Broadway At the Marcus NOVEMBER 2026 NEXT ISSUE ON STANDS
DECEMBER 2, 2026
HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE FIND THE PERFECT GIFT!
FOR THE FOODIES MILWAUKEE'S UNIQUE DINING OPTIONS
ARTS GUIDE
LEARN MORE ABOUT SOME OF THE INCREDIBLE EXHIBITS AT MOWA SEE PAGE 30
ENDORSEMENTS
POWERHOUSE MECHANIC Lewis Hine Pictures America on view at MOWA through Jan.17
PLEASE VOTE NOVEMBER 3RD SEE PAGE 6
NOVEMBER 2026 | 3
NEWS
16
6
November Endorsements
12 The Affordability Crisis v. Trump Trade Policy — Issue of the Month 14 Timothy Scott Invites Black and Brown Folks to Enjoy the Outdoors with Urban Nature Connection — Hero of the Month 15 This Modern World 16 Revel49’s Collin Price on Real Estate Development in ‘Indian Country’ — MKE SPEAKS: Conversations with Milwaukeeans
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FOOD & DRINK 20 Pairing Wine & Beer with Food:Lessons from Three of the City’s Culinary Stars — Beverages 22 The Korean Wave Reaches Milwaukee! 24 Milwaukee Has a Bounty of Ethnic Groceries
PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Louis Fortis (louis@shepex.com) MANAGING EDITOR: David Luhrssen (dluhrssen@shepex.com) MEDIA SALES MANAGER: Jackie Butzler (jackie@shepex.com) SENIOR MEDIA CONSULTANTS: Bridgette Ard (bridgette@shepex.com) Chuck Hill (chuck@shepex.com) IN MEMORY OF DUSTI FERGUSON (OCTOBER 18, 1971 – NOVEMBER 20, 2007 WEB COORDINATOR: Caroline Dannecker (caroline@shepex.com) DIGITAL STRATEGIST: Sophia Hamdan (sophia@shepex.com)
26 Milwaukee's Late Night Kitchens
STAFF WRITER & CIRCULATION COORDINATOR: Blaine Schultz (blaine@shepex.com)
28 Meet Milwaukee’s Recent James Beard Award Nominees
STAFF WRITER: Ben Slowey (ben@shepex.com)
SPECIAL SECTION 30 Holiday Arts Guide 48 Taking Care of Business, all of it — Small Business Saturday
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Andreas Scocos LAYOUT AND DESIGN: Timothy Czerniakowski
50 Holiday Gift Guide
CULTURE 58 This Month in Milwaukee
LIFESTYLE 60 The Cynic's Lament — Out of my Mind
HEAR ME OUT
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64 Our Voice Milwaukee Performs at the Bradley Symphony Center December 5 — My LGBTQ POV SPONSORED BY
ART FOR ART'S SAKE 66 From the City that Always Sweeps
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Cover - Lewis Hine, American (1874–1940). Powerhouse Mechanic, 1920-21. Gelatin silver print. This exhibition is organized by art2art Circulating Exhibitions, LLC. Works are from the collection of Michael Mattis and Judith Hochberg. Photo of Milwaukee skyline by GettyImages/Big Joe.
NOVEMBER 2026 | 5
NEWS ENDORSEMENTS
NOVEMBER
ENDORSEMENTS BY THE SHEPHERD EXPRESS ENDORSEMENT COMMITTEE
The Shepherd Express Enthusiastically Endorses Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley for Governor of Wisconsin
Photo courtesy of David Crowley for Wisconsin.
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avid Crowley’s life history is a classic American success story. He grew up in the inner-city of Milwaukee and his parents struggled with narcotics addiction issues. As a child he saw his family suffer the trauma and humiliation of three home evictions. On an upbeat note, Crowley’s parents recovered from their addiction issues.
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As a very smart child, he quickly learned that “grit, resilience, and hope for a better future tomorrow can carry us through even the toughest challenges.” Crowley graduated from Bay View High School and UWM. He is the classic selfmade man. He held a few public service nonprofit jobs building community and then was elected twice to the state assembly. In 2020 during the pandemic, Crowley was elected Milwaukee County Executive. He is married with three daughters. Being a self-made person who overcame obstacles that would have crushed many people, David Crowley learned what’s important and that is to give his fellow Wisconsinites a chance to accomplish their dreams if they work hard and have an honest and fair state government that helps its average citizens. That means having affordable housing, groceries, childcare, healthcare, energy costs and educational opportunities to name some of the basics, while at the same time fighting to get the most value out of every tax dollar spent. Crowley has had impressive results leading Milwaukee County and repairing the damage his predecessor Chris Abele created.
There is a decent chance that the Democrats can win the majority in the State Assembly and State Senate and after 16 years of former Governor Scott Walker’s laws that gave tax breaks for the wealthy and eliminated fair policies that helped the middleclass, we will have a chance to change that. Congressman Tom Tiffany, the Republican nominee, has voted consistently with everyone of Donald Trump’s proposals including giving enthusiastic support for Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill which cut taxes for the millionaires and billionaires and added an estimated $3.4 trillion to our national debt. Trump’s bill also made the largest ever federal cuts to health care, educational programs, food assistance programs and many other programs that give average Americans a chance to improve their lives. The vote to pass that Big Beautiful Bill was extremely close and Tiffany and two others could have prevented its passage. Also, one of Tiffany’s first acts as a Congressman was to undermine the framework of our Constitution by voting to reject the electoral college vote when Trump lost in 2020. Please Support David Crowley for Governor.
Photo of American flag by GettyImages/Anna Kim.
NOVEMBER 2026 | 7
NEWS ENDORSEMENTS
The Shepherd Express Strongly Endorses Josh Kaul for Attorney General
The Shepherd Express Endorses Yee Leng Xiong for State Treasurer
The Shepherd Express Endorses JoCasta Zamarripa for Secretary of State
Photo courtesy of Kaul for Attorney General.
Photo courtesy of Yee for Wisconsin Campaign.
Photo courtesy of JoCasta for Wisconsin.
Josh Kaul has been viewed as one of the most capable state attorney generals in the country. As a former federal prosecutor and as Wisconsin’s attorney general, he has personally led the prosecution of a variety of cases including sexual assaults, homicides, internet crimes against children, drug trafficking and robberies. Kaul has a balanced approach with a strong emphasis on law enforcement but also an emphasis on fairness, social justice and public safety. Attorney General Kaul is not afraid to stand up to Donald Trump when the president tries to undermine our democracy by trying to take away certain rights and responsibilities that the Constitution gave to the states.
Yee Leng Xiong story is about a child born in Wausau of Hmong refugees who left Laos and communist persecution to American freedom. His oldest brother who was born in Laos died during the family’s escape to freedom. Like many refugee families, Yee was raised with a sense of responsibility to serve the country that saved his family. As an adult he served his community starting as the first Hmong American to be elected to the school board in Wausau, eventually becoming the vice president of the school board and currently its treasurer.
JoCasta Zamarripa is experienced in getting results for her constituents. She has served five terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly and two terms on the Milwaukee Common Council. In those positions she fought for the issues that would help regular Wisconsin working families. Most of the issues revolve around affordability including affordable housing, affordable childcare, and good public education. The Secretary of State’s responsibilities have been gutted by the Republican legislature over the past 15 years and JoCasta fully understands that, but she also knows that in the Secretary of State position she will have a platform to fight for the average working Wisconsinites.
His opponent is a rightwing extremist whose claim to fame is that now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned, he will not hesitate to prosecute any doctor accused of breaking the 1849 anti-abortion law. Please Vote to Re-elect Josh Kaul for Wisconsin Attorney General
As school board treasurer he learned about public school funding challenges and as State Treasurer he will have responsibility for managing the $1.3 billion dollar Wisconsin Common School Fund. He understands public finance issues. He also was elected to the Marathon County Board of Supervisors. Again, as with the school board, he gravitated toward the finance issues serving on the county Human Resources, Finance and Property Committee. He understands how to get the most impact out of every tax dollar and if elected, he will start the job with very strong public financial experience. Please Vote for Yee Leng Xiong for Wisconsin State Treasurer
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Please Vote for JoCasta Zamarripa for Wisconsin Secretary of State
Ballot Measures There are Three Ballot Measures on the ballot on November 3rd. They are all basically measures that have been championed by the rightwing Republicans. The Shepherd encourages you to Please Vote No on each of the proposed changes.
Congressional
Races
The Shepherd Express Enthusiastically Endorses Mitchell Berman for the 1st Congressional District
Mitchell opponent Bryan Steil is the classic “not the brightest son of a rich and well-connected father” who was a very close legal advisor to Governor Tommy Thompson. As two of his Republican friends told the Shepherd, Steil would never have become a Congressman without his daddy’s help and connections. Steil was an enthusiastic supporter of Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill that cut dozens of programs that gave working people opportunities to improve their lives and used that money to give massive tax breaks to the billionaire class who support his campaigns. As a result, we now have a national debt of over $40 trillion dollars. We need a person who cares about Wisconsin’s 90% not the richest 10%. Please Vote for Mitchell Berman for Congress The Shepherd Express Very Strongly Endorses Democrat Rebecca Cooke for the 3rd Congressional District
Photo courtesy of Mitchell Berman for Congress.
Mitchell was born and raised in rural Wisconsin and has the best of Wisconsin values like looking out for and taking care of his fellow citizens. He has spent 23 years as a Veteran’s Administration Nurse. He understands the health care system and how important it is for all of us and how very expensive and often very difficult to access it has become. He is first generation in his family to attend college and often worked three jobs to put himself through college. As a Congressman his focus will be lowering costs for working families in all areas from housing costs, health care costs, childcare costs, education costs, gas prices to the costs of putting food on the dinner table. How to pay for some of this? Mitchell feels strongly that we have to stop giving various tax breaks to the corporations and the billionaires and use that money to provide opportunities for regular citizens.
Western Wisconsin voters can make a real difference if they defeat perhaps the worst congressperson, Derrick Van Orden, Wisconsin has had in recent history. Democrat Rebecca Cooke almost ousted him in 2024 but unfortunately was heavily outspent by rightwing out-of-state money and as we know, dark money buys negative advertising. The national Democrats ignored this race and we lost and now the national Democrats seem to have learned a lesson and are currently helping her raise money. The Third District residents are suffering under poor representation by Van Orden who is a cheerleader for President Trump and his damaging policies. Gas and grocery costs are rising, health care is being cut, and billions of taxpayer dollars are wasted on Middle East wars. Van Orden repeatedly voted to cut Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act which is seriously hurting his constituents while cutting taxes for the rich, especially the super-rich. He supports the war with Iran and did nothing to prevent the resulting rising gas prices, while district dairy families go out of business and local hospitals face bankruptcy. If elected to replace Van Orden, Rebecca Cooke will fight to reverse his health cuts and restore medical coverage, work to reduce gas prices, and stop wasting tax dollars and human lives in Middle East conflicts. She will help return control of the House of Representatives to the working people and away from the special interests. Polling shows Cooke in a very close lead. Republicans recently flew President Trump and HHS Secretary Kennedy into the District in a desperate try to save Van Orden.
Photo by Knorth Studios.
The 3rd Congressional District which runs along the Mississippi River from the Illinois border to a little north of Eau Claire is currently a Republican held congressional seat where Democrats can have an impact on the national scene. The Democrats need to flip a net three seats to gain control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Please vote for Rebecca Cooke if you live on the west side of Wisconsin. If you don’t live in the district and want to help, contact her campaign and do some door-to-door canvassing in western Wisconsin. It’s lovely in the Fall when the leaves are changing colors.
NOVEMBER 2026 | 9
NEWS ENDORSEMENTS
The Shepherd Strongly Supports the Re-Election of Gwen Moore to the 4th Congressional District
State Senate
Races
The Shepherd Express Enthusiastically Endorses State Representative Robyn Vining for State Senate
Despite being in the minority, Robyn has worked hard to actually get substantial legislation passed. That requires a lot of work, and she has a deserved reputation for being one of the hardest working legislators in Madison. Her legislative achievements were varied, but a number of them focused on families and health care. She was instrumental in passing the Gail’s Law for breast cancer screenings, expanding Medicaid’s postpartum care, strengthening reproductive freedoms, fighting for quality affordable childcare, and a number of environmental protections that made our families healthier to name just a few. Wisconsin needs Representative Vining promoted to the State Senate. Please Vote for Robyn Vining for State Senate.
Photo courtesy of Gwen Moore for Congress.
The Shepherd strongly endorses Congresswoman Gwen Moore for re-election to Congress. She has served Milwaukee in the U.S. Congress since 2005, and she gets re-elected for two reasons: First, Moore is in tune with her constituents and invariably supports and votes the positions of the majority of the people in her district. Second, she and her staff are very responsive to the needs of her constituents and the problems and challenges many of them face. Please Support Representative Gwen Moore for Re-election to Congress.
The Shepherd Express strongly supports and endorses Trevor Jung for the 21st State Senate District
Photo by Brandon Brown.
The Shepherd Express endorsed Robyn Vining in her first race for the State Assembly in 2018 and her work as a state legislator exceeded all the expectations we had for someone in the Assembly. The Shepherd is apparently not alone in our respect for Robyn. She was selected as one of the top 10 Most Effective Democratic Legislators 4 years in a row by the Center for Effective Lawmaking. It’s time to promote Vining to the State Senate. In the legislature, if you are in the minority— and the Democrats have been in the minority since 2016 when former Governor Scott Walker created the most extreme gerrymander for any state legislature in the nation-- it is very difficult to get anything done. Apparently Robyn didn’t get that message, because she got a lot done despite being in the minority. The Democrats are hoping to change that and become the majority with your help on November 3rd.
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Photo courtesy of Trevor Jung for State Senate.
Trevor Jung serves as director of RYDE Racine, the city's public transit system. There, he manages a $10+ million annual budget. Under his leadership transit services have become connected to hospitals, social services, and jobs, helping seniors access the medical care they need and working families get to work efficiently. Trevor was elected Racine's youngest Alderperson since 1862 .
Trevor Young is running for the state Senate to continue serving the community that shaped him. At age two he was adopted from an orphanage by a Racine family. Raised by his dad, Young became a proud graduate of Racine Unified Schools and earned a degree in urban studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The Shepherd Express knows that the Wisconsin State Senate will benefit enormously from Trevor's energy and experience.
He obviously does well in his jobs since he continues to get re-elected. We believe he would be a very good addition to the Milwaukee County delegation in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Please Vote for Dan Bukiewicz for State Representative in the 21st Assembly District on November 3rd.
61st Assembly District: Ben Brist
Please vote for Trevor Jung for State Senate.
Assembly
Endorsements 21st Assembly District: Dan Bukiewicz
Photo courtesy of Ben Brist for State Assembly.
Photo courtesy of the City of Oak Creek.
The Shepherd strongly endorses Dan Bukiewicz for State Representative in the 21st Assembly District. For the past 12 years, he has been the President of the Milwaukee Building and Construction Trades Council representing over 15,000 union tradeswomen and tradesmen. He is also in his third term as mayor of Oak Creek after serving five terms as an alderperson.
The Shepherd enthusiastically endorses Ben Brist for State Assembly in the 61st Assembly District. He was raised in a family that believed in public service. Brist graduated from West Point and Army Ranger School and then served as an Army paratrooper and infantry officer. After the service, he received a graduate degree from Harvard and then returned to his home state of Wisconsin and found the community where he and his wife plan to build a family. He is running for State Assembly to continue his desire to serve the public. Right now, Brist sees the most important issue being Affordability. A large percentage of our population who have full-time jobs are having trouble just making ends meet. In the richest country in the world, if you work hard at a full-time job, Brist strongly believes that one should be able to live at least a modest middle-class life. Please vote for Ben Brist for State Representative in the 61st Assembly District on November 3rd. NOVEMBER 2026 | 11
NEWS ISSUE OF THE MONTH
The Affordability Crisis v. Trump Trade Policy BY WILLIAM HOLAHAN
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he nation pays a heavy price for Trump’s tariff and insult war against long-standing allies and trading partners. U.S. consumers and businesses pay those tariffs, not the exporting countries, so when tariffs go up trade with those countries becomes more expensive, further driving up the cost of living. Based on false notions about market economics and international trade, Trump claims that Canada is “ripping us off!” Why? Because the US has a “trade deficit” with Canada. His reasoning was revealed when he said: “If we don’t trade with Canada at all, we save $90 billion.” He regards the dollars as having intrinsic value separate from what they can buy. It is as if he spent $100 in a grocery store and then complained that his dollars were gone and all he got in exchange was food.
