Shepherd Express - May 2026

MAY 2026

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MAY 2026 | 3

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NEWS 06 What Challenges Are Facing the Milwaukee County Transit System?

07 This Modern World 10 The Latest from Heritage: Save the Family to Save the Nation — Issue of the Month 12 Free Weekly Food Distribution with Live Laugh Loaves — Hero of the Month 14 Bublr Bikes’ Ted Chisholm Speaks on Connecting Neighborhoods and Workplaces — MKE SPEAKS: Conversations with Milwaukeeans

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FOOD & DRINK 18 Ride to Motor for a Wood-Fired Experience 20 A Dining Room Virtuoso — Beverages

SPECIAL SECTION 22 Faced With Repairs Why Would Anyone Buy an Old Home? — Open House 26 Who Are Ozaukee County’s Master Gardeners? — Home and Garden

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PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Louis Fortis (louis@shepex.com) MANAGING EDITOR: David Luhrssen (dluhrssen@shepex.com) GENERAL MANAGER: Peggy Debnam (peggy@shepex.com) MEDIA SALES MANAGER: Jackie Butzler (jackie@shepex.com) SENIOR MEDIA CONSULTANTS: Bridgette Ard (bridgette@shepex.com) Chuck Hill (chuck@shepex.com) MEDIA CONSULTANTS: Jennifer Jepson (jennifer@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)

30 2026 Summer Festival Guide

STAFF WRITER & CIRCULATION COORDINATOR: Blaine Schultz (blaine@shepex.com)

44 2026 Farmers Market Guide

STAFF WRITER: Ben Slowey (ben@shepex.com)

50 Wisconsin's Quirky Day Trips — Travel

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CULTURE 52 Fine Arts Quartet Celebrates 80 Years 54 This Summer, Connect with Contemporary at Door County Art Fair 56 This Month in Milwaukee

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Cover - Illustration by Timothy Czerniakowski.

MAY 2026 | 5

NEWS

What Challenges Are Facing the Milwaukee County Transit System?

BY CHUCK QUIRMBACH

F

unding for mass transit, and challenges for public bus systems exist nationwide. No less so in Milwaukee County, where a lot of people rely on the bus to get to jobs, medical appointments, shopping and entertainment venues or see friends and relatives.

Let's take a ride:

A weekday late-morning jaunt from Milwaukee's West Wide to Bayshore shopping center this month in April showed some of the best that the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) has to offer. One of MCTS’ newer electric buses, on a faster-moving route called Connect, zipped east on Bluemound Road, then over to Wisconsin Avenue, and on to Downtown, without incident.

Downtown, at Van Buren Street, riders transferring to the northbound Route 30 only had to wait about two minutes before the 30 showed, and people boarded at no additional cost using an electronic transfer from the first ride.

The 30 arrived in front of the UW-Milwaukee Student Union within about 45 minutes of the West Side boarding on Connect.

BEST RIDE IN TOWN? Would driving a car be faster? Most likely, but not everyone has one, is comfortable driving or even has a driver's license.

For those who do have a car, the bus ride meant the auto stayed home, using no gasoline, producing zero air pollution and no additional wear and tear on the engine, suspension, brakes and tires.

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Good stuff, when many car repairs are expensive, and gas prices rose this year because of the war in the Middle East.

Riding MCTS also meant worries about reckless motorists were left to the bus drivers, and no concerns about the construction-related congestion on East-West I-94. Bus riders can even attach a bicycle to the front of a bus to make other connections.

At UWM, there was no need to use a costly parking ramp, no searching for parking on nearby streets and no fear of parking enforcement officers later putting a ticket on a car's windshield.

After stepping off the 30, a UWM actuarial science major who gave his name as “Demi” said he regularly rides the bus from his East Side home to the university, describing the service as “pretty good.” His only complaint is that sometimes the location of the bus, as indicated on MCTS' Umo app, is off, and he misses the bus—and a UWM class.

There was still no transfer charge for riders continuing on to Bayshore, in this case, on the Route 68 bus that wound around campus before going north on Downer Avenue, west on Capitol Drive and north on Port Washington Road. One could imagine taking a pleasant trip to Bayshore for a little shopping, such as buying a book or game at Barnes & Noble.

But, at a bus shelter on Port, for south and west-bound travel, more concerns about MCTS surfaced.

Photos courtesy of Chuck Quirmbach.

MAY 2026 | 7

NEWS

Those are just three of several steps MCTS and the Milwaukee County say they have taken since an $11 million MCTS budget shortfall was suddenly announced last June.

County supervisors plugged much of the gap with federal Coronavirus Response and Relief funds. MCTS this year also cut costs by shortening five routes, portraying them as “portions where ridership has historically been lower” on Routes 11, 22, 24, 80 and 88.

But farebox revenues only make up, on average, about 15% of the MCTS operating budget. Last year, fares brought in 13% or about $24 million of overall revenue of more than $186 million.

Significantly, MCTS this spring is forecasting a possible budget deficit of approximately $17-$20 million for fiscal year 2027, which starts next Jan. 1. There are no more coronavirus funds left for MCTS.

HIGHER FARES, NON-PAYMENT? A rider who gave his name as “Slick” said he currently doesn't have a car and uses the bus to get from his East Side home to his job near 76th Street and Silver Spring Drive.

He complained about a recent adult fare increase to $2.75 and called for a longer time during which to use transfers.

The current cap is 90 minutes. Slick, and an older woman who gave her name as “Willie” also urged drivers “to treat riders better,” saying they've seen a driver refuse to help a rider make a connection to another bus, or rush past riders waiting at bus stops.

The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 998, which represents MCTS drivers, did not respond to phone and e-mail requests for comment.

Also at that shelter, we heard part of an ongoing countywide, sometimes national debate over some riders not paying bus fares. A woman who gave her name as “Alex,” who had two young children with her, said she didn't have a driver’s license. Alex urged bus drivers “not to press the issue” of non-payment of fares, saying, “It's hard out here with inflation.”

Over the next hour, while riding the MCTS Purple Line, largely on 27th Street, all the way to the line's new southern terminus at a Walmart/Sam's Club in Franklin, it seemed the driver let on a few riders without paying.

After stepping off the bus, a passenger who gave her name as “Aushauntay,” said via what MCTS calls “fare capping,” she pays no more than $33/week to ride. She says fare payers “make hard-earned money, and it's not fair to let other riders get on free.” She called for MCTS security guards to be on more buses and enforce fare-paying.

BUDGET SHORTFALL The recent fare increases also included a bump to $1.25 for people 65+, kids 6-11 and those with a qualifying disability.

There are also new “FARE IS REQUIRED” signs on buses, and drivers attempt to do what MCTS calls “fare informing— professionally and politely” engaging with the riding public as to “the proper fare requirement.”

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So, MCTS is warning of the potential of eventual service reductions of upwards of 20-24% next year. So, what's a bus system to do? A system that provided 25,029,803 rides in 2025, down 1% from 2024, but up 11% from 2023. MCTS is one of few major systems in the nation without a dedicated funding source.

