST

AMERICAN/CASUAL/STEAKHOUSE $$ -$$$

The Abbey Resort, 269 Fontana Blvd., Fontana; 262-275-9034

theabbeyresort.com/lake-geneva-restaurants/240-west

BAR WEST

SMALL PLATES $ -$$

The Abbey Resort, 269 Fontana Blvd., Fontana; 262-275-9034 theabbeyresort.com/lake-geneva-restaurants/bar-west

BIG FOOT MARKET

PIZZA/COFFEE $ -$$

W4724 S. Lake Shore Dr., Fontana; 262-394-5888 bigfootmarkets.com

BLUE HEAVEN

ICE CREAM $ 105 W. Main St., Fontana; 970-219-8911 blueheavenicecream.com

CAFÉ LATTE

COFFEE HOUSE $

The Abbey Resort & Spa; 269 Fontana Blvd., Fontana; 262-275-6811 theabbeyresort.com/lake-geneva-restaurants/ cafe-latte

CHUCK’S LAKESHORE INN

CASUAL $

352 Lake St., Fontana; 262-275-3222 chuckslakeshoreinn.com

COFFEE MILL

COFFEE HOUSE $ 441 Mill St., Fontana; 262-275-0040 coffeemillfontana.com

GORDY’S BOAT HOUSE

CASUAL $ -$$ 336 Lake Ave., Fontana; 262-275-6800 gordysboats.com

LITTLE BAR

PIZZA $ -$$ 138 Fontana Blvd., Fontana; 262-755-0335 littlebarfontana.com

THE WATERFRONT

AMERICAN/CASUAL $ -$$

The Abbey Resort, 269 Fontana Blvd., Fontana; 262-275-9034 theabbeyresort.com/lake-geneva-restaurants/thewaterfront

GENOA CITY

BROKEN SPOKE TAVERN & EATERY

CASUAL $

332 Fellows Road, Genoa City; 262-295-8535 brokenspokeeatery.com

FITZGERALD’S GENOA JUNCTION

CASUAL $

727 Main St., Hwy. B, Genoa City; 262-279-5200 fitzgeraldsfishboil.com

LAKE COMO

BEAN & VINE COFFEE BAR COFFEE HOUSE $ -$$

The Ridge Hotel, W4240 State Hwy. 50, Lake Geneva; 262-249-3800 ridgelakegeneva.com/bean-vine

CRAFTED ITALIA

ITALIAN $$ -$$$

The Ridge Hotel, W4240 State Hwy. 50, Lake Geneva; 262-249-3832 craftedlakegeneva.com

DJ’S IN THE DRINK

CASUAL $

W3860 Lake Shore Dr., Lake Como; 262-248-8855 djsinthedrink.com

THE GETAWAY ON LAKE COMO

CASUAL $ -$$

4190 West End Road, Lake Geneva; 262-686-3456 thegetawayrestaurant.com

LEGENDS FOOD & SPIRITS

CASUAL $

W3731 Club House Dr., Lake Geneva; 262-203-5474 legendsfoodandspirits.com

MARS RESORT

STEAKHOUSE/SUPPER CLUB $ -$$

W4098 S. Shore Drive (off State Hwy. 50 on Lake Como), Lake Geneva; 262-245-5689 mars-resort.com

NEXT DOOR PUB LAKESIDE

PIZZA $

W4118 Lakeshore Dr., Lake Geneva; 262-249-6311 nextdoorpublakeside.com

PAPA’S BLUE SPRUCE

CASUAL $

W4086 Lake Shore Dr., Lake Geneva; 262-729-4126 papasbluespruce.com

TURF. SMOKEHOUSE

BARBECUE $$ Geneva National, Lake Geneva; 262-245-7042 destinationgn.com/turf

LYONS

BONNIE & BETTY’S PLACE

CASUAL $ -$$

6069 S. Railroad St., Lyons; 262-763-9935

YE OLDE HOTEL BAR & RESTAURANT

AMERICAN $ -$$ 6070 N. Railroad St., Lyons; 262-763-2701 yeoldehotel.com

MUKWONAGO

DAVID ALAN ALAN’S SMOKEHOUSE & SALOON BARBECUE $ -$$ 325 Bayview Rd., Mukwonago; 262-363-3227 daasmokehouse.com

ELEGANT FARMER SPECIALTY $ 1545 Main St., Mukwonago; 262-363-6770 elegantfarmer.com

FORK IN THE ROAD

AMERICAN/CASUAL $ -$$ 215 N. Rochester St., Mukwonago; 262-363-7849 forkintheroadrestaurant.com