TRADING WITH CANADA: FOLLOW THE MONEY Trade between bilateral trading partners is mutually beneficial. Wisconsin manufacturers and builders rely on Canadian steel, aluminum, and lumber as inputs to building homes and office complexes, cars and airplanes and HVAC systems; farmers import Canadian fertilizer and sell their food in Canadian markets; machinery and equipment industries rely on cross border supply chains that have been built over decades. Because so many different types of things are traded, international trade generates an intimidating blizzard of data. Fortunately, each of these traded items can be categorized into goods or services or assets. This categorization makes it easy to define trade deficits and what they mean to consumers struggling with affordability. 12 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS
BI-LATERAL TRADE DEFICITS When Canada sells goods and services to the U.S. such as electricity, oil and heavy-duty trucks, dollars flow into Canada. When the U.S. sells goods and services to Canada, such as soybeans, medical equipment and college educations, dollars flow into the U.S. A trade deficit occurs when more dollars flow out of the U.S. into Canada than flow out of Canada into the U.S. To benefit from those surplus dollars, Canada must buy something that is offered in exchange for dollars. If the U.S. offered the only opportunity to spend the dollars, then the only remaining trade category would be U.S. assets— corporate stocks and bonds, real estate and U.S. Treasury bonds—to help finance the U.S. national debt. In that hypothetical the bilateral accounts would balance. But Canada can spend those dollars anywhere in the world, consequently the in-balances in goods and services need not be balanced by inflow of dollars from Canada to buy assets. Suppose Canada buys pharmaceuticals from Germany. Then Germany holds the dollars and might spend them to buy oil from Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia, now holding the dollars, could purchase real estate in New York City, returning the dollars to the U.S., completing the global loop. The individual bilateral pieces of global trade can remain unbalanced indefinitely; only the total of those payments must balance. That balance is described as a “circular flow” in which trade deficit outflows are balanced by foreign investment inflows.
TRUMP HALLUCINATIONS Nonetheless, as Trump persists on Truth Social: “If we stopped Trading with every country that we have a deficit with, which is most of them, we would make, at least, $1.5 Trillion Dollars a year. The word ‘Deficit’ is nothing more than a fancy word for LOSS. We are ‘carrying’ almost every country in the world, and that cannot go on any longer.” No. Stopping trade, as in this Truth Social hallucination, would not just stop the trade deficits, it would stop the entire circular flow: both the outflow of dollars to pay for imported goods and services and the consequent inflow of dollars by foreign investors. Without this in-flow of foreign investment, interest rates would be higher on treasury bonds, and, because all lending institutions must compete with treasury bonds, business loans, home mortgages, car loans, and credit card balances all would have higher interest rates! This would make it more expensive for U.S. businesses to finance their operations and for the US to finance its debt—including Trump’s debt-financed tax cuts and massive increases in defense expenditure—while at the same time worsening the “affordability crisis.” Now that would be a LOSS!
William Holahan is emeritus professor and former chairman of the Department of Economics at UW-Milwaukee.
Photo by GettyImages/TexBr.
NOVEMBER 2026 | 13
NEWS HERO OF THE MONTH
TIMOTHY SCOTT
INVITES BLACK AND BROWN FOLKS TO ENJOY THE OUTDOORS WITH URBAN NATURE
CONNECTION BY BEN SLOWEY
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All UNC events are introductory imothy Scott finds being level and meet folks where they are outside therapeutic, which comfortable. Scott recalls a time where is why he founded Urban a woman recovering from leg surgery Nature Connection (UNC), a nonprofit came out to one of UNC’s bike rides. organization that offers free and accessible opportunities year-round for “When she got on a bike, she rode for about two blocks with a runner running Black and Brown folks to be immersed in Milwaukee nature. “We can go fishing, alongside her, and she said “nah, that’s not for me, I’m just going to do some or plant a garden, or go for a walk, or walking”—and that’s OK! You tried it just do nothing,” Scott says. With UNC, and gave it a shot, and said this isn’t he is eager to share the physical and for you, so you found something else to mental health benefits of taking walks, do outside.” going on bike rides and getting fresh air with as many folks as he can. “I’m GET OUTSIDE! hearing that a lot of people are more Scott emphasizes that folks should not comfortable walking when they’re out wait for a UNC event to get outside. there with others. If more people try it, “I’m learning that nature and being some of it’s going to stick.” outside isn’t for everybody, and you can’t force it on anyone. Black people UNC leads wellness walks in county have a different relationship with parks on the third Saturday of the nature with the history of lynching, and month from 9 to 10 a.m. as well as those fears and concerns are real. I bike rides in partnership with Bublr need to know I can get out of here Bikes throughout the year. The group to a place I feel more safe. We have has also partnered with Victory Havenwoods right here in the middle of Garden Initiative and Food Freedom our city, a beautiful state forest, where Milwaukee on planting gardens and it’s wooded but you can still hear the has tabled at community events like cars off in the distance so you know Juneteenth and Heal the Hood. you’re not way out there.” 14 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS
Born and raised in Milwaukee, Scott was previously a carpenter by trade so was always outside, though at the time he just looked at it as going to work. Then tragedy struck Scott’s family when his son got caught up in the criminal justice system. “It messed me up.” Struggling with his mental health, Scott called his doctor and was connected to a therapist; however, Scott found the experience left a lot to be desired. “For Black men especially, we have our own special kind of trauma, and in the inner-city people don’t have a lot of money, especially now,” he explains. “There’s a lot of barriers; it’s not that we don’t ever want to talk to a therapist or psychiatrist, but you’ve got to find the right one, and if I’m not talking to an older Black man who can relate to me then it’s hard.” Ultimately, Scott found the most healing through ecotherapy—being outside cutting his grass, hearing the birds, working in his garden and walking along the river. “I was going through so much on the inside that my mind needed rest and peace, Photo of Timothy Scott by Ben Slowey. Nature background by GettyImages/ArtRachen01.
and that’s where it came from. It didn’t matter what season; if it was cold, I put my coat on.” He cites Dineen Park and the Milwaukee River Greenway as his two personal favorite nature spots in town. After retiring from construction, Scott became executive director of the nonprofit organization Nearby Nature, where he worked for just over a year before being unexpectedly laid off. “The mission had to go on,” he affirms, and he founded Urban Nature Connection in December of last year. The organization can be supported through volunteering, skill-sharing and donations, plus they are looking to add a few board members.
Ben Slowey is a Staff Writer for the Shepherd Express.
Illustration of trees by GettyImages/Richard Chambers.
NOVEMBER 2026 | 15
NEWS MKE SPEAKS: CONVERSATIONS WITH MILWAUKEEANS
REVEL49’S COLLIN PRICE ON REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT IN ‘INDIAN COUNTRY’ BY TOM JENZ
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ollin Price is proud to be an American Indian. He says so without much fanfare. In fact, he says most things in a pretty quiet way. I spent some time talking with him, and I realized that being Ho-Chunk is part of who he is and how he looks at the world.
These days, it is also a big part of what he wants to accomplish. Price believes “Indian Country” can do more. More business. More development. More building. More opportunities for tribal people to create something of their own. That belief has taken him on an unusual life journey. He has been a successful college football player, a Wisconsin state trooper, a tribal government spokesman, a graduate student at Georgetown University and now a Milwaukee real estate developer. I met Price in his downtown Milwaukee office, where the Milwaukee River is visible through the windows. He is a big man, with a strong physical presence, but his demeanor shoves all that aside. He is more likely to talk about what he is learning than what he has accomplished. 16 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS
Price and his older brother were born in Anchorage, Alaska. His parents met in the Army around 1980. His father eventually became a Wisconsin state trooper, and the family settled in Tomah where football became a big part of his life. He played at Tomah High School and then at UWWhitewater, where he was an outside linebacker and team captain. He was part of the first Whitewater team to reach the national championship game. He went to college thinking he might go into business, then switched to sociology and criminal justice. After college, Price followed his father into law enforcement. He became a Wisconsin state trooper and spent five years on the job, working first in Hudson and later in Madison and Racine County. He worked drug interdiction and major drug investigations. Sometimes he worked in plain clothes. “I was young, hungry and excited to chase bad guys, drive fast and do all that stuff,” he said. Still, Price knew he didn't want to spend the next 20 years of his life in law enforcement.
Then came an opportunity that would ignite his career. Price's mother is Ho-Chunk. She grew up in Black River Falls. And when Jon Greendeer, then president of the Ho-Chunk Nation, asked Price to become the tribe's public-relations officer, he found himself stepping into a world that was personal, his love and pride in Indian culture. By now, he had a wife and children, and they moved back to Tomah, and he went to work at the tribal headquarters in Black River Falls. His job was to be the voice of the tribe. That meant dealing with just about everybody: community members, mayors, elected officials, state and federal officials and tribal leaders. One day he might be working with children. The next he could be sitting at the state capitol talking with the governor about an issue affecting the Ho-Chunk Nation. He had to know what was happening throughout the tribal government so he could explain it to the outside world.
Photo of Collin Price by Tom Jenz. Paint Splatter Background by GettyImages/Anastasiia Hevko.
GREAT POTENTIAL Then, somewhere along the way, something happened to Price. He became consumed with what “Indian Country” could be, what it could become. That feeling grew stronger in 2015 when the Ho-Chunk Nation began a major renovation of several of its casino properties. There was a new hotel being built in Black River Falls and major work taking place at the Wisconsin Dells and Wittenberg properties. Price was still working in public relations, but his position put him close to the people making the decisions. He watched millions of dollars being invested in Native-owned properties. He watched architects and contractors turn plans into buildings. He visited construction sites. He talked with general contractors. He read feasibility studies and market analyses. He learned about hotels, gaming, hospitality, food and beverage and the business of attracting people to a property. “I just kept on learning,” he said. That may be one of the most revealing traits about Price. When he doesn't know something, he goes after it. Around the same time, he helped his father turn a former jewelry store in Tomah into a restaurant. They wrote a business plan, worked with architects and contractors and eventually opened BP Smokehouse. The restaurant has now been operating for more than a decade. By 2019, Price had left the Ho-Chunk Nation and started his own tribalrelations consulting business. But he wasn't satisfied. He wanted to understand real estate. So, he went back to school. At Georgetown University, Price earned a master's degree in real estate development. There he encountered people working on projects around the country and around the world. The experience changed the size of his thinking. He had already seen large development projects through his work with the Ho-Chunk Nation.
And he knew that Indigenous communities could build casinos, hotels and other major properties. He began to ask bigger questions. Why shouldn't “Indian Country” be doing much more? Why not commercial buildings? Why not major developments? Why not projects that create jobs and generate wealth, providing the communities greater control over their own economic future? That is where Price's passion comes through. He wants to see tribal people sitting at the table when big development decisions are made. He wants tribal communities to have the knowledge, the capital and the confidence to create their own development opportunities. His professional life has now come together around that approach. Eventually, he started his own company, Revel49.
I understand you call Revel49 the next generation indigenous Development Company. What does Revel49 do? We are a commercial real estate development firm. The thing that makes us unique is our connection with and understanding of Indian Country and what real estate development looks like for the next few generations. Developing on tribal land with tribal partners and with tribal capital, those are things that I'm very familiar with.
How is developing real estate on tribal land different? A lot of real estate developers would not want to develop tribal lands because it creates a unique set of challenges. When a developer cannot own the land, most developers will not want anything to do with that. Whereas I see it as an opportunity. Developing on tribal land is different than just the return metrics. It's because these are my people, these are our lands, and we want to develop the way we want to. Those opportunities are all over Indian country. We're moving toward those challenges of creating economic development and affordable housing for tribes but also creating market rate apartments for tribal members because not every indigenous person is low income.
Are there other Indian real estate developers in America? There are less than five Indigenous real estate developers across the country. We talk, we text, we hang out. We meet at conferences, and they're doing some really cool stuff. I think it's important to show people that development looks different to different people. We're just getting started. We've got projects in the Southwest that we are starting up, and we’ve got some projects locally. That’s what separates Revel49 from every development firm in the city. We're specializing in projects with and for tribal nations, tribal corporations, and tribal members.
I understand that Revel 49 partners with Indian tribes and municipalities. Your development portfolio covers a wide spectrum. It does include affordable housing, but it also includes large scale casino resorts. My first development project happened while I was doing my master's degree, I had been looking for resources, and prior to my master's program, I attended a two-day workshop that WHEDA (Wisconsin Housing & Economic Development Authority) put on, and it was for minority developers to learn low-income housing tax credit development. And it was a good foundation for understanding LIHTC (Low-Income Housing Tax Credit) development. I pitched the Ho-Chunk tribe on a 40-unit low-income housing development on tribal lands. We were awarded tax credits, and I kicked off my very first project solo. Over the course of about two and a half years, we successfully delivered Ho-Chunk's first LIHTC development, a 40-unit, $14 million project on tribal land in Baraboo, Wisconsin.
And you were also working on your master’s degree at the same time? Yes. It was a hands-on learning experience. I look back at the last three years of an incredible development: my first LIHTC project, while I was also on the Project team for a $700 million casino resort in Beloit. So, I would go to these meetings on affordable housing, and then jump right into the Casino Resort, then I would do my master's degree homework at night. I was learning all of these different elements of development. And it was awesome. NOVEMBER 2026 | 17
NEWS MKE SPEAKS: CONVERSATIONS WITH MILWAUKEEANS
You're a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation. What does being a HoChunk mean to you? Is that too broad of a question? No, it's a great question. I'm very proud of being a Ho-Chunk Indian. I think about my relatives before me. I think about the struggles. I think about the people who I grew up with, my relatives. I think about the history that predates the American government. I think about what my people had to endure and their resilience. It makes me very proud because the Ho -hunk never stopped pushing forward for their people, fighting for the betterment of the community.
You’re talking about the Ho-Chunk history. The history, yes. This Milwaukee River that we're sitting next to, the oral stories from our tribal members about how we used these waterways long before colonization. I think about this city as home. I have so much respect for how the tribe has evolved into a government and for the leaders who fought for the rights we have today. And we continue to have those fights, respecting our traditions, respecting our way of life, respecting our sovereignty. So, when we develop real estate on tribal lands, it's a whole new wrinkle when you're talking with a state agency like WHEDA—helping those agencies understand we have our own laws, our own building codes.
I understand one of your current projects is a proposed HoChunk Nation development on Milwaukee's South Side on South Howell Avenue. Tell me about that project.
What is the best project you have worked on? The most visible and exciting one is probably the $700 million Beloit Casino. I have been part of that since 2012. We are about to open the doors soon. Incredible journey with amazing partners and tribal leadership. 18 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS
The Howell Avenue Project right now is a community center for the Ho-Chunk Nation. In this building, we run youth services, special events, and cultural events. The building is not designed for any of those events, but that's what we have to use. The redevelopment offers a clean slate for us to deliver services for tribal and community members. Do we need mental health services to be delivered out of there? What do the apartments look and feel like for our community members? Do we need to offer tutoring there and offer some creative spaces? We'll buy the building, and we'll offer our services. Commercial real estate development allows us to create these spaces unique to our needs.
We take those questions and ideas out to our membership and tell them, ‘This isn't a project that is mine, this isn't a Revel49 owned project. This is for the people of the Ho-Chunk Nation.’
What will the Howell Avenue project look like when it's done? It's going to be a ground floor community center. It will have a commercial kitchen for demonstration. Indigenous chefs are going to be highlighting and giving Indigenous cooking classes. We're going to have spaces dedicated for our ceremonies, so we’ll add a fire element for that. We will incorporate specific air handling features that will allow us to conduct our ceremonies inside. We're going to have a space for mental health services because so many of our community members and the public need this.
How big will the Howell Avenue project end up being? It's approximately 14,000 square feet. A ground floor and three floors of affordable housing. The rooftop will have community garden spaces, a space for ceremonies, and a community center. It'll also have an Indigenous library component to it. This is about showcasing the Ho-Chunk culture through learning and education. As a community and a tribe, we have so much to share, and we're going to use this space as a way to do that.
November is National Native American Heritage Month. The reason November was chosen is because it's traditionally a time of harvest and gathering for many native communities. So, what does it mean to you in November of 2026? I hope that Indigenous people don't start and stop being Indigenous in November. We have different ways of being Indigenous throughout the entire year. What’s most important is that we're still living, we're thriving, we're members of our community. We play sports, we're attorneys, we're doctors, we’re businessmen. We're doing all of these things. It's celebrating who we are, what we're doing, where we've been, and what the possibilities look like in the future, which is a lot. Tom Jenz is a Milwaukee writerphotographer and author of the Central City Stories column for shepherdexpress.com.