MCTS released a memo over the winter, and has told county supervisors, that it's partnering with the Milwaukee County Department of Transportation to do several things, including: 1) Engage and re-engage with statewide coalitions on transit funding.

2) Gather “data and compelling information to further build the case for additional investment with strategic partners both in Milwaukee and statewide.”

3) Share additional reports with the County Board and the public on the benefits and economic impacts of transit and provide “detailed transit financing reports.”

4) Monitor what's happening at the federal level about funding for public transit.

That last item could be a major concern, as the Trump Administration is proposing domestic spending cuts to fund President Trump's war efforts.

But at a recent news conference about funding for local transit, parks, and other items, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley said he would press ahead with asking for help, including for MCTS. “I will not stop. I will not stop fighting to secure the funding that our roads, bridges, parks and transit systems need to connect our communities to one another,” Crowley emphasized.

BUSINESS SUPPORT MCTS also points to business support for the bus system. At that same news conference on March 25, Dale Kooyenga, president of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, lauded county efforts for transit, saying they would help attract talent to the region and improve “livability.”

Photos courtesy of Chuck Quirmbach.

Businesses such as Northwestern Mutual and the Marcus Corporation, and institutions such as Marquette University and MATC, have employee benefit programs that include transit.

There's also the possibility that public bus systems across the U.S., working together, may have some clout. Paul Skoutelas is president and CEO of the American Public Transportation Association. He told Shepherd Express that nationally, bus systems have seen the return of about 90% of the ridership that existed before the Covid pandemic. Some systems are back to 100%.

But Skoutelas says innovation is underway to try to grow ridership. One action, he says, is to substantially redesign local bus networks, “Making their systems more efficient, in many cases shortening travel times, not having people, say, from a more suburban location come all the way to the city center and go back out to a destination.”

MCTS has high hopes of locking in previously awarded federal funding for improvements on the heavily used Purple Line. The bus system is also hiring a consultant to look at other possible changes for the system.

Skoutelas says his group is trying to make the point to the White House and Congress that investments in public transportation help maintain and create jobs, including in the private sector. “How is that? The public agency turns around and buys a bus, or they're making construction improvement to their facilities. We like to say that public transit is Americans operating transportation for other Americans,” Skoutelas says.

FREE RIDE? Some bus systems are trying one other alternative— eliminating fares. Detroit has started free rides for K-12 students. Colorado Springs, Colo., has made a popular line fare-free. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani promised free and fast buses during his 2025 campaign for office but recently told Politico that the bus changes may not happen until at least next year.

Skoutelas says for bus systems, “It's very difficult to institute a free-fare system all the time, across all of the network.

And the reason is economics. If you don't collect the fare, you no longer have that income. And that income, some would argue, could be better placed on either keeping the fares lower or reinvesting in the system to increase service frequency.” He maintains that good frequency is probably the most important characteristic for a transit system.

His view doesn't mean free fares won't come to Milwaukee County. But for those citizens who want free rides, better service or to simply maintain bus lines that seem to be working well, 2026 seems like another key year to keep voicing your views to MCTS, and your elected officials.

And for journalists to watchdog the story.

Chuck Quirmbach is a veteran Milwaukee reporter, a familiar voice for years on Wisconsin Public Radio and WUWM.

MAY 2026 | 9

NEWS ISSUE OF THE MONTH

The Latest from Heritage: SAVE THE FAMILY TO SAVE THE NATION

BY WILLIAM HOLAHAN

A

t a time when Americans are struggling with the price of groceries, housing, childcare and healthcare, along comes the Heritage Foundation—yes, the same outfit that gave us Project 2025—with their 2026 initiative entitled Saving America by Saving the Family: A Foundation for the Next 250 Years. Its prescription is straightforward: promote marriage and the two-biological parent family with a male head of household. But the initiative rests on a reversal of cause and correlation, treating marriage as the cause of economic stability rather than one of its beneficent consequences.

Heritage argues that declining marriage rates, falling birth rates, and the rise of single parent households have left millions more vulnerable to affordability pressures.

Yet research in labor economics, demography and social policy consistently shows that the cause of this simultaneity is the reverse: economic precarity depresses marriage rates, not the other way around. Rising housing costs relative to income, wage stagnation, childcare expenses and healthcare shocks all incentivize delayed marriage and reduced fertility. When the economic foundations that support family formation erode, people rationally postpone marriage and reduce the family size.

Marriage offers certain natural economic advantages.

Families naturally enjoy economies of scale and scope. They share housing, utilities, transportation and durable goods.

They divide labor according to skill, coordinate tasks, pool risks and support each other’s careers.

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These efficiencies lower the cost of living per person and, with two incomes, create the surplus that makes saving possible.

PENALTY OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE? Despite economic advantages, Heritage cites “marriage penalties” in means-tested programs as part of the discouragement of marriage. These programs reduce benefits as people become better off and have less need for the assistance. Heritage considers it a penalty when public assistance per person falls as the economic benefits of marriage are realized and therefore public assistance is reduced. They imagine that such penalties are the source of decline in marriage and fertility rates. However, studies of Medicaid, SNAP and related eligibility rules show that marriage decisions are far less sensitive to changes in benefits than they are to macroeconomic conditions such as job stability, wage trajectories and housing affordability.

One of Heritage's several proposals sets the tone: the family and marriage tax credit (FAM). The FAM would bring three years of $4,418 tax credit—not a deduction— for the married biological parents of a child (including those widowed or widowered in the tax year). Add 25% for a “large family bonus” for the third child and additional children. (Incidentally, parents who get divorced would lose this benefit).

The logic is simple: because some financially stable families have a stay-at-home mother, women should stay at home.

Photo of man and woman in front of coins by GettyImages/kieferpix.

Photo of American flag by GettyImages/STILLFX.

Heritage proposes tax-funded subsidies to induce couples to have more children and spend less time in the workforce.

But turning this pattern into a policy prescription ignores the economic reality most Americans face. The formidable barriers are the after-tax cost of living, the price of childcare, the shortage of affordable housing, and wages that no longer keep up with expenses. In today’s economy, most families need two incomes simply to cover housing, childcare, healthcare and transportation. To overcome these barriers with tax-funded subsidies would far exceed the dollars proposed, and certainly far exceed what taxpayers would tolerate.

FALLING INCENTIVES There is a clearer explanation for the decline in family size and marriage rates. For generations, as the economy grew more complex, and more urbanized rather than agricultural, the incentive for large families fell. Longer lives, healthier lives and greater opportunities for both men and women are the predictable result of rising productivity, expanding education and the accumulation of physical and human capital. In this economic environment, families thrive when they can save and invest. Savings allow households to weather shocks, pursue education and support children’s development. Investment in skills and experience is the strongest predictor of long term earnings—especially as artificial intelligence reshapes the labor market.