PELL LAKE

SPOONDOGGERS BAR AND GRILL

CASUAL $

N1320 S. Lake Shore Dr., Genoa City; 262-295-8773

UPPER CRUST PIZZERIA & PUB

CASUAL $

N1070 County Rd. H, Pell Lake; 262-279-2233 uppercrustpizzeriapub.com

SHARON

COFFEE CUP CAFE CASUAL $ 192 Baldwin St., Sharon; 262-736-4060

MYRT’S ICE CREAM SHOPPE ICE CREAM $ 215 Baldwin St., Sharon; 262-736-5060

PAT’S BREW & ‘QUE BARBECUE $ 124 North St., Sharon; 262-736-5060

TWIN LAKES

BODI’S BAKE SHOP BAKERY $ 306 E. Main St., Twin Lakes; 262-877-8090

THE CORNER KITCHEN CASUAL $ 100 Lake St., Twin Lakes; 262-877-2456

MANNY’S SNACK SHACK CASUAL $ 404 S. Lake Ave., Twin Lakes; 262-877-4442

1903 WEST BAR AND GRILL CASUAL $ 121 S. Lake Ave., Twin Lakes; 262-877-3340

food & drink dining guide

WALWORTH

10 PIN PUB

CASUAL/PIZZA $

121 Kenosha St., Walworth; 262-394-4300 10pinpub.com

JULIE MICHELLE CAKES

CAKE BAKERY $

117 Kenosha St., Walworth; 312-800-3101

KING DRAGON

ASIAN $

101 Kenosha St., Walworth; 262-275-3309 kingdragonwa.com

MEGGY MOO’S DAIRY RIPPLE

CASUAL/ICE CREAM $

600 Kenosha St., Walworth; 262-394-5584

SAMMY’S ON THE SQUARE

CASUAL $

105 Madison St., Walworth; 262-275-3739 sammysonthesquare.com

SIEMER’S CRUISE–IN BAR & GRILL

CASUAL $

107 Kenosha St., Walworth; 262-275-9191 siemerscruisein.com

TWO SISTERS THAI RESTAURANT

ASIAN $

207 N. Main St., Walworth; 262-394-5700

WHITEWATER

841 BREW HOUSE

CASUAL $ -$$ 841 E. Milwaukee St., Whitewater; 262-473-8000 841brewhouse.com

BRASS RAIL SALOON AND EATERY

CASUAL $

130 W. Main St., Whitewater; 262-473-4038

CHINA HOUSE

ASIAN $ 1128 W. Main St., Whitewater; 262-473-9788

GUS’ PIZZA PALACE

ITALIAN $ -$$

139 W. Main St., Whitewater; 262-473-3562 guspizzapalace.com

JESSICA’S FAMILY RESTAURANT

DINER $

140 W. Main St., Whitewater; 262-473-9890

ROSA’S PIZZA

ITALIAN $

180 W. Main St., Whitewater; 262-472-9857 orderrosas.com

SECOND SALEM BREWING COMPANY

CASUAL $

111 W. Whitewater St., Whitewater; 262-473-2920 secondsalem.com

TOPPER’S PIZZA

CASUAL/ITALIAN $ 325 W. Center St., Whitewater; 262-473-4343 toppers.com

WILLIAMS BAY

BAY COOKS

CASUAL $

99 N. Walworth Ave., Williams Bay; 262-607-6024 baycooksrestaurant.com

CAFÉ CALAMARI

ITALIAN $$ -$$$

10 E. Geneva St., Williams Bay; 262-245-9665 cafecalamari.com

DIP IN THE BAY

ICE CREAM $

105 N. Walworth Ave., Williams Bay; 262-607-3032 dipinthebay.com

FROSTY MOOSE

ICE CREAM $

35 W. Geneva St., Williams Bay; 262-245-2445 thefrostymoose.com

GRACIE’S KITCHEN

CAFE $

150 Elkhorn Road., Williams Bay

GREEN GROCER DELI AND COFFEE SHOP

CAFE $

24 W. Geneva St., Williams Bay; 262-245-9077 greengrocergenevalake.com

HARPOON WILLIE’S PUB & EATERY

CASUAL $

8 E. Geneva St., Williams Bay; 262-245-6906 harpoonwillies.com

LUCKE’S CANTINA

MEXICAN $

220 Elkhorn Rd., Williams Bay; 262-245-6666 luckescantina.com

PIER 290

AMERICAN/CASUAL $ -$$

1 Liechty Dr., Williams Bay; 262-245-2100 pier290.com

1878

Baglio

Balsitis

Belfry

“Perhaps there is no time in a summer’s day more cheering than when the warmth of the sun is just beginning to triumph over the freshness of the morning.”

— George Eliot

photo by holly leitner

Cabinets:

Designer: Joyce Zuelke, CKBD

Photographer: Shanna Wolf