NOVEMBER 2026 | 19
FOOD & DRINK BEVERAGES
PAIRING WINE & BEER WITH FOOD: LESSONS FROM THREE OF THE CITY’S
Culinary Stars BY GAETANO MARANGELLI
F
"
or the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them."
— Aristotle
JONATHAN BLECHMAN OF PIPSQUEAK WINE Pipsqueak Wine is as much a jewel of a wine shop as it is a jewel of a wine bar. Its co-owner, Jonathan Blechman, is a consummate wine merchant. If you say you love wine and you tell me you haven’t had a glass at Pipqueak, I’d ask you questions about your sanity.
We could talk about the rules of pairing wine and beer with food, or we could drink wine and beer with food with three of the city’s culinary stars. “Our wines by the glass at Pipqueak change weekly,” explains Jonathan, “our menu items change frequently, but Tell me, which would you rather do? they always remain in kind of a frame; a selection of cheeses and cured meats, two or three sandwiches, a rillette or pâté MARIANA POPESCU OF LAKE PARK BISTRO of some kind, salad-y type items come and go, we like to It was a late evening, with the wind gusting off of Lake special seasonal fruit and veg, but it's all very wine friendMichigan, but Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro was as cozy as ly.” When I last swung by Pipsqueak, Jonathan was serving a café on the Saint-Germain-des-Prés. I had asked Mariana the Domaine Jean Manciat, Mâcon-Charnay-lès-Mâcon, Popescu, the restaurant’s Sommelier, Wine Director, Gen2024. “Such a quiet Chardonnay,” says Jonathan, “lovely eral Manager, and Chargé d'affaires, if she would curate a with a beautifully ash-ripened Linedeline Goat Cheese from couple of favorite wines from her list with a couple of dishes Blakesville Creamery and loads of other cheeses. Our pork from Lake Park’s menu, and she graciously obliged. We rillette was confited in duck fat along with leeks, garlic, roseshared a quiet table, where Mariana poured a bottle of mary, bay leaf, and finished with a slug of cognac. It's so Champagne Marx-Coutelas, “Les Barils,” Extra Brut, 2018, good with the Jean-Paul Brun, Domaine des Terres Dorées, which she served with hors d’oeuvres of Escargots à la Beaujolais Rouge, "Le Ronsay, 2024" we've been pouring. bourguignonne, a sumptuous dish of snails with garlic-parsDark fruit, black pepper and bright acidity keep the fatty ley butter tomato and sautéed mushroom under flaky puff rillette light and clean and delicious, though that rillette will pastry. The bright acidity and the chalky minerality of the stand up nicely to bigger, tannic wines as well.” Champagne cut through the richness of the dish and complemented its sea surf salinity. As an encore, Mariana served the Moulin-à-Vent, Domaine Les Fines Graves, 2020, a Cru Beaujolais which she paired with Confit de canard, crispy duck leg, braised French lentils, watercress salad, duck breast prosciutto, and cassis duck sauce. The raspberry and cherry of the Moulin-à-Vent matched with the cassis sauce, its low tannins offered berth for the dish’s flavors, and its acidity was a foil for the dish’s fat. “I look for freshness and uplift in every wine,” said Mariana, "I think it makes you keep wanting to pick up the glass and sip as it prolongs the experience and stamps it on your conscience.” 20 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS
JAMES DURAWA OF WY’EAST PIZZA The City of Milwaukee has many pizzaiolos, but none like James Durawa, the co-owner of Wy’East Pizza. The pizzas James makes are labors of love. They rise out of the exacting art of making dough. Every night, before leaving the pizzeria, James begins preparing the following night’s pizzas with a 10-hour preferment poolish, which he continues the next day with a series of stretches and folds, followed by a sixhour room temperature fermentation and relaxation. Along with the fidelity to his art, what sets James apart are his thoughtful beer lists and his stellar playlists.
Photo of Escargots Bourguignons courtesy of Lake Park Bistro, photo by Bill Milne.
“A classic beer and pizza experience at Wy’East,” begins James, “would be a Hot Marmot Pizza with a New Glarus Brewing Company German Pilsner, a seasonal beer, or its Two Women Helles German-style Lager, which is year-round. The spiciness of the pepperoni and Goat Horn peppers take center stage and a good basic beer that tastes like beer won’t get in the way.” James also recommends his Ring of Fire Pizza with the Great Lakes Brewing Company, Edmund Fitzgerald, Robust Porter. “This pizza has plenty of rich flavors, with bacon, Fontina cheese, and spicy peppers. The sweetness of a porter or stout softens the spiciness of the peppers while complimenting the fattiness of bacon and cheese and the touch of honey.” Severe August thunderstorms uprooted a tree, which crashed through the roof of Wy’East, temporarily closing the pizzeria. When Wy’East Pizza reopens, its Washington Heights neighborhood and the City of Milwaukee will again be much richer.
Gaetano Marangelli is a sommelier and playwright. He was the managing director of a wine import and distribution company in New York and beverage director for restaurants and retailers in New York and Chicago before moving to Wauwatosa
NOVEMBER 2026 | 21
FOOD & DRINK
The Korean Wave Reaches Milwaukee! BY ADAM DAVIDSON
F
rom the record-breaking success of Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters” to the historic Oscar-winning movie Parasite and K-pop artists headlining stadiums across the country, the Korean wave has swept through the United States. Its influence can also be felt across Milwaukee, as more people are embracing Korean culture and particularly its food. The phenomenon is referred to as “Hallyu,” a collective term for the spread and popularity of South Korean culture across the world. The presence of the Hallyu can be felt throughout Milwaukee with everything from music and film to skincare and wellness. However, the most noticeable aspect of Korean culture is through food, as people discover dishes beyond Korean barbecue. Before the 1990s, there wasn’t a Korean presence in the Milwaukee food scene, with Korean cuisine largely homecooked within the community or sold in Asian grocery markets across the Silver City neighborhood and West Allis. Due to growing demand and the economic mobility of firstgeneration immigrants, authentic Korean restaurants began opening across the city, serving traditional dishes such as bulgogi, Korean fried chicken and galbi (beef short ribs).
NOTICEABLE SURGE However, it wasn’t until K-culture became a mainstream phenomenon that there was a noticeable surge in Korean restaurants across Milwaukee and a growing curiosity about authentic Korean cuisine. Han Kim, owner and founder of Sinabro, a Korean restaurant and noodle house in the Historic Third Ward, has seen firsthand how Hallyu had an impact on the Korean food scene in Milwaukee. 22 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS
“Artists like BTS and BLACKPINK and K-pop brought a lot of attention to Korean culture across the U.S.,” he said. “At the same time, you have these major films and shows that are blowing up, such as “Squid Game” and Parasite. That put Korean and our culture on the map and people wanted to try our food. Those forces brought attention and made it less intimidating than what it was before when it comes to food.” When Kim opened Sinabro in 2024, he carried on the family business, as his parents Hae Jeong Kim and Jongsoo Kim had owned and operated prominent spots such as Kanpai Izakaya, Char’d and Maru Korean Bistro across the city.
THIRD WARD LAUNCHPAD Hae Jeong Kim and Jongsoo Kim moved to Milwaukee in 2012 to open Kanpai Izakaya, which served modern Japanese cuisine and sushi. However, the restaurateurs also used the Historic Third Ward spot as a launchpad to introduce Korean flavors to the neighborhood with dishes such as bulgogi. They later established the Historic Third Ward’s first dedicated Korean restaurant, Char’d, in 2018. Unlike other East Asian countries such as China or Japan, there wasn’t a mainstream and ingrained presence of Korean cuisine across Milwaukee. The Kim family therefore found certain cultural gaps that they had to adapt to and cater towards within the local market. Food is seen as a cornerstone of Korean society, where people strengthen relationships and build emotional connections while sharing food and drinks. One of the most important aspects of Korean cuisine is banchan— side dishes, typically vegetables, served alongside the main course. It is a symbol of community and generosity. However, despite its significance in Korean food culture, it was something that was still unfamiliar to the Milwaukee customer base. Photo of Korean food by GettyImages/tbralnina.
CULTURAL GAP “When we first opened, we used to prepare banchan daily and hand out five or six different plates. Early on, people were skeptical to even try them and they would always ask, ‘What’s that?’ or ‘I didn’t order this?’ There was a cultural gap of understanding that this is a traditional thing in Korean cuisine and you’re supposed to eat it with your mains and rice,” said Kim. “From a business point of view, because so many people are wasting it, we used to hand out less and less. We saw that people were initially scared to try certain Korean dishes such as kimchi, but now they’re willing to try it.” In recent years, Han Kim has remarked on the increased presence of fast-casual Korean spots popping up around the city. This includes the popular Soban Korean Eatery, which serves fast-casual authentic Korean fare, including signature bowls of Spicy Gochujang Pork and Bulgogi Beef. There will also be a new addition to the fast-casual Korean dining scene in Milwaukee, as the Kim family will soon open a bb.q Chicken—a Korean fried chicken franchise with more than 3,500 locations worldwide—on East Erie Street in the Third Ward.
CULTURE AND COMMUNITY “Accessibility to Korean cuisine is always a great thing for the culture and the community,” said Kim. “The more surface area for people to experience Korean culture and food is overall better for any business in the community.”
For Kim, the growing interest in Korean food represents more than just the success of his own restaurants. It is a sign that Milwaukee diners are becoming more familiar with a cuisine that was once unfamiliar to many. The restaurateur believes that the future looks bright for the Korean restaurant industry in Milwaukee as he remarks. “Korean culture is not going to get less popular,” he said. With an invested interest, both culturally and from a business point of view, Kim is excited to see how the Korean food scene in Milwaukee will evolve over the next few years and bring authentic Korean flavors to more people across the city. “As someone who was born in Korea but naturalized in America, it brings joy to my heart to see all of these folks who are now seeing the beauty of Korea with its culture, the food and music. At the end of the day, I am just glad that people have discovered Korean food. Nothing pains my heart more than when I meet folks in their 20s or 30s who have never tried it before. I am just glad and grateful that this is something I am able to help change,” said Kim.
Adam Davidson is a freelance writer who has lived in Seoul and developed a passion for writing about Korean culture and its rising global influence in the West.
NOVEMBER 2026 | 23
FOOD & DRINK
Milwaukee Has a Bounty of Ethnic Groceries
M
ilwaukee has had ethnic groceries since the days when Germans and Poles poured into the city in great number. Recent years have seen a proliferation of locally owned groceries focused on distinct countries or regions.
ANMAH MARKET
GLORIOSO’S ITALIAN MARKET
JERUSALEM MARKET
1301 W. Edgerton Ave.
1011 E. Brady St.
6955 S. 27th St.
The inconspicuous building under a bilingual sign is an old-fashioned Milwaukee grocery—but with shelves packed with merchandise from West Asia and related regions. Anmah sells frozen halal chicken, beef and lamb, bakery, operates a deli and offers one of the area’s widest selections of canned and packaged goods from the Near East. Looking for a jar of tahini or a can of hummus? Anmah has it. (David Luhrssen)
Owned and operated by the Glorioso family from 1946-2024, Glorioso’s has lost none of its charm or flavor since changing hands. With a wide array of imported Italian ingredients and snacks, authentic Italian pastries, hand-packed gelato, and a full deli, Glorioso’s is both a celebration of Italian cuisine and an enduring piece of Milwaukee’s immigrant and neighborhood history. Don’t forget to try their cannoli. (Caroline Dannecker)
This is a go-to stop for all things Palestinian and Levantine—groceries like halal meats, assorted nuts and seeds, Arabic coffee and tea, breads and pastries, sodas and sweets, dairy, frozen and canned goods. (Ben Slowey)
BEST FOOD
G. GROPPI’S FOOD MARKET
3405 S. 13th St.
1441 E. Russell Ave.
Since 2001, this South Side market has served its community with groceries of South Asian origin, featuring Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi grains, produce, spices, snacks, ready-to-eat meals and beverages. Over the years, Best Food has become successful enough to turn several storefronts into one within its plaza. (Ben Slowey)
When it comes to Italian grocers, Milwaukeeans most often go to one of two places: Glorioso’s or Groppi’s, once owned by the family of civil rights leader Father James Groppi and Bay View staple for over a century, the old-fashioned market is a step back in time to the days when family-run storefronts were the norm. Plus, it’s a one stop shop for your Sunday dinner ingredients, a nice bottle of wine, cannoli for dessert and a snack at the deli to tie you over ‘til supper. (Julia Watt)
EL REY Multiple Locations Open since 1978, this Milwaukee success story expanded from its original location into a local chain. Founder Ernesto Villareal saw a gap in town with a growing Hispanic population forced to drive to Chicago even for tortillas and basic Mexican ingredients. El Rey carries ample produce (including varieties seldom seen in other local stores), a hot deli, bakery, a meat counter and aisles of Latin American canned and packaged goods—along with many standard U.S. brands. (David Luhrssen)
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HMONG TOWN 8340 W. Appleton Ave. Located on Milwaukee’s Northwest Side, Hmong Town sells a variety of Asian foods and produce. From fresh produce like Thai basil to a multitude of prepared foods, shoppers can find both rare ingredients and home cooked meals ready to eat. The store serves as both a cultural gathering space for Asian residents and a place of cultural dispersion for Milwaukeeans. Stop by any day, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Andreas Scocos)
KHAN ASEYA MOM’S KITCHEN 1201 W. Lincoln Ave. Attached to Khan Aseya Mom's Kitchen is a shop selling an array of foods from the myriad cultures of Southeast Asia. With the sound of Islamic prayer chants wafting about, shoppers can find fresh, frozen, and packaged foods of Burmese, Indonesian, Thai and other Southeast Asian derivation and some cookware in which to prepare them. (Jamie Lee Rake) MONTERREY MARKET Multiple Locations Now sporting three locations, Monterrey is one of several great local markets for Latin American foodstuffs. With the usual offerings of a market this size (e.g. an authentic carnicería and panadería), Monterrey locations also host a juice bar and ice cream shop. Their in-market restaurant, Montacos, serves up classics like tacos, tortas and molletes, as well as cafecitos: Spanish for a lil’ coffee beverage, like their horchata latte or chocolatey champurrado. (Julia Watt)
Photo of Pacific Produce by Timothy Czerniakowski.
O’MALLEY’S EUROPEAN FOODS
WIOLETTA’S POLISH MARKET
5423 W. Vliet St.
3955 S. Howell Ave.
A mix of UK and Irish influences, O’Malley’s has the British Isles covered. Started by Irish immigrant Gerard O’Malley—a native of County Armagh— the store has many snack foods with a variety of chocolate bars but also sells jams, soups, baking goods, bakery and art and much more. Give the store a shot on a weekend visit or post-work excursion and try some of the diverse world of U.K. and Irish snacks and foods. (Andreas Scocos)
The store has an old fashioned, meaty grocery aroma and is pleasantly retro. Although relatively compact, the market stocks an enormous variety: fresh baked bakery (including that Polish favorite, paczki), a frozen section (pierogis, dumplings), a refrigerated wall with take-outs to go (soups include czarnina, barley and borscht), ample varieties of herring and mackerel, a liquor section filled with vodka, beer and liqueurs—even Polish goods such as bottled mayonnaise and juice. That meat counter features ham, Polish sausage, rolled bacon, hard salami and more. (David Luhrssen)
PACIFIC PRODUCE 5455 S. 27th St. As a full-service grocery store, Pacific Produce carries considerable selections of Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and Thai foods at reasonable prices. Browse its many aisles to find all the fruits, vegetables, meat, seafood, rices, noodles, dairy products, snacks, condiments, beverages and frozen meals that cater to your taste. (Ben Slowey)
Illustration of food by GettyImages/Alexandra Pavlova.
PARTHENON EUROPEAN MARKET 8415 W. Greenfield Ave. “Parthenon” says Greece, and Greek items are prominent. “European Market” speaks to products from the Balkans, Western Asia, Scandinavia, Italy and elsewhere. Parthenon is a place for olives and olive oil, pasta sauce and yogurt, cheese and tzatziki, pumpernickel and pita bread. Polish vodka and Serbian brandy share the shelves with a wide selection of Greek wine. The small deli offers spinach pie, Greek salad and more. (David Luhrssen)
NOVEMBER 2026 | 25
FOOD & DRINK
Milwaukee’s Late Night Kitchens Hungry at midnight? Here are a few of the city’s restaurants that cater to the late-night crowd. Photo by GettyImages/mustipan.