The Heritage prescription would have profound personal and national consequences. Encouraging women to leave the workforce would reduce the numbers of doctors, lawyers, professors, business owners, scientists and entrepreneurs, shrinking the talent pool in fields where the country already faces shortages. And it would make women more financially dependent at a time when economic independence is one of the strongest predictors of longterm well-being.

To address affordability, early-childhood investments in nutrition, housing stability and education generate long term gains in productivity, earnings and reduced social costs. An increasingly important additional focus is on improving kindergarten through 12th grade math and English proficiency. These are the languages that kids will need later to make rational choices of profession and choices within those professions. Households thrive when they have the capacity to save, invest, and develop skill, experience and talent.

William Holahan is emeritus professor and former chairman of the Department of Economics at UW-Milwaukee.

American flag illustration by GettyImages/Vlad Rachuk.

MAY 2026 | 11

NEWS HERO OF THE MONTH

Live Laugh Loaves

Free Weekly Food Distribution with

BY BEN SLOWEY

F

ood insecurity is an insidious problem in Milwaukee. Last November, Milwaukee County declared food apartheid. The crisis has found many communities of faith and nonprofit organizations called upon to take action in making sure neighbors do not go hungry. In Lyons Park on Milwaukee’s South Side, the group Live Laugh Loaves carries out free food distribution for individuals and families in front of Oklahoma Avenue Lutheran Church (5335 W. Oklahoma Ave.) every Sunday afternoon.

Live Laugh Loaves founder and executive director MiquelaRae Artz and her family are active members of Oklahoma Avenue Lutheran Church.

Having graduated early at 16 from Ronald Reagan High School in 2023, Artz is firmly and faithfully committed to community service. This is reflected in her career path, as she is currently studying at Alverno College to become a doctor.

Artz started Live Laugh Loaves in 2024 after the church received a donation from someone assuming it had a food pantry, which it did not. “We decided to take it and just distribute it,” she explains. “It was really touching to hear from people the stories of how it helped them and how grateful they were.”

FREE FOOD DISTRIBUTION Live Laugh Loaves has continued free food distribution ever since, now receiving donations from local grocery stores, vendors and nonprofit partners.

While distribution times have varied, lately it has consistently been 2 to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. In the event of a special occasion. distribution may occur on Saturday instead.

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Every week, food is laid out in bins or on carts as folks line up down the block. No questions are asked and no one is turned away. Inventory varies week by week, but typically, folks will find a surplus of bread, produce, meat, dairy and nonperishable items.

Clothes, coats, blankets, pet food and other household necessities may also be up for grabs. “We frequently get mattresses that we find homes for, and people do call with furniture,” Artz’s father Michael mentions.

Live Laugh Loaves receives anywhere from 200 to 500 people a week, depending on the weather. In addition to food distribution, the group supplies approximately 30 local food pantries and meal programs every month, including Rooted & Rising, Running Rebels, Milwaukee Community Crossroads and Open Door Cafe. Also, when called upon, Live Laugh Loaves assembles and delivers emergency food boxes. For information about weekly stock, the distribution hotline is 414-395-5936.

HEARTFELT STORY Artz shares a heartfelt story from when Live Laugh Loaves first began, “There was a father and son living out of their car who didn’t really have money for food or anything. They just recently came back to donate $10 and say how much we helped them get back on their feet.”

“When we ask the community for items, they come through,” Michael adds. “There’s community members picking up for people who can’t drive or are homebound.”

Artz describes the Oklahoma Avenue Lutheran Church community as ethnically and culturally diverse, with some churchgoers being active volunteers with Live Laugh Loaves.

“Seeing them all come together for one sole purpose of food insecurity and supporting one another is great.”

After disastrous floods hit Milwaukee last August, Live Laughs Loaves held two free rummage sales for folks in need of furniture. “The donations kept piling up, so it was a perfect time to move it all out of the church basement and give it away for free to people who needed it,” Artz recalls. Then with the federal SNAP cuts in November, Live Laugh Loaves—like many pantries and meal programs—saw an influx of folks needing help. “We got busier and got more calls.”

Live Laugh Loaves collaborates with Milwaukee Police Department District 6 on blanket and coat drives, collecting items year-round. The group hosts occasional community fundraisers like their recent chili cook-off. Artz hopes to pursue more fundraising projects in the future. “We just got pallet racking donated so we want to have more storage,” she notes. “We have vehicles now for our volunteers to drive.”

Those interested in volunteering with Live Laugh Loaves may get in touch on its website. Of course, food and monetary donations are always welcome. “We take anything that can help someone else,” Michael states.

Ben Slowey is a Staff Writer for the Shepherd Express.

Photo - Live Laugh Loaves founder MiquelaRae Artz courtesy of Live Laugh Loaves.

Wood pattern by GettyImages/Dmitr1ch.

MAY 2026 | 13

NEWS MKE SPEAKS: CONVERSATIONS WITH MILWAUKEEANS

Bublr Bikes’ Ted Chisholm

Speaks on Connecting Neighborhoods and Workplaces

BY TOM JENZ

I

f you are someone who gets around town, you’ve probably noticed the sky-blue Bublr Bikes lined up in orderly rows at street corners or along busy sidewalks. The white logo stands out against the frame, simple and recognizable. You may have rented a Bublr bike for a trip through a neighborhood community, to a place of work, or a downtown destination. A practical way to travel without the complications of bicycle ownership, Bublr Bikes has become a familiar part of the city landscape.

Bublr Bikes is designed for short-distance, point-to-point travel. The idea is straightforward. A rider can rent a bicycle from one station, travel across town at their own pace, and return the bike to another nearby station. There is no need to worry about storage, maintenance, or long-term commitment. The system meets people where they are, even visitors exploring the city for the first time. The rider is not separated from the surroundings but instead becomes part of the streetscape, taking in the neighborhoods and people along the way.

To find out more, I set up a meeting with Bublr Bikes’ executive director, Ted Chisholm. It was a gray day when I arrived at the long brick building on Vienna Avenue, a long-ago blue-collar neighborhood in the factory district. Currently, this old industrial building hosts disparate businesses including a fitness gym and a craft brewery. I entered Bublr Bikes through a narrow door, then into a busy office where I encountered a man as tall as his enthusiasm. Chisholm struck me as a guy who likes to be around people. His positive attitude is catching.

Guiding me through a door into the rear room, Chisholm introduced the maintenance operation where the bikes are given tuneups. Bublr works with Bicycle Transit Systems (BTS), a Philadelphia-based operator specializing in launching and managing docked bike share systems across North America. Resting here and there, the bikes waited for revival.

A lineup of spoked bicycle wheels hovered overhead. A few men sat before wide desks, working with bicycle parts.

“We get our bikes through the Trek,” Chisholm explained.

The Bublr system features over 100 stations across Milwau- “They have been traditional pedal bikes, but in the last few years, we have integrated electric bikes, e-bikes, into our kee, Wauwatosa and West Allis. It reflects a shift in how fleet. It’s a great option for older people and commuters cities think about mobility and access. Not everyone owns a car, and not every trip requires one. For some people, a short going to work. ride across town can replace a longer, more complicated I was interested in comprehending this new transportation commute. For others, it offers an opportunity to experience system growing out of an old form of transportation. the city in a slower, more connected avenue to the places in between.

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Photo of Ted Chrisholm by Tom Jenz.

Tell me about your background, your parents, neighborhood and your schooling.

I am a Milwaukee native. I grew up in Bay View in a household of public servants. My father, now retired, was for many years the district attorney for Milwaukee County, and my mother is a long time public school teacher. I went to Marquette High School and then onto Macalester College in St Paul, Minn. I worked extensively in politics during this time, including on Earnell Lucas’ campaign for Milwaukee county sheriff.

When Lucas took office in 2019, I left Macalester and came back here for good, becoming the sheriff’s chief of staff for three years. I worked to reform the sheriff’s office to bring better service to the public. After that, I served as the senior administrator for management, finance, and strategy for the Milwaukee county clerk of circuit court’s office. In 2024, I ran for public office, the county treasurer job, but I was not successful. However, I loved the campaign experience, connecting with folks throughout the community. Then, I worked as a policy adviser in Governor Tony Evers’ administration in Madison. I always like to be in a job where I can help others.

Not long ago, you took the job as executive director at Bublr Bikes. What drew you to this role?

I see my role as helping provide a reliable form of transportation for connecting neighborhoods and workplaces. I view Bublr as a team effort. That includes our board of directors and our staff along with community partners who support Bublr and rely on our form of transportation system to get around.

I believe Bublr Bikes is a nonprofit business, right?

Yes, we operate this nonprofit bikeshare system throughout the general Milwaukee area.

If I want to rent a bike, how do I go about it?

The best way is to go online and download our Bublr App to arrange a bike rental. Or you can visit one of our kiosks and input your payment via credit card.

What is the cost to rent a bike?

There are several options. One option is 25 cents per minute.

Then, there are day passes which cost $24 for 24 hours. A monthly pass costs $30. We also offer an annual pass for about $130. I will also add that you can return the bike to any of our area kiosks. We do have a 60-minute time limit per bike. That allows us to keep our fleet in good condition.

What areas of the city does your service cover?

We have kiosk stations where folks can check out bikes on the North Side, East Side, Downtown, part of the South Side, Wauwatosa and West Allis, There might be as high as 12 bikes in a kiosk, and many have six or nine bikes, sometimes three bikes. We have about 150 stations throughout the community. But we are going through a two-year expansion process after which we will have 226 stations. We are expanding into the near South Side, the near West Side, and the area around Marquette University. You can find a map of our stations on our website, bublrbikes.org.

How many bikes do you have in your system currently?

We have about 750 bikes, but we are adding 800 e-bikes through this year and 2027. Our expansion has happened thanks to federal grant funding through the city of Milwaukee.

Photo of Bublr Bikes Station Milwaukee courtesy of Bublr Bikes.

Can you give me a history of Bublr Bikes?

Bublr was founded as a nonprofit in 2013 by three Milwaukee civic leaders, Bruce Keyes, Barry Mainwood and Juli Kaufmann. They put together a pilot system and hired some staff, then slowly put together the funding. In 2024, we saw over 100,000 rides on our bikes.

As you explained, Bublr Bikes is a nonprofit. How is it funded?

We have a tri-part funding structure. One, operating revenue from users of the system. Two, private support through donations and private grants. Three, institutional partners like the cities of Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, West Allis and the State of Wisconsin. We get help from civic organizations like Visit Milwaukee, and we have partnerships with corporate entities and even hospital systems like the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center or Aurora Healthcare. Help from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation has been crucial. UWM has been a big supporter, too. UWM partners with Bublr on a subsidized pass program for students and helps underwrite the Bublr stations on their campus. In fact, three of our highest usage stations are on the UWM campus.

What are some of the other high usage stations?

The stations by Summerfest, near the festival grounds, and the station in front of Discovery World. When the streets are congested with traffic, Bublr offers a good option. We do get a lot of rentals in residential neighborhoods because we want folks to access our system without going to a major thoroughfare.

How do you determine what areas of the city to place the Bublr stations?

We work with the city department of public works. They study transportation and analysis. They can tell us where there are needs for congestion alleviation.

MAY 2026 | 15

NEWS MKE SPEAKS: CONVERSATIONS WITH MILWAUKEEANS We also look at locations where there are new housing and business developments and residential complexes. Some folks use Bublr to get to a bus station, so we try to co-locate our stations by the Milwaukee County Transit stations.

How did you end up as the executive director of Bublr Bikes?

I love biking myself. I think biking is great for a person’s health. I was drawn to Bublr as a nonprofit. We have close relationships with municipal governments where I have a lot of experience. I applied for the job last fall, and I was hired.

What is your responsibility as the head of Bublr Bikes?

In part, it’s being an advocate for the system, including community events and attending meetings with our municipal partners and private funders. I also do public relations meetings like our conversation today. And, of course, I am the Bublr manager, leading our team on a day-to-day basis.

I also try to help grow the system. Mayor Johnson’s goal is to increase the Milwaukee population. We are increasing our number of bikes and stations to be a resource for people who will be moving to the city.

You have become kind of a sage, a spokesman for Bublr Bikes. (laughing) Well, I like communicating with folks and building relationships.

How many employees do you have?

We have 12 employees in a mixture of full time and part time roles including hourly technicians.

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Are there any other benefits to using the Bublr system?

We emphasize being an accessible form of transportation. For example, we provide an access pass that is free of charge for an entire year. That access pass has a code and is available to anyone who is on either federal or state aid.

We believe this is a good service for the community.

Is your service available year-round?

Yes, year-round service is available for our pedal bikes. But the e-bikes are only available from spring to fall.

Bublr Bikes is involved in a major system expansion.

What is the expansion, where is it happening, and how does it work?

The expansion began with my predecessor Laura Bolger, who did a lot of planning. The goal is to expand our service beyond commercial corridors and into city neighborhoods not currently in our purview. This includes the Marquette University neighborhoods and also Layton Boulevard, 27th Street and National, and Clark Square on the South Side.

For the expansion, we are getting help from a few federal grants that deal with improving air quality and public health.

Biking helps reduce carbon emissions. We also work with community development nonprofits to raise awareness regarding our expansion. We will be doing door to door canvassing to get the word out. One of our bigger collaborators is the Wisconsin Bike Fed, who helps educate the public regarding safe bike lanes. We are excited about our future.

Tom Jenz is a Milwaukee writer-photographer and author of the Central City Stories column for shepherdexpress.com.

MAY 2026 | 17

FOOD & DRINK

Ride to Motor

for a Wood-Fired Experience

BY DAVID LUHRSSEN

T

he outdoor smoker marks the spot. Sitting just outside MOTOR, the Harley-Davidson Museum’s restaurant, is a canopied, woodfired smoker, working in snow, rain or sun, giving the meat served inside a distinct flavor.