CAMINO Multiple Locations If you’ve got a hankering for some good old Wisconsin-style fried food, Camino is a no brainer. Inhale the burgery haze wafting through either their West Allis or Walker’s Point location and grab a bite to eat until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Their burgers are to die for, but their pierogi are truly a shining star. Get one of each (including the rotating pierogi special) and order them loaded with kraut for the ultimate Camino experience. (Julia Watt)
CAMINO
Photo courtesy of Camino.
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CHUBBY’S CHEESESTEAKS
GEORGE WEBB
Multiple Locations
In 1948, on the corner of Ogden and Van Buren, a Milwaukee area food empire was born, the illustrious George Webb diner. The block is long gone and many of the original locations are no longer in operation, but George Webb is still going strong and, for the most part, running 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Known for its numerous gimmicks, in 2025 the chain passed out over 100,000 free burgers when the Brewers won 12, of an eventual 14, games in a row. They previously passed out free burgers in 2018 and 1986 following 12 game winning streaks for Milwaukee’s baseball team. So, whether it’s an early morning cup of coffee before work, Sunday brunch with friends, a greasy hangover cure or a late-night bite to eat, George Webb has you covered with cheap meals and an old school demeanor. (Andreas Scocos)
If you’re looking for a quick bite to eat on a late-night adventure in the city, Chubby’s Cheesesteaks offers the perfect midnight escape with multiple locations open until 1-2 a.m. Order a classic Philadelphia cheesesteak, signature hoagie or one of their many world-class appetizers for dine-in or online delivery. It’s a local favorite and East Side staple ready to satisfy your after-hours cravings. (Sophia Hamdan)
FIL FIL 700 W. Wisconsin Ave. Located close to institutions like Marquette University, Baird Center and the Milwaukee Public Museum, this halal Mediterranean joint serves up healthy and delicious made-to-order bowls featuring beds of rice or lettuce that can be customized with choice of protein, vegetables and sauces. FiL FiL also serves favorites like shawarma, gyros, wings, fish filets and salads. The restaurant is named after the Arabic word for "pepper" of which there is a grinning, sizzling red mascot on the wall. (Ben Slowey)
Multiple Locations
Illustration of food by GettyImages/Svetlana Shamshurina.
IAN’S PIZZA
SHAWARMA KING
Multiple Locations
2713 N. Bremen St.
There should have been a Nobel Eats Prize awarded to the person who came up with the concept of selling pizza by the slice. With several Milwaukee locations, Ian’s East Side and Downtown locations stay until bar time or later on weekends. From traditional toppings to Cheesy Potato & Ranch to Ian’s alltime bestseller Mac n’ Cheese there is something for everyone. (Blaine Schultz)
Riverwest may not have much in the way of late-night food options, but that is OK when Shawarma King satisfies most after-midnight cravings with its vast menu of Levantine-American fare. Aside from its flavorful shawarma, the hub offers falafel, burgers, kebab, shish tawook, salads and baklava. The Riverwest 24 is consistently Shawarma King's busiest weekend of the year and it is a locally popular stop to grab food after nights at Mad Planet, Bremen Cafe, Quarters Rock 'n Roll Palace or High Dive. (Ben Slowey)
MEGAWICH THE ULTIMATE SANDWICH 1426 E. Brady St. Opened in 2023, Megawich derives its name from the massive portions it stuffs between sliced bread. With a prominent “gym bro” bull mascot on the wall welcoming customers, Megawich serves protein-rich entrees with an Egyptian twist like the Chicken Catcher, Beef Pitcher and Mega Crunchy. Their burgers are quite fulfilling too, plus they offer bowl options with all the same ingredients as entrees sans bread. (Ben Slowey)
Photo by Timothy Czerniakowski.
OAKLAND GYROS 2687 N. Oakland Ave. 530 W. Layton Ave. The pictures on the wall are of Greece but the picture through the windows is of a busy East Side intersection near UWM and next door to Axel’s. Oakland Gyros offers burgers and chili, but when in Greece, why not Greek instead? The Athenian Chicken is ample and tender, spread across a bed of pilaf. The spanakopita has layers of filo dough wrapped around spinach and cheese. Yes, they have gyros, and while they offer ice cream for dessert, why not baklava instead? Open until 1 a.m. SundayThursday, and 2:30 a.m. Friday-Saturday. The Layton Avenue location is open until 11 p.m. daily and has a drive-thru. (David Luhrssen)
THE VANGUARD 2659 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. It’s late and you want a sandwich. Where to turn? The Vanguard elevates Milwaukee’s beer and brats tradition— the Bayview eatery specializes in sausages (offering over a dozen varieties), along with hot dogs, burgers, poutine and cheese curds. Even vegan options. Thirsty? The Vanguard offers a selection of craft beers and over 65 choices of bourbon and whiskey. (Blaine Schultz) NOVEMBER 2026 | 27
FOOD & DRINK
Meet Milwaukee’s Recent James Beard Award Nominees BY JULIA WATT
T
he James Beard Foundation celebrates the best of the best in the American culinary industry, uplifting craft and authenticity over bawdiness or high cost. Each year since 1990, the foundation has hosted their now iconic awards program recognizing gastronomists all across the country, with emphasis on regional and local cuisine; after all, Chef James Beard himself was a pioneer of the idea of an eclectic but recognizable “national cuisine” in the US, attributed to food traditions specific to the 50 states. None of Milwaukee’s nominees (or Wisconsin’s, for that matter) took home a win in 2026. However, Milwaukee’s representation has always been decently strong amongst fellow nominees, certainly nothing to sneer at; over the last couple of years, nearly a dozen Milwaukee eateries and watering holes have crossed the semifinalist or finalist threshold for the prestigious awards, especially remarkable considering most of the award categories are nationwide. Aside from the obvious prestige, local restaurateurs remark that the benefits of even being nominated for the James Beard awards are far-reaching. “It validates the hard work you do day in and day out to make what seems like magic happen in the dining room,” says Melissa Buchholz, co-founder of Odd Duck.
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She says the recognition also follows chefs and staff when they move on to a different restaurant, sometimes even “across the nation.” For most, finding out they’ve been nominated is a complete surprise, albeit completely flattering and humbling. Chef Gregory León of Amilinda, a repeat nominee, shares that he only discovered his first two nominations “through calls from friends who had seen the announcement.” He furthers: “There’s something surreal about hearing your name in that moment. You’re hoping for it, but it still catches you off guard. Then you get to share that excitement with your team because they helped make it happen.” Asked what it was like to discover their nomination for Best New Bar, a new James Beard category in 2025, founder of Agency Cocktail Lounge Ryan Castelaz confesses, “I swear to God I let out a scream in the middle of this coffee shop! I had to excuse myself for a moment to compose myself outside.” Take a peek at the last two years of Milwaukee area James Beard nominees and consider stopping by, if not to concur with the judges’ opinions, then at least to see what all the fuss is about. You can also nominate your favorite local establishments for the 2027 awards cycle until November 30, 2026 at jamesbeard.org/awards/how-to-enter.
Header photo: Odd Duck Staff courtesy of Odd Duck. Royal Blue background by GettyImages/jessicahyde.
1033 Omakase — Walker’s Point: Finalist for Best New Restaurant 2026 Milwaukee’s newest Omakase restaurant offers the traditional Japanese iteration of chef’s choice: omakase, meaning “I’ll leave it up to you.” But don’t expect your standard nigiri here. 1033 offers a Classic (10-course) or Supreme (14-course) omakase, built of chef-curated small plates and sushi dishes that change seasonally, like Chawanmushi (egg custard), Bafun Uni (sea urchin) and a seared Wagyu filet. Good luck getting a seat though, as the exclusive dining counter at 1033 Omakase is reservationonly, usually booked at least three months out—but the anticipation of snagging a seat or two at this venerated cool kids club, sometimes on a lastminute cancellation, only makes the experience more exciting. Agency Cocktail Lounge — Downtown/Near Yankee Hill: Finalist for Best New Bar 2025 You can have it both ways at Agency. Housed in the swanky Dubbel Dutch boutique hotel, Agency is Milwaukee’s premiere hybrid bar, “where every cocktail on our menu is available in
equally delicious alcoholic and nonalcoholic formats,” explains Ryan Castelaz. He furthers that Agency’s mission is to make “an indelible night out accessible to everyone, regardless of their decision to consume alcohol,” a departure from regional cultural norms that so often tie social gatherings out on the town inextricably to booze. Current menu offerings include Greek mythologyinspired beverages and hors d'oeuvres pairings, old standbys like a French spritz or white Russian, and the ever-popular dealer’s choice. Amilinda — Downtown: Semifinalist for Outstanding Chef 2025 (Gregory León) For over a decade, Amilinda has delighted Milwaukeeans with the flavors of Iberia, from its pop-up days at the National Cafe to its current full-fledged dinner service. Their menu rotates weekly, responding to changing seasons, local produce availability and the chefs’ own creativity. “My approach to cooking is about knowing how to get the most out of an ingredient and having the confidence to let it speak,” says Chef León. He aims for his kitchen to be a force for good. “As a gay, Latino chef,
there is also something meaningful about being visible in an industry where people haven’t always had equal opportunities or felt welcome. The recognition is also a testament to how great my team is. My name might appear on the announcement, but their talent, dedication and care are in every plate and every guest experience.” Birch — Lower East Side/Near Brewer’s Hill: Semifinalist for Best Midwest Chef 2025 (Kyle Knall) Just around the corner from the Pleasant Street Bridge, this farm-to-table restaurant has received two James Beard nominations in the mere five years since opening. Year round, chefs select fresh local produce from the West Allis Farmers Market and Stone Bank Farm (the latter of which Chef Knall is Culinary Director), crafting a hyper local rotating dinner menu and seasonal tasting selection. Stop by during their monthly Trattoria pop-up (a traditional, modest Italian dinner service without paper menus), and don’t skip the buttermilk semifreddo or chocolate tart for dessert. To Read More Visit ShepherdExpress.com
NOVEMBER 2026 | 29
SPECIAL HOLIDAY ARTS GUIDE
Holiday
Arts Guide MOWA IS A HOLIDAY SEASON DESTINATION BY DAVID LUHRSSEN
S
ince its 2013 reopening in a striking new building in West Bend, the Museum of Wisconsin Art has seen attendance grow. With its focus on artists who have lived or worked in our state, MOWA staked out a unique presence among Wisconsin museums. MOWA’s executive director, Laurie Winters, describes the museum’s entrance fees as “low-cost membership,” lower in fact than single-day admission at many museums. “Everyone who comes in the door is a member,” she says. “It’s a philosophical approach to creating accessibility and a sense of belonging. LAURIE WINTERS
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MOWA seeks to be a place of welcome—an entity to call home, whether having traveled from afar or part of a generational Wisconsin family. New innovative programming exists in harmony with cozy annual traditions that members look forward to year after year.” MOWA has also taken its mission beyond West Bend, establishing MOWA|DTN at Milwaukee’s Saint KateThe Arts Hotel, maintaining MOWA on the Lake (at St. John’s on the Lake) and displaying Wisconsin art at the Governor’s Residence in Madison. “We spend a lot of time thinking about what gets overlooked,” Winters continues. “Sometimes, fresh ideas are right there in plain sight. That’s how we feel about cartoons as an art form. It flies under the radar, but Wisconsin has a rich cartoon history, with many notable cartoonists published in national publications as early as 1913. From Milwaukee to Iola to Tomah to Madison, comic creativity and contributions have come from all corners of Wisconsin.
To honor this history and continue the state’s comic legacy, MOWA published Wisconsin Funnies: 50 Years of Comics in 2020 and created the Wisconsin Cartoonist Laureate, a three-year advisory role at the museum to develop educational programs that ensure the continued vitality of comic art in Wisconsin. In April 2026, Paul Noth became the first honoree.” This fall MOWA unveiled concurrent exhibitions featuring groundbreaking early 20th century artists Lewis Hine and Edward Steichen. Working with the national Art Bridges program, MOWA displays work on loan by Bruce Nauman, Georgia O’Keeffe and vanessa german. Holiday programming includes BLOOM (Nov. 6-8), their annual floral show; the Members Show (Nov. 14-Jan. 3); and Winter Week (Dec. 26-27, Dec. 30-31) with artmaking activities for children. “MOWA offers something for everyone,” Winters concludes, adding that it is a destination during the holiday season.
Photo of the Museum of Wisconsin Art courtesy of the Museum of Wisconsin Art. Photo of Laurie Winters - Laurie Winters, James and Karen Hyde Executive Director, Front Room Photography.
Royal blue holiday background by GettyImages/-strizh-, light blue holiday background by GettyImages/Chainarong Prasertthai. Light blue background with snow pattern by GettyImages/Svetlana Shamshurina.
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SPECIAL HOLIDAY ARTS GUIDE
5 POINTS ART GALLERY
ARTS @ LARGE
BROOM STREET THEATRE, MADISON
5ptsartgallery.com
artsatlargeinc.org
bstonline.org
ACACIA THEATRE COMPANY
AZUSA PRODUCTIONS
acaciatheatre.com The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberly, Nov. 13-Dec. 6 ADDENDUM addendum.gallery
BACH CHAMBER CHOIR bachchoirmilwaukee.com BAYVIEW GALLERY NIGHT bvgn.org BEL CANTO CHORUS
Wes and Lindsay Larsen, through Nov. 7
belcanto.org
Amy Cannestra and Juan Eduardo Flores, Nov. 13-Dec. 12
Christmas at the Basilica, Dec. 4-6 (St. Josaphat Basilica)
ALL IN PRODUCTIONS
BLACK ARTS MKE
allin-mke.com
blackartsmke.org
ALVERNO ART & CULTURES GALLERY
BOERNER BOTANICAL GARDENS
alverno.edu/gallery AMERICA’S BLACK HOLOCAUST MUSEUM abhmuseum.org AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS AMERICAN PLAYERS THEATRE americanplayers.org Witch, through Nov. 22 Hitting the Touchstone Theatre just in time for spooky season, the Devil is making the rounds in Edmonton when he encounters a woman living on the outskirts of town. She has witchy powers and gives the Devil a run for his money (or a run for her soul, as it were). Contains adult themes and language. Directed by Keira Fromm. (Anne Siegel) APERI aperianimam.com Vespers, Nov. 1 (St. Jude the Apostle) Lessons and Carols, Dec. 6 (All Saints Cathedral) Mysterium/Mystery, Dec. 12 (All Saints Cathedral) Mysterium/Mystery, Dec. 13 (St. Jude the Apostle) ART 64 discoverart64.com
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boernerbotanicalgardens.org China Lights, through Nov. 1 BOMBSHELL THEATRE CO. bombshelltheatre.org Meet Me in St. Louis, Dec. 3-20 We’ve all seen the 1944 MGM musical—the one with Judy Garland giving her all to “The Trolley Song.” The movie has been turned into a stage musical, with other memorable numbers such as “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “The Boy Next Door.” (David Luhrssen) BOULEVARD THEATER milwaukeeboulevardtheatre.com THE BOX THEATRE CO. boxtheatreco.org A Christmas Story: The Musical, Dec. 4-13 BRONZEVILLE ARTS ENSEMBLE facebook.com/BronzevilleArtsEnsemble BRONZEVILLE CENTER FOR THE ARTS
CABARET MILWAUKEE facebook.com/cabmke CAPITAL CITY THEATRE, MADISON capitalcitytheatre.org It’s a Wonderful Life, Nov. 13-22 CARROLL PLAYERS carroll-players.com CARTHAGE COLLEGE THEATRE carthage.edu/arts/experience-the-arts/theatre-dance-performances Find What Flows, Nov. 13-15 CATEY OTT DANCE COLLECTIVE cateyott.com On Display Global with Heidi Latsky Dance, Dec. 3 (Haggerty Museum of Art) CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST stjohncathedral.org CEDARBURG ART MUSEUM cedarburgartmuseum.org Forward: WI Artists on America’s Pursuit of Happiness, through Nov. 8 CEDARBURG ARTISTS GUILD cedarburgartistsguild.com Holiday Art Fair, Dec. 4 (John R. Armbruster Community Gym) CEDARBURG CULTURAL CENTER cedarburgculturalcenter.org CEDARBURG PERFORMING ARTS CENTER cedarburgpac.com Uptown, Dec. 18 CHANT CLAIRE CHAMBER CHOIR
Bcamke.org
chantclaire.org
Building Bronzeville: Milwaukee’s Black Arts Movement, through Feb. 26, 2027
CHARLES ALLIS ART MUSEUM
If You Put Your Ear to It, You Can Hear the Waves (installation, through June 13, 2027)
charlesallis.org Inherited Threads: In Transit, through Nov. 14
Light blue holiday background by GettyImages/Chainarong Prasertthai. Light blue background with snow pattern by GettyImages/Svetlana Shamshurina.