The restaurant is located at the heart of the museum’s campus, in between the gift shop and the Menomonee River. The interior is designed in industrial American iron fashion: concrete floors, hard surfaced and dark hued despite the floor-to-ceiling windows, with a pair of Harleys on display as well as engine parts on pedestals like metal sculpture. The condiment buckets on each table are proudly stamped “1903,” the year the motorcycle company was founded.

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If you haven’t been to MOTOR lately, know that a revised menu was introduced at the start of the year under the guidance of longtime Chef Doug Stringer.

The menu is hearty and heavy on meat and cheese, albeit vegetarians have several choices including lavish salads ($14-$17) and the Smokehouse Vegan Chili ($9) made with pickled red onions, tortilla crisps and cilantro.

Among the filling appetizers are baskets of Clock Shadow Creamery cheese curds ($14) fried golden brown outside, and crunchy Firedup Cauliflower ($12), sprinkled with sesame seeds and scallions and offering a slight spicy kick. Both are served with tart Vidalia onion dip.

The recipes and presentations are unique throughout the menu, and everything is made in house, down to the hand-cut fries. Where to start? The Roadside BBQ Platter ($34) is a good way to sample the entrees. It’s ample enough to serve two, crowded with juicy Groppi’s beer and cheese curd bratwursts, tender sliced brisket and pulled pork, a quarter rack of ribs that surrender easily to the fork, a jalapeño cheddar biscuit, small bowls of refrigerator pickles and creamy coleslaw plus a separate griddle with a generous spread of Steel Horse Cowboy Beans featuring three beans with a smokey flavor.

Photos provided by MOTOR Bar & Restaurant.

MOTOR also offers sandwiches ($15-$19) including burgers, chicken, pastrami, brisket and smoked bratwurst. On Fridays comes a Milwaukee favorite, the three-piece beer-battered fish fry ($19.95) with a cornbread muffin substituted for the traditional rye bread. Shareable side dishes include fries ($6) and coleslaw ($6). The full bar serves specialty cocktails such as the vodkacranberry juice Crank and Cran ($14), an extensive draft and canned beer roster with many local brews (Lakefront, Third Space and more), hard ciders, wine by the glass and nonalcoholic options such as the HarleyDavison Road King Pilsner.

And of course, good old Colectivo coffee, Rishi tea or Sprecher soda.

Milwaukee brands are well represented at Motor, as expected from a company like Harley-Davidson, one of the city’s most famous brands worldwide and a source of local pride. Any room for dessert?

Try the buttermilk banana pudding ($7), sweet and creamy beneath the whipped cream, banana chips and the brûléed half-banana that rises like a Tiki drink umbrella. In the warm months, Motor serves outdoors at tables along the Menomonee. Live bands hold forth from a nearby stage on Thursday Bike Nights.

You won’t leave hungry when you leave MOTOR. The restaurant is another reason to visit the H-D campus, even on a day when you don’t have time to check out the exhibits in the museum.

MOTOR 400 W. Canal Street (414) 287-2778 motorrestaurant.com Hours: Sunday-Wednesday, 11 a.m.-7p.m.; Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

David Luhrssen is Managing Editor of the Shepherd Express and coauthor of two books on Milwaukee music history.

MAY 2026 | 19

FOOD & DRINK BEVERAGES

A Dining Room

Virtuoso

BY GAETANO MARANGELLI

M

ariana Popescu was a young immigrant from Romania who had been in the city of Milwaukee for a year. She was a host at Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro, and it was at the end of a night of service. “I tasted a bottle of Clos de la Truffière” — a vineyard in the Les Chaumées Premier Cru of Chassagne-Montrachet — “And I was absolutely shocked. It reminded me of a very fragrant tree that was on the side of the road of my grandparent’s village next to the cemetery. And I asked myself, ‘How is it possible that this wine takes me back to that moment in time in Romania and reminds me of that one tree? How is it possible? How?’” Mariana is a dining room virtuoso. Among sommeliers, she is the crème de la crème of those who carefully attend to their diners. She is the sine qua non of those who are curious about wine. Its appellations. Its viticulture. Its oenology. Its culture. Its history. Its psychology. All of it.

You may wish to dine at Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro for its 30 years of gustatory success, curated by the internationally celebrated chef and restaurateur, Paul Bartolotta. You may wish to dine at Lake Park Bistro for the culinary mastery of its Chef de Cuisine, Andrea Langler. You may wish to dine at Lake Park Bistro for its atmosphere, energy, and je ne sais quoi français. But you should also wish to dine at Lake Park Bistro for its sommelier, wine director, general manager, and chargé d'affaires, Marianna Popescu.

Mariana’s objective as the Sommelier of Lake Park Bistro is to build relationships with her diners. Relationships she cultivates with her curiosity about wine. Relationships which spring from her love of wine.

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AN INTERVIEW WITH MARIANA POPESCU Gaetano Marangelli: How did you fall in love with wine?

Mariana Popescu: Growing up in Romania, my grandparents had a small plot of vines in the back yard.

They would bring us along throughout all the seasons to learn how to take care of them: pruning, tying, plowing, harvesting. The wine was not of great quality, but it was always on the dinner table.

When I started working in hotels and restaurants, I began to realize that the answers to wine questions came naturally to me. I then started to study with intention and realized that wine was an interest of which I never exhausted, and which was very exciting for me.

GM: What attracted you to being a sommelier?

MP: I was drawn to being a sommelier because it sits at the intersection of knowledge and hospitality. It allows me to guide, to tell stories, and to create meaningful experiences at the table. There is also a strong sense of empowerment knowing that you are the translator and ambassador for a winemaker, bottle, region, story.

I fell in love with the art of pairing wine and food. There’s something deeply satisfying about finding that perfect balance—when acidity brightens richness, when tannin meets protein, when flavors echo and amplify each other.

GM: Which wine jobs, wine people,or wine growers have most inspired you?

MP: I am lucky to have encountered various people who were willing to share their knowledge and their approach to wine over the years. So many generous wine lovers have been willing to share their best bottles and wine stories.

The way people describe wine—sometimes imperfectly, sometimes poetically—has expanded my own appreciation more than formal training ever could. Some of my greatest lessons in wine have come from hearing how others experience it, their memories, their associations, their emotions.

I remember in 2017, we hosted Alain Brumont at Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro for a wine dinner. He makes wine in Southern France—Gascogne and Madiran. Alain is softspoken and undemonstrative, but his wines are so opposite: expressive, with big personalities and developed character.

His gentle, reserved presence stood in striking contrast to the vibrancy of his wines. That experience reinforced my belief that wine is a powerful form of expression, sometimes saying what words cannot.

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.

Photos courtesy of The Bartolotta Restaurants.

Background texture by GettyImages/Natalya Bosyak.

MAY 2026 | 21

SPECIAL OPEN HOUSE

Faced With Repairs Why Would Anyone Buy an Old Home?

BY LARRY WIDEN

T

he allure of an older house can offer the right buyer a tangible connection to the past and a sense of character that newer homes often lack.

According to a recent study presented to local realtors, 44% of Milwaukee listings are a century old. Only six other cities boast a larger percentage. Whether it’s a Victorian mansion or a Craftsman bungalow, well-built, well-maintained homes have steadily increased in value over the years and are always in demand. When bidding on an historic property in, let’s say, Wauwatosa, the cash buyer usually wins.

Compiling a list of costs into a spread sheet will indicate what a potential buyer can afford.

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After the price of the home, costs to make repairs and bring the property to the current code will be factored in. Modern HVAC, electrical wiring and plumbing might be necessary.

It’s possible that missing shingles and resultant leaks call for a new roof. After compiling all the expenses, a list of mandatories will determine the steps of achieving the goal of restoration. Before closing on the property, the lenders will appraise the home’s market value to ensure it aligns with the loan amount. This protects the lenders’ investment before closing. While waiting for that last hurdle, you may want to research the history of the property.

Header photo by GettyImages/SheraleeS.

MAY 2026 | 23

SPECIAL OPEN HOUSE Vintage photographs, newspapers, maps, city directories and names of previous owners can often be found at the Central Library’s Frank P. Zeidler Room, the Milwaukee County Historical Society, UWM’s Archives Department and the Register of Probate and Register of Deeds departments at the County Courthouse. Now comes the fun part. Did someone die in the house? Is it considered haunted? In 1908 the Milwaukee Journal cited a peculiar house near 12th and Wells Street in which a servant girl committed suicide. Night after night something banged on pots and pans until the noise became unbearable. The owners, a doctor and his wife eventually abandoned the home.

GOTHIC IMAGINATION Writer Allison Jornlin, creator of the city’s first haunted history tour, said the imposing Gothic architecture of many Victorian-style houses have a way of arousing the imagination. “But there’s one near the corner of Farwell Avenue and Brady Street,” she said. “It was built in 1883 and I can tell you it’s the real deal.” Nearly 100 years later, the occupants of the home spotted a man in turn-of-thecentury clothes walking down a hallway. Another day they witnessed a woman dressed in old-fashioned attire emerge from a third-floor closet.

Ornate Victorian homes characterized by Gothic influences and intricately designed elements came about during the reign of Queen Victoria. Many of these historic homes were razed, but there still are a few treasures that come up for sale every so often. At the beginning of the 20th century, the first Craftsman bungalows were introduced with simple open layouts, indoor-outdoor living, and functional floor plans. Some bungalows came from kits that could be bought from Sears, Roebuck.

It can be a big step and the reasons to buy an older home should be thoroughly examined before signing the note. In other words, don’t fall in love with the house until the willingness to invest in maintenance and potential renovations is within your comfort level. If not, don’t be afraid to walk away and look for another home to buy. Many historic properties have been lovingly maintained and even updated with modern amenities while preserving their original charm.

Larry Widen is the author of Milwaukee Movie Theaters and other books on local history. He contributes to the Milwaukee History column at shepherdexpress.com.

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Illustration of tools by GettyImages/Satoshi Kikyo.

Design Group 3 LIVE: 7.375 x 10 TRIM: 8.375 x 10.875 BLEED: 8.625 x 11.125

MAY 2026 | 25

SPECIAL HOME AND GARDEN

WHO ARE OZAUKEE COUNTY’S Master Gardeners?

BY HAZEL WHEATON

E

very spring, the Ozaukee County Master Gardeners (OZMG) host a plant sale that has become, for many in the region, a not-to-be-missed seasonal ritual. For many devoted attendees, the sale marks the official opening of planting season, whether they select their vegetables, herbs and ornamentals in a painstakingly planned sudden blitz or spend time browsing the tables, chatting with the onsite experts, and finding unexpected treasures.

The plant sale’s current chair, Jeanne Mueller, became a master gardener in 2006. What qualifies someone for that title? She says, “You’ll know because they’re always sharing pictures on their phone. ‘This year, I’m raising purple basil!

And I started it in the house!’” In reality, master gardeners need more than enthusiasm: They’re trained, tested, and certified through the horticulture division of UW–Madison’s Extension program, and must complete both volunteer work and continuing education each year to remain in good standing. Different counties in Wisconsin then have their own master-gardener groups; OZMG is relatively small but has an outsized impact.

The plant sale, originally run by the Herb Society of America, was adopted by the OZMG in the early ‘00s. In 2023, they moved the sale from its long-held location at Concordia University to the Ozaukee County Fairgrounds. Since then, the organizers have worked hard to iron out all the kinks involved in the relocation of a major event. Mueller even mounted a tall ladder to film the crowd and pinpoint bottlenecks (hint: the biggest one was at the tomato table).

Leaving Concordia also meant they no longer needed to wait until after graduation; the event is now locked into the weekend before Memorial Day. 26 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

Lines form before the doors open at 9 a.m.; the most devoted attendees turn up the same time Mueller does—at 6 a.m. One rainy year, the lack of a crowd waiting worried her, but at the strike of 9, there was a chorus of car doors opening and closing. Everyone had been sheltering in their cars, wanting to stay dry but not wanting to miss the opening. “Lines do form, but you don’t need to come that early,” says Mueller. “Some bring chairs and nap, or drink lots of coffee—and yes, the outside restrooms are open—but no matter what time you arrive, there’s something here for you.”

HEIRLOOM TOMATOES What’s the draw? Over 40 varieties of heirloom tomatoes, with new favorites like Italian Red Pear slotting in next to old standbys Tiny Tim, Abe Lincoln and Amish Paste (the one causing the bottleneck). Three different eggplants, plus cucumbers, zucchini and squashes (spaghetti squash is new this year). Twenty-three varieties of peppers, displayed in order of hotness, from the sweet California Wonder, which scores 0 Scoville units, up to the Magnum Habanero, which scores an eye-watering 150,000–350,000 Scoville units. (For reference, a nice poblano scores 500-1,000.)

The event is serious business for some, who come armed with marked-up checklists of the precise plants they want (the list of available plants will be posted the first week in May) and rolling carts. For others, it’s about finding inspiration in plants they’d never considered. Master Gardeners circulate, ready to answer questions and make suggestions. “If they talk to me,” Mueller says, “they’ll go home with a sedum and a yarrow plant!”

Photo courtesy of Ozaukee Master Gardeners.

Wood pattern by GettyImages/TheCrimsonRibbon.

MAY 2026 | 27

SPECIAL HOME AND GARDEN

Ozaukee County. Their hydroponic gardens at the Ozaukee Food Alliance in Saukville provide fresh produce to families in need.

The event is designed not to compete with other fundraisers, and deliberately does not stock the staples of Scout, school and church sales. “We don’t sell annuals such as petunias, marigolds, and flower baskets,” says Mueller. “Please support your local groups!”

The group attempts to keep prices low, which leads to some sacrifices (peonies, with a hefty wholesale price tag, had to go), but does uncover more unusual suggestions: Two varieties of Bleeding Heart made the cut this year. “I was told we had to raise our prices on our tomatoes,” says Mueller. “But I gotta tell you, if we don’t make that extra 50 cents or whatever we think we’re going to raise ... we want to keep prices as low as possible so people can buy plants to enjoy them, and to grow for food—and to help pollinators.”