NOVEMBER 2026 | 33
SPECIAL HOLIDAY ARTS GUIDE CHAZEN MUSEUM OF ART (UW-MADISON) chazen.wisc.edu Recollection: Exhibiting the Collection, through Dec. 23
DANCEWORKS PERFORMANCE MKE danceworksmke.org The Girl, The Galaxy and the Giant Sound Wave, Nov. 21-22 DAVID BARNETT GALLERY
CHORAL ARTS SOCIETY OF SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN choralartsonline.org CHRISTMAS IN THE WARD, DEC. 4 (CATALANO SQUARE) historicthirdward.org CIVIC MUSIC MKE civicmusicmilwaukee.org Kids Music Fest, Nov. 15 (Milwaukee Youth Arts Center)
davidbarnettgallery.com New Acquisitions: The Work of Marc Chagall, through Jan. 13 Marc Chagall created a uniquely dreamlike body of work whose figures floated across settings that conjured Jewish folktales and the Russian landscape of Chagall’s upbringing. He was a modernist infused with his own past. (David Luhrssen) DAWN SPRINGER DANCE PROJECT dawnspringer.com
COALITION OF PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTS copamilwaukee.com THE CONSTRUCTIVISTS theconstructivists.org A Very Deadly Constructivists Holiday, Dec. 18-22 (Broadway Theatre Center Studio) A collection of seven sketches, this play is “a wickedly sharp dark comedy revue that dismantles the season’s sparkles one deadly sin at a time.” Created and directed by Jamielyn Gray, the production features St. Nick, who guides the audience through the sketches, “each twisting a familiar holiday chestnut into something hysterically unhinged.” (Tea Krulos) CONCORD CHAMBER ORCHESTRA concordorchestra.org Respect & Reverence, Dec. 12 (Church of the Gesu)
DEAD MAN’S CARNIVAL facebook.com/Dead-Mans-Carnival-338362982860387 DOOR COUNTY CONTEMPORARY ART FAIR doorcountycontemporary.com DOOR KINETIC ARTS FESTIVAL doorkinetic.com DOOR SHAKESPEARE doorshakespeare.com EARLY MUSIC NOW earlymusicnow.org Concordian Dawn, Dec. 12 With voices, woodwinds, percussion and harp, the youthful New York early music ensemble will focus on European Christmas music from the 13th through the 15th century in their Milwaukee holiday concert. (David Luhrssen) EX FABULA
Engelbert Humperdinck? Not the circa 1970 pop singer but the 19th century German composer, best remembered for his Wagnerian yet somehow childlike opera Hansel und Gretel. The opera’s prelude will be joined on this program with music from Peer Gynt, and by Antonin Dvorak, Gian Carlo Menotti as well as Johannes Brahms’ “Ave Maria.” (David Luhrssen)
AfterDark: For the Culture, Nov. 19
DANCECIRCUS
Christmas Carol 2026, Dec. 4-6
dancecircus.org
exfabula.org Story Stretch, Nov. 10
StorySlam: Apologies, Dec. 18 FALLS PATIO PLAYERS fallspatioplayers.com
FESTIVAL CITY SYMPHONY festivalcitysymphony.org
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Light blue holiday background by GettyImages/Chainarong Prasertthai. Light blue background with snow pattern by GettyImages/Svetlana Shamshurina.
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SPECIAL HOLIDAY ARTS GUIDE FINE ARTS QUARTET
GALLERY 2622
H. F. JOHNSON GALLERY OF ART
fineartsquartet.com
gallery2622.com
carthage.edu/art-gallery
FIRESIDE DINNER THEATRE
GALLERY NIGHT AND DAY
HOVER CRAFT
firesidetheatre.com
gallerynightmke.com
hovercraftmke.com
A Christmas Story, through Dec. 20
Handmade Holiday Market, Dec. 6 (Pritzlaff Building)
FIRST STAGE
GERMANTOWN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
firststage.org
gsdwi.org
HYPERLOCAL MKE
Go Dog Go!, through Nov. 1
GREEN GALLERY
hyperlocalmke.com
Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Nov. 21-Dec. 27
Thegreengallery.biz
IMPRESSIONS FINE ARTS GALLERY blueharboaresort.com
Theodor Geisel’s 1957 children’s book, a delightful critique of holiday commercialization, became a seasonal perennial through its 1966 animated television adaptation (narrated by Boris Karloff!). Jeff Frank will direct First Stage’s production. (David Luhrssen)
GREENDALE COMMUNITY THEATRE greendaletheatre.org
Everybody, Dec. 4-13
Lina Bertucci was one of the first women at the Milwaukee-based railroad when she was hired as a brakeman in 1974. She was also an aspiring photographer and brought her camera to work. “These photographs were never simply creative memories of a personal experience, but a record of a social and historical moment—a communal cultural and industrial transformation that intersected with my own identity as I stood witness to its passing,” she said. (David Luhrssen)
FLORENTINE OPERA florentineopera.org FORTE THEATRE COMPANY fortetheatrecompany.org Miracle on 34th Street, Dec. 11-20 A department store Santa claims to be the real deal in the Oscar-winning 1947 movie, an early role for child actor Natalie Wood. The movie has been remade several times and is presented as a live radio, ‘40s-fashioned radio play by Forte Theatre. (David Luhrssen) FORWARD THEATER, MADISON
GROHMANN MUSEUM msoe.edu/grohmann-museum Lina Bertucci: Railroad Voices—The Milwaukee Road 1974-1977, through Dec. 20
GROVE GALLERY gallerygrove.com HAGGERTY MUSEUM OF ART
forwardtheater.com
marquette.edu/haggerty-museum
Gaslight, through Nov. 22
The Otherworld is Home, through Dec. 19
FOUR SEASONS THEATRE, MADISON fourseasonstheatre.com
HARLEY-DAVIDSON MUSEUM
All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914, Dec. 10-20
harley-davidson.com
FRANKLY MUSIC franklymusic.org FRESCO OPERA THEATRE, MADISON frescoopera.com GALLERY 218 gallery218.com GALLERY 224 Gallery224.org
Survivors: A Rare WWII -Era Collection, through June 2027 This group of six cycles on loan from actor/filmmaker Jason Momoa and used in HBO Max's “On the Roam” series distinguish themselves by not being in collectors' shape. They are displayed in the same condition in which they made it through World War II. This exhibition, on view through June 2027, comes with regular museum admission. (Jamie Lee Rake)
INSPIRATION STUDIOS ART GALLERY inspirationstudiosgallery.com Straight, Nov. 20-22 (Theatrical Tendencies) JAMES MAY GALLERY jamesmaygallery.com JAZZ GALLERY CENTER FOR THE ARTS jazzgallerycenterforarts.org Free Improvisation, Saturdays Milwaukee Jazz Institute, Sundays JEWISH MUSEUM MILWAUKEE jewishmuseummilwaukee.org Chosen Heroes: The Jewish Comics Experience, through Feb.14, 2027 “Some of the most recognizable superheroes in popular culture emerged from the experiences and imaginations of Jewish creators—many the children of immigrants navigating opportunity and exclusion in 20th-century America,” says curator Molly Dubin. “Through characters who concealed parts of themselves and confronted injustice, they turned themes of identity and belonging into universal stories.” (David Luhrssen)
HARLEY DAVIDSON MUSEUM
Photo by Timothy Czerniakowski.
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Light blue holiday background by GettyImages/Chainarong Prasertthai. Light blue background with snow pattern by GettyImages/Svetlana Shamshurina.
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SPECIAL HOLIDAY ARTS GUIDE
JOHN MICHAEL KOHLER ARTS CENTER jmkac.org/home.html When Threads Meet, They Speak, through Jan. 24, 2027. Coexisting within parallel traditions, the pieces share common threads: fibers, colors, and processes that converge to create patterns between varying tattered and pristine patchwork and lines. They illustrate moments of everyday life embedded in communal fiber arts that reflect systems of creativity, wholeness and care. (Michael Muckian) Robert Blackstone: Crystal City, through Feb. 7 JOY ENGINE joyengine.org KETTLE MORAINE PLAYHOUSE, SLINGER kmplayhouse.com Christmas Belles, Nov. 27-29, Dec. 2-6, Dec. 10-13 KETTLE MORAINE SYMPHONY kmsymphony.org
KO-THI DANCE COMPANY ko-thi.org LAKE ARTS PROJECT lakeartsproject.com
LAKE COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE
MADISON MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART mmoca.org Diffuse Control by Beeple, through Jan. 10, 2027 Slick, Sept. 23-Jan. 31, 2027
lakecountryplayhousewi.org
MADISON THEATRE GUILD
A Christmas Carol, Nov. 27-Dec. 13
madisontheatreguild.org
LAKEFRONT FESTIVAL OF ART mam.org LATINO ARTS, INC. latinoartsinc.org Day of the Dead Ofrendas, through Nov. 18 Dia de los Muertos celebrates the lives of those who have passed on. In their memory, people set up special ofrendas, which are “traditional altars commemorating family members that are no longer physically with us but forever present in our hearts.” Latino Arts will have a display of ofrendas, showing how the tradition is celebrated in different regions of Mexico and Central America. (Tea Krulos) MKE Latin Legends, Dec. 4
MAKING MUSIC VOCAL ARTS mmvocalarts.com MARCUS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER marcuscenter.org Mirror Mirror, Nov. 6-8 (Milwaukee Ballet) Wish You Were Here: Pink Floyd Tribute, Nov. 7 Gravity and Other Myths, Nov. 13 Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Nov. 21-Dec. 27 The Sound of Music, Nov. 24-Nov. 29 The Nutcracker, Dec. 5-26 (Milwaukee Ballet)
Hector Acuna and Andy Paczos, through Nov. 7
lionperformancehall.com
Since the 1892 premiere in Russia, the global standard The Nutcracker stages one girl’s travels through a magical dreamworld. In Milwaukee Ballet artistic director Michael Pink’s creative adaptation, she shares the adventure with a younger brother and older sister. (John Schneider)
LILY PAD GALLERY WEST
Sister’s Christmas Catechism, Dec. 5
Doug Fath: New Work, Nov. 13-Dec. 19
lilypadgallery.com
Treasured Traditions Holiday Concert, Dec. 19 (Slinger High School Performing Arts Center) KIM STORAGE GALLERY kimstoragegallery.com
Process: Hecho a Mano, Dec.4-Feb. 19, 2027 LION PERFORMANCE HALL, RICHFIELD
KITH AND KIN THEATRE COLLECTIVE
LUTHERAN A CAPELLA CHOIR OF MILWAUKEE
kithandkintheatre.com
lutheranacapella.org
KNEELAND-WALKER HOUSE
LYNDEN SCULPTURE GARDEN
wauwatosahistoricalsociety.org
lyndensculpturegarden.org
KNIGHTWIND ENSEMBLE
Warren King: Homecoming, through Nov. 15
knightwind.org Concert: Franco Cesarini, Nov. 1 (South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center) KOHLER MEMORIAL THEATER kohlerfoundation.org
MADISON BALLET madisonballet.org The Nutcracker, Dec. 11-20
Sean Heely’s Celtic Christmas, Dec. 19 The Unauthorized Hallmark(ish) Parody Musical, Dec. 26-30 MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY PLAYERS SOCIETY marquette.presence.io/organization/ Marquette-players-society MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY THEATRE marquette.edu/communication/theatre-arts.php The Thanksgiving Play, Nov. 13-22 (Helfaer Theatre) MASTER SINGERS OF MILWAUKEE mastersingersofmilwaukee.org
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Light blue holiday background by GettyImages/Chainarong Prasertthai. Light blue background with snow pattern by GettyImages/Svetlana Shamshurina.
NOVEMBER 2026 | 39
SPECIAL HOLIDAY ARTS GUIDE
MATERIAL STUDIOS + GALLERY
MILWAUKEE BALLET
MILWAUKEE JAZZ INSTITUTE
materialstudiosandgallery.com
milwaukeeballet.org
milwaukeejazzinstitute.org
MEMORIES DINNER THEATRE
Mirror Mirror, Nov. 6-8
memoriesballroom.com
Long before Disney, the Brothers Grimm wrote down the medieval fairytale of Snow White with its fascinating references to a poisoned apple, a glass coffin and a magic mirror. Milwaukee Ballet Artistic Director Michael Pink wordlessly retells this story of the evil that comes from vanity. The Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra will perform an original score. (David Luhrssen)
MJI Jazz Jam, second Monday each month (Jazz Gallery)
MENOMONEE FALLS SYMPHONY www.mfso.net A Jolly Christmas, Dec. 19 (Germantown Performing Arts Center) MIAD miad.edu In a State of If, through Nov. 21 (Frederick Layton Gallery) Through the Plastic Lens: A Toy Camera Exhibition, through Nov. 21 (160 Gallery)
The Nutcracker, Dec. 5-26 (Marcus Performing Arts Center) MILWAUKEE CHAMBER THEATRE
MJI Night, third Saturday each month (bar centro) MILWAUKEE JAZZ ORCHESTRA mjojazz.com MILWAUKEE MAKERS MARKET https://www.milwaukeemakersmarket. com/ Makers Market 2026, Nov. 28, Dec. 20 (Discovery World)
milwaukeechambertheatre.org
MILWAUKEE MANDOLIN ORCHESTRA
A Gift of the Magi, Nov. 13-Dec. 6
milwaukeemandolinorchestra.org Holiday Concert, Dec. 11-12
MILLER ART MUSEUM (STURGEON BAY)
James DeVita and Josh Schmidt composed a musical based on the beloved Christmas short story by O. Henry. The stage production will be set in Henry’s era, circa 1905 New York, and accompanied by live cello and violin. Dimonte Henning and Jamie Mercado star in the Milwaukee premiere. (David Luhrssen)
51st Juried Annual, through Nov. 7
MILWAUKEE CHILDREN'S CHOIR
Emmett Johns: Transcending Time, through Nov. 7
milwaukeechildrenschoir.org
MILLER HIGH LIFE THEATER
milwaukeecomedy.com
Out of the Suitcase 2026: Mary Nohl Suitcase Export Fund, through Dec. 12 (Brooks Stevens Gallery) MIAD GALLERY AT THE AVE galleryattheave.miad.edu
millerhighlifetheater.com Mannheim Steamroller by Chris Davis, Dec. 6
MILWAUKEE COMEDY
MILWAUKEE COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA mkeorch.org
mam.org
Fall Concert, Nov. 22 (Milwaukee Youth Arts Center)
The Shakers: A World in the Making, through Jan. 31, 2027
Winter Concert, Dec. 8 (Plymouth Church)
MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM
Beneath the Surface: Mining and American Photography, through Jan. 18, 2027
MILWAUKEE FESTIVAL BRASS mfbrass.org MILWAUKEE FILM mkefilm.org MILWAUKEE IRISH ARTS milirisharts.wordpres.com
MILWAUKEE MUSAIK milwaukeemusaik.org MILWAUKEE OPERA THEATRE milwaukeeoperatheatre.org MILWAUKEE REPERTORY THEATER milwaukeerep.com The World Goes Round: The Songs of Kander & Ebb, through Nov. 1 (Stackner Cabaret) Footloose, through Nov. 1 (Ellen & Joe Checota Powerhouse Theater) Instructions for a Séance, through Nov. 8 (Herro-Franke Studio Theater) Harry Houdini went to many seances to expose their falsity. In her one-woman production, Katie Bender tries to summon the escape artist’s spirit through a séance in what becomes “a magical exploration of the human experience.” Directed by Lily Wolff. (David Luhrssen) JP Coletta’s Rock’n’’Roll Piano Man, Nov. 6-Jan. 3, 2027 (Stackner Cabaret) Heist, Nov. 17-Dec. 20 (Ellen & Joe Checota Powerhouse Theater) A Christmas Carol, Dec. 2-24 (Pabst Theater)
MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM Photo courtesy of the VISIT Milwaukee Media Library.
40 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS
Light blue holiday background by GettyImages/Chainarong Prasertthai. Light blue background with snow pattern by GettyImages/Svetlana Shamshurina.
NOVEMBER 2026 | 41
SPECIAL HOLIDAY ARTS GUIDE
MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
MUSEUM OF WISCONSIN ART
OUTSKIRTS THEATRE
wisconsinart.org
outskirtstheatre.org
Members Show, Nov. 14-Jan. 3, 2027
OVER OUR HEAD PLAYERS
Vanessa German, through Dec. 31
overourheadplayers.org
Georgia O’Keefe, through June 30, 2027 Photo by Jonathan Kirn.
MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA mso.org Peter and the Wolf, Nov. 1 Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony, Nov. 6-8 Andrew Bird in Concert with MSO, Nov. 10
Bruce Nauman: No, No New Museum, through June 30, 2027
cedarburgartistsguild.com/paint-cedarburg
MOWA | DTN (Saint Kate-The Arts Hotel)
PENINSULA PLAYERS
Heidi Parks: Inviting Abundance, through Nov. 29 MOWA on the Lake (St. John’s on the Lake) NEXT ACT THEATRE
Royal Fireworks, Nov. 14-15
nextact.org
Brahms Symphony No. 2, Nov. 20-21
The Boys from Baraboo, Dec. 2-20
Although born into poverty, Johannes Brahms’ potential as a composer was recognized at an early age. His Symphony No. 2 is a work of mellow beauty, deeply felt lyricism and almost pastoral wellbeing. A tonic for our times? (David Luhrsen)
Baraboo, Wis., was the unlikely home for America’s most popular traveling circus, the Ringling Bros. With songs and comedy, the play by Milwaukee’s Heidi Armbruster tells the story of five scrappy siblings who entertained the nation for decades. (David Luhrssen)
Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Nov. 27-29
NŌ STUDIOS
The Commercialists, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Dec. 4 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in Concert, Dec. 5-6 Hometown Holiday Pops, Dec. 12-13, Dec. 18-20 Salute to Vienna, Dec. 29 MILWAUKEE YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA myso.org MILWAUKEE YOUTH THEATRE
nostudios.com NO INSTRUCTIONS GALLERY moinstructs.com Craig Clements: Recent Paintings, through Nov. 6 NORTH SHORE ACADEMY OF THE ARTS
PENINSULA SCHOOL OF ART peninsulaschoolofart.org PHILOMUSICA QUARTET philomusicaquartet.com PIANOARTS OF WISCONSIN pianoarts.org PINK UMBRELLA THEATER Pinkumbrellatheater.org PORTRAIT SOCIETY GALLERY portraitsocietygallery.com Bernard Gilradi: Renew, through Nov. 13 After 17 years in the Third Ward’s Marshall Building, Portrait Society will move to a new location in Walker’s Point at 900 S. 5th St. The grand opening will also mark the opening of an exhibit by Bernard Gilradi (1920-2008), “a self-taught artist in Milwaukee who made paintings in his basement studio during his free time for more than 40 years.” (David Luhrssen) PRESENT MUSIC presentmusic.org
NORTHERN SKY THEATER
A Hundred Ways: Thanksgiving, Nov. 22 (Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist)
northernskytheater.com
milwaukeeyouththeatre.org MKE BLACK THEATRE FESTIVAL
oakcreepaec.com
blackartsmke.org
OCONOMOWOC ARTS CENTER
MKE STUDIO TOUR
oasd.k12.wi.us/artscenter
mkestudiotour.com
OPTIMIST THEATRE
MORNING STAR PRODUCTIONS
optimisttheatre.org
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peninsulaplayers.com
facebook.com/northshoreacademyofthearts
OAK CREEK PERFORMING ARTS AND EDUCATION CENTER
morningstarproductions.org
PAINT CEDARBURG: A PLEIN AIR PAINTING EVENT
“Present Music's annual celebration of community, gratitude, and cross-cultural unity features two world premieres” says Artistic Director Eric Segnitz. One is by Puerto Rico’s Angélica Negrón; the other by Jamaica’s Mikhail Johnson. Berkeley native Samuel Adams also gets his first Milwaukee performance, and the concert showcases vocalists Eliza Bagg and Kathryn Shuman. David Bloom will conduct. (David Luhrssen)
Light blue holiday background by GettyImages/Chainarong Prasertthai. Light blue background with snow pattern by GettyImages/Svetlana Shamshurina.
NOVEMBER 2026 | 43
SPECIAL HOLIDAY ARTS GUIDE
VIENNA BOYS
PROMETHEUS TRIO wcmusic.org QUASIMONDO PHYSICAL THEATRE quasimondo.org RACINE ART GUILD racineartguild.com RACINE ART MUSEUM ramart.org Stitched Stories: Narrative Quilts and Textiles, through Nov. 21 Handcrafted: RAM Community Art Show, through Nov. 21 RAM Showcase: Cynthia Toops, through Nov. 21 Tanya Crane: Embodied Histories, Exploring the Legacy of African Jewelry, through Jan. 9, 2027 RACINE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA racinesymphony.org Holiday Concert, Dec. 4 (Memorial Hall, Racine) RACINE THEATRE GUILD racinetheatre.org Angel Street (Gaslight), through Nov. 15 There’s no doubt that the term “gaslight” has risen in popularity over the last few years, weaseling its way into conversations and accusations and even taking on a “boy who cried wolf” quality due to its overuse. The play which gave the word its double meaning, however, dates back to 1938: Angel Street (Gaslight) by Patrick Hamilton. The hunt for the truth is a winding one with multiple stops and restarts and reverses. (Natalie Murray) Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Dec. 11-20
Photo by Lukas Beck.
REAL TINSEL GALLERY
SEAT OF OUR PANTS READER THEATRE
realtinsel.com 3-Legged Stool, through Dec. 31 RENAISSANCE THEATERWORKS r-t-w.com
mkereaderstheatre.com SHARON LYNNE WILSON CENTER FOR THE ARTS wilson-center.com
Great White Throne, through Nov. 8 Cara Johnston’s work has been seen on PBS and performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. She is known for crafting complex female characters. Described as “a poignant narrative where a pastor's wife confronts her deepest fears and unexpected salvation during a surprise visit from an unwelcomed guest,” Great White Throne was a finalist in the Tennessee Williams OneAct Play Contest. (David Luhrssen)
Bela Fleck: My Bluegrass Heart, Nov. 6 Although the banjo will always be associated with bluegrass and rural Southern music, Bela Fleck made a career from showing how the instrument is amenable to jazz, classical and other music. For his current tour, the 15-time Grammy winner returns to his roots, backed by a small ensemble. (David Luhrssen) Vienna Boys Choir: Christmas in Vienna, Nov. 27
RIVER PRESS riverpressmke.com Printer’s Hang, Dec. 4
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Holiday Concert, Dec. 11
SACRA NOVA CHORALE sacranovacathedrale.com
Sons of Serendip: Christmas Beyond the Lights, Dec. 18
SAINT KATE - THE ARTS HOTEL GALLERY
Isaiah J. Thompson: A Guaraldi Christmas, Dec. 19
saintkatearts.com
SHEBOYGAN THEATRE COMPANY
SCHAUER ARTS CENTER, HARTFORD
stcshows.org
schauercenter.org
All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 / It’s A Wonderful Life, Dec. 4-12
SCULPTURE MILWAUKEE
RE:CRAFT AND RELIC
sculpturemilwaukee.com
SKYLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE
craftandrelic.com
Sculpture Milwaukee was founded in 2017 from an idea by local entrepreneur Steve Marcus and became an independent nonprofit in 2020. Sculpture Milwaukee has commissioned work to line Wisconsin Avenue from living artists, some with ties to our state. As much as possible, the sculptures are fabricated in Wisconsin in keeping with the Badger State’s machine-shop history. (David Luhrssen)
skylightmusictheatre.org
Holiday Market, Nov. 14-15 (Milwaukee County Sports Complex, Franklin) The market featuring 180 booths of artists, craftsmen, vintage curators, food artisans and pop up boutiques from around the Midwest.
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Big: The Musical, Nov. 13-Dec. 27 John Weidman, David Shire and Richard Maltby Jr. transformed the popular 1988 Tom Hanks film into a musical. The comic possibilities of a 12-year-old who awakens in a 30-year-old’s body are easy to imagine. The Skylight’s Michael Unger will direct. (David Luhrssen)
Light blue holiday background by GettyImages/Chainarong Prasertthai. Light blue background with snow pattern by GettyImages/Svetlana Shamshurina.
NOVEMBER 2026 | 45
SPECIAL HOLIDAY ARTS GUIDE
SOUTH MILWAUKEE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER southmilwaukeepac.org Blind Boys of Alabama, Nov. 5 Founded in 1939, the Blind Boys of Alabama became one of America’s best known gospel groups. Most members of its changing roster have been visually impaired, a handicap that didn’t impede their way to international tours and recognition. In recent decades the Blind Boys have recorded and performed with everyone from Prince and Lou Reed to Bonnie Raitt and Bon Iver. (David Luhrssen) Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play, Nov. 20-22 The Grand Ol’ Christmas Show, Dec. 13 SUNSET PLAYHOUSE sunsetplayhouse.com Annie Jr., Nov. 13-15 Madagascar: A Musical Journey, Kids, Nov. 20-Dec. 6 ‘Twas the Month Before Christmas, Dec. 3-Dec. 20 Rocky Mountain High: A John Denver Christmas, Dec. 7-8 Jazzy Jubilee with BoyGirlBoyGirl, Dec. 10-13
THEATRICAL TENDENCIES theatricaltendencies.com Straight, Nov. 20-22 (Inspiration Studios) THIRD AVENUE PLAYWORKS, STURGEON BAY thirdavenueplayworks.org It’s a Wonderful Life, Dec. 2-27 THREE POINT PROJECT Threepointprojectwi.com TOOTH-AND-NAIL GALLERY toothandnailmke.com TORY FOLLIARD GALLERY toryfolliard.com Charles Munch: Seeking a Way, through Nov. 28 Robert D. Cocke: Homecoming, through Nov. 28 Chris Berti: New Sculptures, Dec. 4-Jan. 2, 2027 UNDERSCORE (INSIDE REAL TINSEL) underscoreprojects.info UW-PARKSIDE uwp.edu/the rita/theatreperformances.cfm Rent, Nov. 19-Dec. 6 (Main Stage Theatre)
What Christmas Means to Me, Dec. 15 THEATRE GIGANTE
UW-MILWAUKEE PECK SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
theatregigante.org
uwm.edu/arts/events
The Way Things Go, Nov. 28-29 (The Brick House)
La Perla, Nov. 6 (Music Building, Recital Hall)
The Way Things Go is a playful snuggle with infinity in so many isolated moments. The form and flow of it all makes the show feel like a rich and expansive thing. Mark Anderson and co-creator Isabelle Kralj do such a good job of showing love onstage (to actors and audience alike), rather than the other end of human emotion. Why bother with destructive aggression? (Russ Bickerstaff) … From Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris, Dec. 5-6 (The Brick House)
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UWM Percussion Ensemble, Nov. 7 (Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts, Room 250) Crossing Over, Nov. 10-Dec. 11 (UWM Union Art Gallery) Choral & Orchestral Masterworks, Nov. 13-14 (Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts, Bader Hall) New Dancemakers, Nov. 18-21 (Mitchell Hall, Studio 254) Art & Technology Exhibition: Charging, Nov. 18-Nov. 21 (Kenilworth Square East Gallery)
The Visit, Nov. 18-22 (Theatre Building, Mainstage Theatre) UWM Steel PANthers Steel Band & Community World Music Ensemble, Nov. 19 (Kenilworth Square East, Jan Serr Studio) High School Honors Band & String Orchestra Festival, Nov. 20-21 (Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts, Bader Hall) UWMWind Ensemble & Symphony Band Concert, Nov. 20 (Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts, Bader Hall) Opera Scenes, Nov. 21-22 (Music Building, Recital Hall) UWM Wind Ensemble Featuring High School Honors Band & String Orchestra, Nov 21 (Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts, Bader Hall) University Community Band Fall Concert, Nov. 30 (Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts, Bader Hall) Experimental Tuesdays: The World and Works of Portia Cobb, Dec. 1-2 (UWM Union Cinema) Drawing for Pring & Lithograph Exhibition, Dec. 2-16 (Kenilworth Square East, 5th Floor Gallery) (Arts Center Gallery Theatre Building 2nd Floor) 2026 Object Jewelry Sale, Dec. 4-5 (Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts, Bader Hall) UWM Symphony Orchestra, Dec. 4 (Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts, Bader Hall) Suzuki & Pre-College Guitar Concert, Dec. 6 (Music Building, Recital Hall) New Music Ensemble Fall Concert, Dec. 7 (Kenilworth Square East, Jan Serr Studio) UWM Pop Ensemble, Dec. 8 (Kenilworth Square East, Jan Serr Studio) Musical Theatre Capstone, Dec. 11-12 (Arts Center Gallery Theatre Building 2nd Floor) Art & Design BA/BFA Fall Exhibition, Dec. 11-19 (Kenilworth Square East Gallery)
UWM UNION ART GALLERY
WATER STREET DANCE MILWAUKEE
uwm.edu/studentinvolvement/ arts-and-entertainment/union-artgallery
waterstreetdancemke.com
Crossing Over, Nov. 10-Dec. 11
WAUKESHA CIVIC THEATRE waukeshacivictheatre.org Clyde’s, through Nov. 1
UW-WHITEWATER CROSSMAN GALLERY
Mary Poppins, Dec. 4-20
uww.edu/coac/crossman
Joel Kopischke’s I Got Yule, Babe, Dec. 15-17
UW-WHITEWATER YOUNG AUDITORIUM
Four Guyz in Dinner Jackets, Dec. 31
uww.edu/youngauditorium VANGUARD MILWAUKEE
WAUWATOSA VILLAGE CHRISTMAS MARKET, DEC. 2-6
vanguardmke.com
wauwatosavillage.org
VAR GALLERY & STUDIOS
WEST ALLIS PLAYERS
vargallery.com
westallisplayers.org
VILLA TERRACE DECORATIVE ARTS MUSEUM
WEST BEND THEATRE COMPANY
WISCONSIN CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC wcmusic.org WISCONSIN CRAFT wisconsincraft.org WISCONSIN DANCE THEATRE wisconsindancetheatre.com WISCONSIN LUTHERAN COLLEGE CENTER FOR ARTS AND PERFORMANCE wlc.edu Christmas Festival Band Concert, Dec. 11 Jimmy’s Swingin’ Jukebox Christmas, Dec. 12 WISCONSIN MUSEUM OF QUILTS & FIBER ART
villaterrace.org
westbendtheatreco.com
wiquiltmuseum.com
Susan Falkman: From Italy to Milwaukee, through Jan. 3, 2027
WEST PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
Liz Alpert Fay: Ordinary/Extraordinary Women, through Nov.15
VILLAGE PLAYHOUSE villageplayhouse.org VOICES FOUND voicesfoundrep.com
nbexcellence.org/community/westpac. cfm WHITEWATER ARTS ALLIANCE whitewaterarts.org WILD SPACE DANCE COMPANY wildspacedance.org
WALKER'S POINT CENTER FOR THE ARTS wpca-milwaukee.org
WISCONSIN CLASSIC STAGE joshpohja.com
WISCONSIN PHILHARMONIC wisphil.org An Old World Christmas, Dec. 13 (Oconomowoc High School) WOODLAND PATTERN BOOK CENTER woodlandpattern.org WUSTUM MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS ramart.org
Light blue holiday background by GettyImages/Chainarong Prasertthai. Light blue background with snow pattern by GettyImages/Svetlana Shamshurina.
NOVEMBER 2026 | 47
SPECIAL SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY
Taking Care of Business
All of It
On Small Business Saturday, Shop the Smallest of the Small BY MIKE MUCKIAN
I
n 1925 then-President Calvin Coolidge famously said, “The chief business of the American people is business,” a phrase often misquoted but meaning the same thing no matter which version you choose. In one way or another, we’re all in the business of providing products or services to our friends and families, customers and communities. “Silent Cal,” as he was called, would be pleased to know just how far we have come as a business-driven nation. Businesses come in all shapes and size, but the ones too often overlooked tend to be the small businesses that form the foundation of our economy and communities. Often family-driven, or the brainchild of one specific visionary, small business becomes an economic lifeline that may plant the seeds of an empire while helping build communities by truly serving the needs of all kinds of people while keeping the dollars closer to home.
“From an economic perspective, it’s so important to keep money circulating through our communities,” says Jessie Puzach, owner of Birch & Banyan Coffee, a café located in Hartland, “When people buy lattes from me it allows me to sponsor local sports teams and fundraisers. The ripple effects are truly incredible.” Puzach is part of a league of small business owners who have helped the Milwaukee metro area grow into a significant center of commerce. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, area small businesses—defined as having 100 or fewer employees —total a whopping 6,476 enterprises that employ a total of 270,062 workers. That’s an awful lot of lattes.