Tables are organized into plant types, including culinary herbs, aromatics and ornamentals. A “plant parking” area allows shoppers to temporarily leave their finds while they browse, which keeps aisles navigable; student helpers carry purchases to cars. Organizers suggest attendees bring boxes; they usually run out by the midpoint of the sale.

MIDWEST GROWERS The plants come from three area growers; the furthest is in northern Illinois. Master Gardeners adopt the vegetables after they’ve been seeded and are about an inch high, and carefully tend them, adjusting climate and food so they’re the right size in time for the sale. “We grow them ourselves instead of buying them because we get funky ones vs. just the normal ones,” says Mueller. “Having master gardeners test them to say, ‘Yes, this one is good, this one will grow,’ is very useful.” Sometimes, the master gardeners will fill gaps.

“None of our growers had kale,” says Mueller, “so I actually grew kale plants in my basement. They’re my babies. Putting them on the table for sale felt like interviewing the family!

‘Are you going to be good to my plants?’”

The master gardeners are also evangelists about environmental connections and what plants make sense for the ecosystem. Mueller will happily talk about keystone plants and the need not just for milkweed, a natural draw for caterpillars, but how adult butterflies need nectar plants—and how baby birds need caterpillars! “We’re hopefully helping people to get more variety. The more variety, the more insects they’re attracting. It’s more than ‘Oh, we’re going to put some plants in the ground.’ What are those plants doing to the environment? And how are we all trying to live together?”

The sale is the organization’s largest fundraiser, and they direct the proceeds right back into public service. A guest speaker series is free to the public. Live and streaming sessions cover topics such as extending the gardening season and creating mini meadows. Members lead workshops on composting, winter sowing and seed saving.

The organization provides student scholarships and grants for public libraries and tends public gardens throughout 28 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

Ozaukee Master Gardeners Plant Sale ozaukeemastergardeners.org.

Saturday, May 16, 9 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Ozaukee Co. Fairgrounds, Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Expo Center, W67N890 Washington Ave., Cedarbug

OTHER MILWAUKEE-AREA PLANT SALES Elm Grove Beautification Committee https://elmgrovewi.org/791/Tree-Shrub-and-Plant-Sales May 16, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

Elm Grove Public Library, 13600 Juneau Blvd., Elm Grove Enderis Park Bloom & Groom https://www.enderispark.org/events-1/bloom-groomplant-sale-7 May 16, 9 a.m.–11 a.m.

Enderis Park Fieldhouse & Playfield, 2938 N. 72nd St. Friends of the Monarch Trail: http://www.themonarchtrail.org/ Order online, pickup Sat. May 9, 11 a.m.– 4 p.m.; Sun. May 10, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Greenfield Park Pavilion, 2028 S. 124th St, West Allis Friends of Wehr Nature Center native plant sale (fundraiser) https://www.friendsofwehr.org/plantsale May 30-31, 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Pre-orders end April 22, shop in person during the sale.

Wehr Nature Center, 9701 W College Ave., Franklin.

Hazel Wheaton is a Milwaukee writer and food critic.

Photo courtesy of Ozaukee Master Gardeners.

MAY 2026 | 29

SPECIAL SUMMER FESTIVAL GUIDE

2026 SUMMER FESTIVAL GUIDE May - September MAY THE DEPOT BEER GARDEN–OLD FALLS VILLAGE Old Falls Village, Pilgrim Road and Hwy. Q, Menomonee Falls - May 16th- Sept. 26th https://www.oldfallsvillagepark.org/2026-events OLD FALLS REVOLUTIONARY WAR REENACTMENT AND SCHOOL DAY, May 1-3 The historical museum's grounds feature antique farming equipment and steam engines, hands-on pioneer activities, old-fashioned children's games, country market food vendors and live music. The beer garden is open Friday and Saturdays.

CINCO DE MAYO FESTIVAL, UMOS, INC. May 2 https://www.facebook.com/events/1402224048048720/ Celebrate Mexico’s victory over France with food, music, dance, and top taco trucks. Highlights include our annual Chihuahua Beauty Contest and Tamale Eating Contest.

THURSDAY BIKE NIGHT CONCERT SERIES Harley-Davidson Museum 400 W. Canal Street harley-davidson.com Thursdays, May 7 through September 24, from 5 p.m.-9 p.m.

All bikes are welcome on the campus of the Harley-Davidson Museum for free live music, food and drinks.

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MILWAUKEE MAKERS MARKET May–December milwaukeemakersmarket.com 50+ Local Small Businesses rotate the Markets throughout the season from April through December at venues such as Discovery World, The Ivy House and The Society.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT LIVE May 27-July 22 Wisconsin State Fair Park https://www.budpavilion.com/wnl Wednesday Night Live is a free weekly summer concert series held at the Budweiser Pavilion on the Wisconsin State Fairgrounds.

GATEWAY TO ASIA - ASIAN CULTURE FESTIVAL FEATURING AAPI CELEBRATION - BAYSHORE May 16 https://www.facebook.com/TheMKEChinese Live performances, food, marketplace, workshops and more.

Try Chinese calligraphy, origami, lantern making, henna art, tea ceremony, a Bollywood mini dance class, and traditional instrument try-outs. Asian cultures come alive on the main stage.

CEDARBURG ART MUSEUM SUMMER BEER GARDEN Thursdays, 5:30 - 9 p.m., May 28–October 1 Cedarburg Art Museum cedarburgartmuseum.org/beer-garden MORNING GLORY ART FAIR May 30-31 Marcus Performing Arts Center https://morninggloryartfair.com/ Milwaukee’s free and fine juried art and craft show and sale bring together outstanding artists from around the country.

Illustration by Timothy Czerniakowski.

MAY 2026 | 31

SPECIAL SUMMER FESTIVAL GUIDE PAINT CEDARBURG

JAZZ IN THE PARK

May 30–June 6 Downtown Cedarburg cedarburgartistsguild.com/paint-cedarburg Wisconsin’s largest plein air painting event celebrates 25 years in 2026.

Thursdays, from June 4-September 10 (except July 2, 9 & 16) Cathedral Square Park easttown.com The popular evening music series returns to Cathedral Square Park for another summer.

BIKERFEST BLOCK PARTY May 30 E. Farwell Avenue/E. Ivanhoe Place – Kenilworth Place https://bikerfestmke.org/ LAGER & FRIENDS

DOOR COUNTY CONTEMPORARY ART FAIR June 4-7 Peninsula School of Art, Fish Creek doorcountycontemporary.com

Gathering Place Brewing May 30 https://www.lagerandfriends.com/ Now in its 8th year, Lager & Friends has become the premiere lager-only beer festival in Wisconsin.