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The term “small business” is a misnomer and its own facility at 2625 S. Greeley for many people, who can’t imagine St., Ste. 135, in Bay View. MMM’s home an enterprise employing 100 people base might be the Discovery World Muconstituting a small anything. But there seum on Milwaukee’s lakefront, which are degrees of size within that definiis where the market will be on Small tion that hit a little closer to home. As Business Saturday, this year on Nov. 28. a matter of fact, the smallest of the small face entirely different economies “Small Business Saturday is by far our biggest event,” Laessig says. “Last of scale that make their profitabiliyear we had 3,000 people come ty—or even survival, for that matter—a through our door. Sales helped many much more tenuous proposition. of our participating businesses push to SMALL-WAUKEE MAKERS MARKET the end of the year.” On Small Businesses Saturday many CREATING COMMUNITY buyers will seek out the smallest of Laessig’s goal is to help many of his small businesses to patronize and vendors, of which there 40-50 in any support. Thanks to mixed-media artist given week, operate successful enterRyan Laessig, the smallest of the prises. That’s true of all businesses, but small are getting increasingly easier in Milwaukee’s small business commuto find. Ten years ago, Laessig creatnity there is even more to gain for both ed Milwaukee Makers Market (MMM) the proprietor and customers, says a traveling and curated collection of Birch & Banyan’s Puzach. small businesses focusing primarily on arts and crafts. Founded as an open-air market in the parking lot of Collectivo Coffee Roasters in Bay View, Laessig enables artists to sell their wares and share their stories with fellow artists, collectors, and other customers. By sharing the stories at the point of sale, the artists, he says, draw the buyer in and give them their own stories to share about the purchase, whether it’s a painting, a piece of leather work, a unique hot sauce, or even jewelry made from squirrel bones. “All the work our vendors produce is locally handcrafted and uniquely made,” Laessig says. “I call this Small-waukee and half the fun are the makers’ stories.”
“From a purely human perspective, small businesses create the community you have,” the café owner explains. “Our café is somewhere for people to feel safe, feel happy, take business meetings, catch up with friends, have first dates, journal, go on interviews, and more. Being a hub for the community is truly a gift.” The same can be said for any small business, even the smallest of the small. Michael Muckian was the banking and finance writer for the Milwaukee Business Journal and is the author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Financing and Accounting and The One-Day MBA in Finance and Accounting.
Running from April through December, MMM takes its show on the road to five different locations, including American Family Field, The Ivy House, Prairie Springs on Park, Photo of Milwaukee Makers Market by Ryan Laessig. Holiday background by GettyImages/seyfettinozel. Ornament illustrations by GettyImages/Jehan-Jehan.
NOVEMBER 2026 | 49
SPECIAL HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
Holiday GIFT GUIDE
2026
AMERICAN SCIENCE & SURPLUS
DISCOUNT LIQUOR
HARLEY-DAVIDSON MUSEUM
6901 W. Oklahoma Ave., Milwaukee (414) 541-7777
5031 W. Oklahoma Ave., Milwaukee (414) 545-2175
400 W. Canal St., Milwaukee 877-436-8738
Sciplus.com
919 N. Barstow Ave., Waukesha (262) 547-7525
harley-davidson.com/us/en/museum. html
Offering the most diverse selection of gifts in Milwaukee for over 30 years, you're sure to find something for everyone! Educational STEAM kits, soldering & craft kits, toys, novelties, housewares, crystals, puzzles, lava lamps, militaria and more! C3 DESIGNS 2110 10th Ave., South Milwaukee (414) 764-3892 C3-designs.com C3 Designs is the best jewelry store in the Milwaukee area to help with your holiday gift giving ideas. Store owner Chris Jensen is a nationally award-winning jewelry designer who has won over 25 awards for his custom creations. His design team at C3 Designs can help you choose the perfect one-of-a-kind gift for this holiday season.
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Discountliquorinc.com Discount liquor is your one-stop shop for all your gift-giving needs with our expansive selection of 8,000 wines, 4,000 liquors and 2,000 beers. Check out our huge variety of holiday liquor, beer and wine gift sets perfect for friends, co-workers and loved ones. Find out why we have been voted the best for 24 award-winning years.
Ride home for the holidays at the world’s only Harley-Davidson Museum, right here in Milwaukee. From Breakfast with Santa and holiday dining at MOTOR® Restaurant to unique gift shopping, exhibits, guided tours, and family-friendly events, discover unforgettable holiday experiences for riders and non-riders alike.
GALLERY 507 GIFT SHOP 507 W. North Ave., Milwaukee 414-307-4888 A part of the Bronzeville community, the Gallery 507 Gift Shop offers a curated selection of unique items from local artists and artists around the world, perfect for your holiday shopping. Your purchase directly supports the Bronzeville Center of the Arts and its future museum endeavors.
Green background with presents by GettyImages/InspirationGP. Green glitter background by GettyImages/Anselm Baumgart. Present illustrations by GettyImages/Valentina Pislari.
NOVEMBER 2026 | 51
SPECIAL HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE HEALIUM HOT YOGA-WEST ALLIS
KELLY’S POT PIES & MORE
KNUCKLEHEADS WELLNESS
6679 W. National Ave., West Allis (414) 616-1106
3268 Main St., East Troy (262) 592-1900
2949 N. Oakland Ave., Milwaukee 414-962-3052
Healiumhotyoga.com/hhy-west-allis
3785 S. 108th St., Greenfield (414) 662-7100
Knuckswellness.com
HEALIUM HOT YOGA-BAY VIEW 2534 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., Milwaukee (414) 232-2165 Healiumhotyoga.com/hhy-bay-view HEALIUM RESTORE 435 E. Lincoln Ave., Milwaukee (414) 232-2165 Healiumhotyoga.com/restore-bayview HEALIUM HIIT 2865 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., Milwaukee (414) 309-0472
Kellyspotpies.com Make dinner easy on yourself this holiday season! Our pot pies are crafted with love; each pot pie embodies our commitment to excellence. Our 'Heat-N-Serve' pies are ideal when you need a meal in a pinch; frozen options are perfect to keep on hand when unexpected guests arrive. Also available at several specialty stores; visit our website for locations. Gift boxes and gift cards available!
Healiumhotyoga.com/hiit-bay-view
Slide on down to Knuckleheads Wellness and check out why Knuckleheads won “Best of Milwaukee” Best Head Shop, Vape shop , CBD Shop from 2018-2025. With the holidays coming up, Knuckleheads knows exactly how to help you get into the Holiday spirit with their Black Friday BLOW OUT November 28 – 30; enjoy 20%-50% the entire store! Need something closer to the Holidays? Have no fear! Our Holiday Sale starts Dec 13 – Dec 24, 20%-50% the entire store! Need something before or after then? Check out our large variety of Wellness products. LIN NAILS
Our class packs and month of unlimited classes are on sale, gift cards too! Sale runs Nov 27th-Dec 23rd. 2025 Best of Milwaukee Winner and 2026 Best of Milwaukee Finalist!
3551 N. Oakland Ave., Shorewood (414) 335-6059 Linnailsmke.com Celebrate the season in style at Lin Nails! Treat someone special to our holiday gift cards and enjoy 20% off your first visit. Book your pampering session with us today!
Chill, Uplift, or Unwind Family owned and operated since 1960 Discover the new generation of refreshments! Our expansive selection of THC, CBD, & Delta 9 NON-ALCOHOLIC beverages include mocktails, teas, sodas, and more. All that have THC content ranging from 2.5 to 50 MG. Whether you are looking to chill, uplift, or unwind, we’ve got you covered. Sip, relax and enjoy!
Hours
MON–SAT 9AM–9PM & SUN 10AM–2PM
discountliquorinc.com 52 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS
Milwaukee
5031 W OKLAHOMA AVE.
(414) 545–2175
Waukesha 919 N BARSTOW AVE.
(262) 547–7525
Green glitter background by GettyImages/Anselm Baumgart. Present illustrations by GettyImages/Valentina Pislari.
NOVEMBER 2026 | 53
SPECIAL HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE MILWAUKEE FILM
MILWAUKEE MAKERS MARKET
mkefilm.org/membership
MilwaukeeMakersMarket.com
Give the gift of a Milwaukee Film Membership! Year-round discounts on films and concessions, exclusive monthly Members-Only screenings, and so much more.
Nov. 8: “Bonus Market” at Prairie Springs on Park
MILWAUKEE INSTITUTE OF ART & DESIGN (MIAD) 273 E. Erie St., Milwaukee (888) 749-MIAD miad.edu/holidaysale Don’t miss the annual MIAD Holiday Sale, Dec. 3-5! The MIAD Holiday Sale is your opportunity to purchase oneof-a-kind art and design gifts, from sculptures to greeting cards, paintings, photographs, jewelry and more, created by MIAD students, alumni, faculty and staff at affordable prices. Preview night: Dec. 3, 6 – 8 p.m., $10 admission. Free admission Dec. 4, 5 – 8 p.m. and Dec. 5, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
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Nov. 28: “Shop Small Saturday” at Discovery World Dec. 20: “Holiday Market” at Discovery World Milwaukee Makers Market encourages shopping Small, Local Businesses this Holiday Season! On Sunday, Nov. 8 at Prairie Springs and Saturday Nov. 28 at Discovery World from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. The Market will feature over 50 Local Businesses including art, jewelry, soaps, clothing, candles, unique gifts, Milwaukee themed accessories and more! Admission to the Market is FREE! More information online.
Green glitter background by GettyImages/Anselm Baumgart. Present illustrations by GettyImages/Valentina Pislari.
NOVEMBER 2026 | 55
SPECIAL HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE MUSEUM OF WISCONSIN ART (MOWA) 205 Veterans Ave., West Bend (262) 334-9638 wisconsinart.org Dec. 4-6: Champagne Shopping Find art-inspired gifts for everyone on your list this year at the MOWA Shop during Champagne Shopping! Throughout this three-day event, members sip champagne while they shop and receive exclusive discounts on a wide variety of products from Wisconsin-based artists and makers. Remember, a MOWA membership makes a great gift, too. Beginning at just $15, membership grants access to exhibitions, art making, tours, and so much more. Visit wisconsinart.org/join OLD GUARD GAMES 3132 N. Downer Ave., Milwaukee (414) 988-0161 facebook.com/OldGuardMKE/ Come check out Milwaukee’s premier destination for tabletop gaming! Offering a vast selection of Magic the Gathering, Warhammer 40K, Pokemon, chess and board games, plus miniature wargames and figurines, Old Guard Games is a must-stop for your holiday shopping. THE DEKOVEN CENTER
THE JEWELERS GUILD 2408 E. St. Francis Ave., St. Francis (414) 488-2727 Jewelersguild.biz Looking for something that says “only me” this holiday season? Join us at the Jewelers Guild where we feature stunning fine jewelry all made by hand in our studio! From classic to whimsical, the Jewelers Guild offers beautiful bespoke jewelry to fit every budget. Or give the gift of classes! Yes, we do that too! Gift Certificates, custom jewelry, watch repairs, and appraisals, all under one roof. Local. Handmade. The Jewelers Guild. VINES TO CELLAR 114 E. Main St., Port Washington (252) 536-4544 Vinestocellar.com Vines to Cellar is a custom small batch winery located in Historic Downtown Port Washington and is your local one-stop shop for all of your wine and beer-making needs. Reserve a full wine experience and become a vintner (U-VIN)! Our friendly and knowledgeable staff will help you and your party get started on your first batch. Customizable for your occasion. Shop our amazing wine selection to enhance your holiday table and share with friends and family. Perfect for gifting!
2000 Wisconsin Ave., Racine dekovencenter.org/events Christmas at DeKoven is a FREE family holiday celebration! Enjoy a live nativity, artisan market, Santa photos, festive entertainment, children’s activities, and more! December 6, 11a.m.–4p.m.
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Green glitter background by GettyImages/Anselm Baumgart. Present illustrations by GettyImages/Valentina Pislari.
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CULTURE
This Month in Milwaukee
9 THINGS TO DO IN NOVEMBER BY BLAINE SCHULTZ
NOVEMBER 6-8
NOVEMBER 13-14
NOVEMBER 18
Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Nova Linea Presents: Clarity and Connection Marcus Performing Arts Center
Nicole Atkins w/ John Gallagher Jr. Vivarium
Dolly Parton’s influence will resonate for generations. Dolly Parton's Threads: My Songs in Symphony features Dolly’s songs and the stories behind them in an innovative multimedia symphonic experience featuring Dolly on screen, leading audiences in a visualmusical journey of her songs, her life and her stories. Accompanied by guest vocalists and the MSO, this program features orchestrations of Dolly’s hit songs, including “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” and “I Will Always Love You.”
Clarity & Connection, inspired by the book from author Yung Pueblo, delves into the concept of self-awareness, and how we cannot form healthy relationships with others until we have a strong understanding of ourselves. Nova Linea Contemporary Dance is Wisconsin’s premier contemporary dance company. Told from the perspective of different individuals, this evening-length work also draws from the personal stories of each artist, as we all have different, unique, and complex experiences, yet similar struggles and challenges to overcome in life.
As the material for Nicole Atkins’ album Drama started to take shape, she felt like she was “building a life raft,” and not only for herself. “With everything going on in the world, it's easy to forget that we're all the same,” she says. “We're being disconnected and pulled apart. We're longing for connection. That's what I want to write and sing about, and hopefully by doing that, make people feel a little less lonely.” Atkins’ neo-classic sound invites mash-up descriptions – even she offers her own colorful takes—“What if Brian Eno, Scott Walker and Lee Hazlewood were all partying?” and “It's like a Broadway show playing on a dive bar stage.”
NOVEMBER 17
NOVEMBER 21
Aurore Sibley, author of Some Things Don't Burn: Art, Activism, and Arson at the Bugle American Boswell Book Company
Humbird w/ Bad Posture Club and Chris Rosenau Cactus Club
NOVEMBER 6-8 Goose Miller High Life Theatre Not every band plays a three-night stand at a venue this size. Blending indie-rock hooks with expansive improvisation, Goose has risen from performing in Connecticut basements to headlining some of the country’s best-known venues. Comparisons to jam band Phish might be inevitable, especially since Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio has toured and jammed with Goose.
NOVEMBER 8 Bill Callahan w/ Rick Maguire The Argo Using the alias Smog, Bill Callahan recorded a long string of albums almost exclusively on Chicago’s Drag City label. While themes of darkness get the spotlight, Callahan’s wry and deadpan humor are always lurking. In a Guardian interview, his response to a question was, “I picture a craftsman as the guy who’s got his tools all labelled in boxes and shelves and knows where everything is. I’m more of a drunk professor; I like happenstance and coincidence and mistakes.”
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Milwaukee-based underground newspaper, the Bugle American was an early underground newspaper. Aurore Sibley’s book Some Things Don't Burn: Art, Activism, and Arson at the Bugle American is a fierce, vibrant portrait of a newspaper that refused to go up in smoke. Dave Luhrssen of the Shepherd Express, who wrote for the Bugle American at age 16, will lead the conversation.
NOVEMBER 17 Heist Milwaukee Rep A crew with secrets. One last job that could change everything. Heist is a cinematic, twist-filled crime caper brought vividly to life on stage—part Ocean’s Eleven, part mysterywhodunnit and all heart-pounding theatrical adventure. Featuring sharp dialogue, clever surprises, and unexpected laughs, it takes you on a thrilling ride that keeps you guessing until the final moment.
“Daughter of Empire,” the opening track to Humbird’s album Morning When It Comes, begins the 12-song cycle mired in the mundane and more devastating aspects of trying to outlast late-stage capitalism. What matters most gets delayed in favor of doomscrolling and dissociating. But when the chorus opens into ‘70s-style acoustic guitar shimmering over warm percussive grooves, frustration and self-disappointment transform into a catchy, sardonic folk-pop hook that lends levity and grace.
NOVEMBER 27-28 R&B Cadets p Shank Hall • 8pm and Noon Here’s a chance to work off those Thanksgiving calories on the dance floor. The annual tradition continues with Milwaukee’s institution of groove, The R&B Cadets, playing an evening and noon show. Back in 2022 Cadet John Sieger said, “Being on the same stage, not to mention the same page, as Robin and Paul is a pretty darn good feeling. They both specialize in levitating audiences and I’m more than happy to join them—along with that crack fighting unit, the Cadets! The Black Friday gigs are really special.” Header photo: The R&B Cadets, by Francis Ford.
NOVEMBER 2026 | 59
LIFESTYLE OUT OF MY MIND
The Cynic’s Lament BY PHILIP CHARD
A
t some juncture, virtually all of us get angry at life. We inhabit the opposite of the so-called “attitude of gratitude” we are admonished to embrace at Thanksgiving. "Life isn't fair," we often tell ourselves when disappointments, losses or bad luck ignite our hostility toward existence itself. For the most part, these episodes of existential discontent or even rage are a short-lived and necessary stage in coming to terms with "the way it is." But there are some people who don't chill out and rebound after visiting pity city. They move there permanently, and some end up making bitterness their life's work. We call them "cynics." Cynicism differs from blazing anger. With cynics, the hot coals have cooled a bit, leaving a simmering tar pit of scorn and resentment. You can hear this brooding hostility in the cynic's ridicule of everything others hold dear and sacred. They don’t make laughter, happiness and peace. They make despair.
THE PRICE OF DESPAIR As Oscar Wilde characterized it, “A cynic is a man who knows the price of everything, and the value of nothing.” "You want to know what I think of people?" Charlie, a particularly cynical client, asked me, his mouth twisted into a sardonic smile.
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I really didn't, but I surmised that his need to tell me outweighed my desire not to know, so I issued the obligatory, "Yes, tell . . . " "They're scum," he sneered, cutting me off. "There isn't a soul alive who isn't capable of lying, cheating and stabbing his best friend in the back given the right set of circumstances." "That must mean you're scum too," I added, but he didn't skip a beat. "No doubt about it," he replied. "I've done my part to make the world a worse place."
FLIP THE SWITCH Charlie is not a criminal, a burned-out cop, a disgraced politician, or a tax attorney in some mafioso's pocket. He's an engineer. For the better part of three decades, Charlie lived the good life, and then something flipped his cosmic switch. His business partner ripped him off, his wife had a messy affair leading to their divorce, and then his health faltered. The energy he had drawn from work, family, and leisure ebbed away. All that remained to fire him up was his dark, smoldering discontent. "I suppose you're gonna tell me I’m clinically depressed. Isn't that the latest psychobabble for people who have soured on life?" he baited me. Photo by GettyImages/kieferpix.
"No way I think you’re depressed. Seems to me you are profoundly sad, and those aren’t the same thing," I replied, as Charlie’s anger dissolved into quiet tears.
BITING SCORN The cynic's biting scorn and stinging wit shield a profound sorrow often bordering on despair. By and large, cynics are romantics turned on their psychological heads. Instead of romanticizing about love and dreams, they pine over loss, disappointment and inequity. Behind a cynic's simmering scowl there is someone who deeply cares but can no longer afford to pay caring's price, there is a dreamer who has crashed after take-off too many times, there is a lover who can't afford to swoon to the heart's fickle music anymore. So, if you know a cynic, or happen to be one, remember that, more often than not, behind all the stinging sarcasm and disparaging analysis there resides a once good soul turned sour by circumstance. As George Carlin told us, “Scratch any cynic and you will find a disappointed idealist.”
Philip Chard is a psychotherapist and author with a focus on lasting behavior change, emotional healing and adaptation to health challenges. For more, visit philipchard.com.
NOVEMBER 2026 | 61
HEAR ME OUT DEAR RUTHIE | SPONSORED BY UW CREDIT UNION
GETTING OVER THE HILL DEAR RUTHIE, I'm in my 50s and feel invisible when I go to gay bars. Everyone seems younger than me. Where are the people my age?
HELP,
Over t he Hill and Over I t DEAR OVER, You're not over the hill; you're at the top of the hill, honey pie! The view is better and you’re stronger for making it up there. Best of all, you can look down and watch all the young people making the same mistakes you already made and learned from. If you’re not feeling comfortable at the bars, look for other places to socialize. Community centers, theater groups, volunteer organizations, book clubs, sports leagues and social groups. Milwaukee is loaded with all of these! Swing by LGBTQ+ events, too. They make wonderful places to meet people of all ages. And here's a little Ruthie rule: Never apologize for your age. You've survived bad haircuts, questionable hookups, dial-up internet and at least one sweater you deeply regret. You’ve earned your wisdom, sugar booger, so relish in the success that you are!
XXOO
Ruthie
Have a question for Ruthie? Want to share an event with her? Contact Ruthie at dearruthie@shepex.com. Follow her on social media, too! Facebook: Dear Ruthie | Instagram: RuthieKeester | Twitter: @DearRuthie
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DEAR RUTHIE BROUGHT TO YOU BY
Ruthie's Social Calendar NOVEMBER 1 THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW ORIGINAL CAST SPOOKTACULAR AT THE RIVERSIDE THEATRE (116 W. WISCONSIN AVE.): Wrap up the Halloween season with the Time Warp! Original movie cast members Barry Bostwick (Brad Majors), Nell Campbell (Columbia) and Patricia Quinn (Magenta) join in on the fun during a night that includes a costume contest. Nab tickets via www.pabsttheatergroup.com.
NOVEMBER 7 HOLIDAY MARKET AT STORY HILL FIREHOUSE (407 N. HAWLEY RD.): Shop small, save big when you swing by this charming marketplace. More than 35 local vendors set up shop in the cozy Story Hill Firehouse, where you can shop, snack and sip to your hearts content. The delightful day runs 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
NOVEMBER 7 DOLLY PARTON’S THREADS AT MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (717 N. 2ND ST.): Considered one of Dolly Parton’s final musical endeavors, this multimedia symphonic concert spotlights her music, career and story. Guest vocalists accompany our very own symphony in this heartwarming salute that’s sure to make memories for years to come. See www.mso.org for more.
NOVEMBER 13-15 WISCONSIN LEATHER PRIDE 2026 AT BEST WESTERN PLUS (5105 S. HOWELL AVE.): From vendors and bootblacks to seminars and demonstrations, this year’s leather pride weekend will be one for the books! Don’t miss your chance to mix, mingle and make new connections within this exciting community. Stop by www.wisconsinleatherpride.com for details.
NOVEMBER 21 MADE IN NERDWAUKEE AT PILOT PROJECT BREWING (1128 N. 9TH ST.): The team at Awkward Nerd Events hosts this annual “geek-themed craft fair” that’s free and open to all. More than four dozen local makers offer their wares during the 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. marketplace.
NOVEMBER 24 OPENING NIGHT THE SOUND OF MUSIC AT MARCUS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER (929 N. WATER ST.): Relish one of your favorite things when this legendary musical rolls into town. See why this spectacular production is taking the country by storm when you secure tickets at www.marcuscenter. org. Be sure to check out the Marcus’ new Broadway Bites dinner offering, that serves up an incredible meal on-site!
NOVEMBER 26 THANKSGIVING BUFFET AT HARBOR ROOM (117 E. GREENFIELD AVE.): The staff at this iconic LGBTQ+ bar welcomes you to enjoy Turkey Day with your chosen family. Savor a fantastic Thanksgiving buffet at 1 p.m. (with purchase of a beverage), enjoy a few cocktails with the friendly staff and raise a glass the yummiest holiday of year.
NOVEMBER 27 BLACKOUT BALL AT POP (124 W. NATIONAL AVE.): Take Black Friday to a new level when you hit up this dance party. When the lights go down, the neon goes up and the tunes take center stage all night long, kicking off the holiday season in true Pop style.
NOVEMBER 2026 | 63
HEAR ME OUT | SPONSORED BY UW CREDIT UNION
Our Voice Milwaukee
PERFORMS AT THE BRADLEY SYMPHONY CENTER DECEMBER 5 BY PAUL MASTERSON
O
ur Voice Milwaukee (OVM), Cream City’s LGBTQ+ chorus, presents its holiday concert, “Hallmarked Homos: Unwrapping What Matters” on December 5 at the Bradley Symphony Center. A historic moment for OVM, it is the group’s debut in such a venerable venue. The concert’s program promises a “heartfelt holiday performance exploring the tension between commercialism and connection.” Under the baton of artistic director David Heim, musical selections include some silly takes on holiday classics takes and “seasonal sparkle.” Founded in 2010 under artistic director Ken Forney, OVM represents a significant chapter in Milwaukee’s LGBTQ cultural life, particularly of its four decade-long choral history that goes back to 1985 with the formation of Festival City Gay Chorus (FCGC). An all-inclusive group of singers, it performed cabaret tunes as its main genre and became known for its concerts, AIDS benefits and the comforting support of the bereaved at memorials for AIDS victims. Under the name Fest City Singers, the group sang at the1992 international GALA (Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses) Festival in Denver. Over the years, other choral groups evolved.
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In 1987, members of the original FCGC formed Cream City Chorus. It would continue performing until 2012. Men’s Voices Milwaukee was established in 2001 and fostered the creation of Women’s Voices Milwaukee in 2006. All promoted the mission of maintaining an artistic and social outreach to the greater LGBTQ community and beyond. Each had their special brand, energy and appeal. Whether at PrideFest, the Milwaukee Gay Arts Center, UWM’s Zelazo Center, affirming houses of worship and other locations, their performances delivered a common message of the universality of love and acceptance.
ALL-INCLUSIVE OVM’s name change reflected a change in the chorus membership. “Our Voice” reflected, like its earliest predecessor, an all-inclusive openness to all genders and identities. As its mission statement declares, OVM “offers Harmony in music to help inspire Harmony in the community. Our Voice Milwaukee exists to provide a visible presence and a positive voice in and for the Wisconsin LGBTQ+ communities.” Continuing Milwaukee’s queer choral tradition, OVM’s ebb and flow of membership over the decades was particularly impacted by the Covid pandemic in 2020.
While OVM maintained a presence, including a virtual ZOOM concert that took place at the height of the pandemic, the number of active chorus members contracted to barely a dozen. At its first live, post-pandemic performance, only 11 singers participated. Yet, that concert’s theme of renewal, love and resilience would portend an unanticipated comeback. Perhaps it was that communal sense of relief and a desire to break out after those months of isolation, the need for social interaction, and, of course, the desire to sing, that, over the following months, prompted the chorus’ expansion to almost 80 members. OVM’s appeal was (and remains) also in the camaraderie among singers, offering its members alternative interactive engagement to the bar scene and social media. Meanwhile, the organization has continued to grow. Today, OVM boasts over 130 active members. And it is still recruiting singers in the tenor, baritone and bass ranges. With those numbers, however, OVM found itself in a logistical dilemma. Most of the group’s traditional venues for both rehearsal and performance could no longer accommodate them. More singers meant the need for more space, seating, risers and, most significantly, an ever-growing budget. Photo by GettyImages/9parusnikov. Music note illustrations by GettyImages/Ekaterina Chudakova.
Fortunately, thanks to the generosity of its members, their supporters (including spouses), and buttressed by fundraising events, OVM found new and exciting accommodations at Alverno College and a rehearsal space at Milwaukee Youth Arts Center.
GALA FESTIVAL Collaboration with other national LGBTQ choruses also continues. In 2024, OVM, together with its sibling, Madison’s Perfect Harmony Chorus, participated in the GALA Festival, a five-day musical event that drew 7,000 attendees. In 2028, GALA takes place in Minneapolis, with OVVM and Perfect Harmony slated to attend. For OVM, its upcoming December 5 concert at the Bradley Symphony Center is a culmination of those many decades of ever evolving history and, especially, the dedication and generosity of its leadership and members. Among the all-volunteer support network is a core of musical processionals whose unrelenting efforts brought the Bradley Symphony Center from dream to reality.
The one-night only event that kicks off OVM’s 16th season has been conceived as a look beyond the commercialism of the holidays, intended to create a unique and entertaining experience to lift spirits in a way only a queer point of view can achieve. Along with a mix of holiday favorites, the concert also includes a premiere performance of Johnny Mark’s “After the Holidays,” in an arrangement by Eric Knechtges, commissioned for Our Voice Milwaukee. “Hallmarked Homos: Unwrapping What Matters” concert tickets and other information may be found at the Our Voice social media page and on its website Ourvoicemke.org.
Paul Masterson is an LGBTQ activist and writer and has served on the boards of the Milwaukee Gay Arts Center, Milwaukee Pride, GAMMA and other organizations.
NOVEMBER 2026 | 65
ART FOR ART'S SAKE
From The City
That Always Sweeps BY ART KUMBALEK
I
’m Art Kumbalek and man oh manischewitz what a world, ain’a? So listen, it’s November already? For cripes sakes, didn’t we just have the Halloween schmutz with the candy and costumes and now we get the cranberry (ever had it for breakfast? Me neither. Ever want it, anytime of day? Me neither) plus Sahara-dried turkey white meat served with a sidecourse of political palaver spewed across the gathered-round thankful table from a whiskered aging goofball uncle?
The 11th month of the year, November (from the Latin novem meaning “nine” (yeah, go figure, was the gang who in the olden days who numerically slapped together the calendar we use still today the ancient forefathers of those who designed the Ford Edsel or who determined what constitutes an acceptable pass reception in the National Football League? Jeez louise). How time flies, what the fock. But as the august philosopher Groucho Marx, circa 20th century, once opined: “Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.” Amen. And “so it goes”; to borrow a phrase from the treasured soothsayer, Kurt Vonnegut, birthdate, the 11th of a November—the month I’m aiming to talk about here, I kid you not. But allow me to borrow another quote from the WWII veteran, prisoner-of-war (thank you for your service in every way) and survivor of the needless Dresden (Florence on the Elbe), Germany, Allied-bombing destruction: “A purpose of human life, no matter who is controlling it, is to love whoever is around to be loved.” (From The Sirens of Titan, 1959.) 66 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS
And so now, this year 2026, Veterans Day falls on November 11 wouldn’t you know; so it goes to remember. Reminder Alert Redux: Astrologically, I got a what the swamis call a Scorpion B-day near the top-of-this-month (cold cash in a thoughtful card always appreciated), just so you’s know. Also, at my advanced age of suspect health, I could use some advice ’bout setting up one of those GoFundMe ordeals, what with the boatload of medical cancer $chmutz for services rendered docked at my piss-poor pier. Also, a bag of Gold Toe socks, men’s size large, would also be welcome, I kid you not. Hey, speaking of November, I’m reminded that we’ve come upon your orange-clad deer-hunting season. And so for our valiant big-buck hunters up a tree or scattered to and fro across Badgerland’s hills and dales presently, here’s a little riddle that never fails to put the guys in the mood for a night of beer-bingeing after a day outdoors shooting at each other before they snore the walls off their cozy deer camp: What’s the difference between beer nuts and deer nuts? Give up? OK. Beer nuts can run you a good buck twoeighty out of pocket, but deer nuts are always under a buck. Ba-ding! Thanksgiving Safety Tip: Allow me to suggest that wherever you go for the holiday, do not forget to pack a piece of concealed-carry protection in the event some in-law has too much holiday vino, gets a little cranky and all of a sudden whips out a heater and wants to blow your head clean off ’cause he just remembered you didn’t come by to lend a hand and help take his focking pier out up at his crappy cottage up by Hayward last Labor Day.
Anyways, I got to go—got another scan to attend to—but here’s the least I can do (my specialty): For those of you’s who read this essay before trotting off to your Thanksgiving obligations, let me give you a little something you can take along and share at your gathering so you don’t show up empty-handed like some kind of freeloading fockstick. If you’re too damn lazy or broke to bring a dish of green-bean casserole or bottle of booze, a swell little story would be a nice alternative, you betcha. So this young Ivy Leaguer from up Northeast travels down South to visit a distant great-uncle on his farm. The uncle shows him the lay of the land— chickens, hogs, the cotton crop. After a couple, three days, the nephew was bored on his Yankee ass, and the uncle ran short of things to amuse him with. The uncle has an idea: “Listen son, why don’t you grab a gun, take the dogs and go do some hunting?” This cheers the nephew and off he goes with the dogs. Couple, three hours later, the nephew returns. Uncle says, “So, y’all have a good time?” Nephew says: “Fan-focking-tastic! Hey, got any more dogs?” Ba-ding! And so in conclusion, I wish for you’s that wherever you find yourself this T-giving holiday, god speed and remember to fight the good fight. And whilst gathered ’round the turkey table, perhaps take a moment to toast, perhaps pray, for the couple-threeten thousand-year veteran ingenious Indigenous stewards and protectors of this land. May their service be so honored, ’cause I’m Art Kumbalek and I told you so.
Thanksgiving scene by GettyImages/dolgachov. Thanksgiving Illustration by GettyImages/KRdesign.