ART 64

PORT FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS

GREEN LAKE FESTIVAL OF MUSIC

Downtown Port Washington May 30

June 5-August 6 Green Lake, Ripon, Oshkosh, and Fond du Lac greenlakefestival.org Enjoy discovering music by contemporary composers in a variety of genres, along with familiar classics beautifully performed in a variety of attractive venues.

CRUSHERFEST! May 30-31 1101 Milwaukee Ave., South Milwaukee A festival dedicated to the man that made Milwaukee famous, Da Crusher. Come celebrate South Milwaukee's favorite son!

BRADY STREET ART WALK May 31 bradystreet.org/event/brady-street-art-walk Artists will line the sidewalks of Brady Street creating and selling their art. Grab a drink or a meal and enjoy walking Brady Street.

LOCUST STREET FESTIVAL OF MUSIC & ART May 31 locuststreetfestival.org This year’s event includes the Locust Street Beer Run, fourlive music stages, local vendors, artists, food—and plenty of beer.

JUNE

June 5-6 The Village of Wauwatosa Art64tosa.com A live performance bracket-style painting tournament.

2026 SUMMER CONCERT SERIES June 5-August 28, Fridays, 4-7 p.m.

Michelob ULTRA, Deer District Free concerts in the heart of Milwaukee’s Downtown.

MILWAUKEE HIGHLAND GAMES June 6 Croatian Park 9100 S. 76th Street, Franklin milwaukeehighlandgames.org Bagpipers, Scottish athletics including the caber toss, sheep herding dogs, Highland dancing and more.

ST. JOHN VIANNEY PARISH FESTIVAL June 6-7 St. John Vianney. Brookfield https://stjohnv.org/parish-events LOLO BLVD CUSTOM CAR & BIKE SHOW

Harley-Davidson Museum

June 6 Harley-Davidson Museum www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/experiences/events/ loloblvd.html

PRIDEFEST

PET PALOOZA

WILD ONES: VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE RALLY

June 4-6 Henry Maier Festival Park pridefest.com The festival’s theme this year will honor the legacy of its past three decades of music and will showcase exciting mix of comedy, culture and nightlife across six stages with RuPaul Drag Race alums, DJ Shawna and much more.

MUSIC IN THE PARK-REID PARK GAZEBO, FONTANA https://genevalakewest.com/fontana-music-in-the-park/ First, third and fifth Thursdays during June, July and August with music by Funk Club Wagon, John Primer, Mr. Blotto and more.

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June 6 Greendale Gazebo Park Let your dog run the agility course, test their speed in the doggie dash, strut their stuff in the pet fashion show or get some insight on what your pet is thinking from the pet psychic.

WEST ALLIS A LA CARTE June 7 70th to 76th Streets and Greenfield Avenue https://www.westallisdowntown.com/west-allis-a-lacarte

MAY 2026 | 33

SPECIAL TOPIC 1

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MAY 2026 | 35

SPECIAL SUMMER FESTIVAL GUIDE

CHILL ON THE HILL

SIP & SAVOR WISCONSIN

Tuesdays, June 9–September 1 Humboldt Park Chalet bayviewneighborhood.org/chill-on-the-hill Live music by local musicians in the South Side park’s natural amphitheater, an idyllic setting. A baker’s dozen shows that includes a wildly varied lineup from Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Hot & Dirty Brass Band, Diet Lite, Sleepersound, Los Mitoteros and more.

The Bavarian Bierhaus June 13 https://www.sipandsavorwisconsin.com/

ZÓCALO FOOD PARK

METRO JAM

June 11-19 https://www.zocalofoodpark.com/ Zócalo Food Park will be showing matches throughout the tournament with a focus on Mexico, USA, France, Portugal, Brazil and Argentina, creating a fun, high-energy atmosphere with great food, drinks, and community viewing.

June 19-20 Washington Park, S. 12th and Washington streets, Manitowoc metrojam.org Slide guitar virtuoso Sonny Landreth headlines on Saturday.

Derek Pritzl, Elephonic and more round out the lineup for this hidden gem of a free, two-day music festival.

TOSA GREEK FEST June 12-14 Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church https://www.stsconstantinehelenwi.org/news/tosagreek-fest THIENSVILLE-MEQUON LIONS FEST June 12-14 Thiensville Village Park https://tmlions.org/lionfest/ SUMMER SOUNDS AT CEDAR CREEK PARK June 12-August 21 (No concert July 3) Cedar Creek Park, Cedarburg https://www.summersounds.net/ POLISH FEST June 12-14 Henry Maier Festival Park polishfest.org Celebrating Polish arts, culture, and traditions and sharing the gift of heritage with future generations on Milwaukee’s lakefront.

LAKEFRONT FESTIVAL OF ART June 12-14 Milwaukee Art Museum mam.org/events/lfoa A weekend of art, food, music and activities for all ages at the Milwaukee Art Museum with paintings, ceramics, fiber, metalwork, and jewelry from more than 120 artists from across the country.

SUMMER SOULSTICE MUSIC FESTIVAL June 13 summersoulsticemke.com Milwaukee’s East Side Six stages of top talent including, The Urbanites, NilexNile, Robot Witch, Ladybird and The Hallelujah Ward.

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MILWAUKEE WATER LANTERN FESTIVAL June 13 Veterans Park waterlanternfestival.com/events/milwaukee

SUMMERFEST June 18-20, June 25-27 and July 2-4 Henry Maier Festival Park 200 N. Harbor Drive summerfest.com The Big Gig returns with its three, three-day weekends format—nine days and 600 artists. Artists include The Dream Syndicate, The Roots, Spoon, Amyl and the Sniffers, Kim Gordon, The Beths, The Family Stone, Alejandro Escovedo, Hank Azaria and the EZ Street Band, The Jayhawks and Garth Brooks.

JUNETEENTH JUBILEE PARADE & STREET FESTIVAL June 19 From 18th and Locust Streets through Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Locust Street. juneteenthmilwaukee.com Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, is a holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.

ANNUNCIATION GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH’S GREEK FEST June 19-21 Waukesha County Expo Center https://sites.google.com/annunciationwi.org/agoc/calendar MILWAUKEE NIGHT MARKET June 24, July 22, August 19 and September 16, West Wisconsin Avenue between Second Street and Vel R. Phillips Avenue https://www.mkenightmarket.com/ STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL June 27-28 Historic Cedarburg cedarburgfestivals.org Everything strawberry, from strawberry shortcake to strawberry wine, Art on the Avenue, contests, festival foods, shopping and live music.

MAY 2026 | 37

SPECIAL SUMMER FESTIVAL GUIDE MILWAUKEE JUNETEENTH GOSPEL FEST June 27 Richard E. Maslowski Glendale Community Park, Glendale https://www.facebook.com/MkeJuneteenthGospelfest/ DREXEL TOWN SQUARE NIGHT MARKET June 27, July 25 and Aug. 15 https://www.oakcreekwi.gov/visitor/events/night-market

JULY WIMMER COMMUNITIES CONCERTS IN THE GARDEN Thursdays, July 2–August 20 Boerner Botanical Gardens, Hales Corners wimmercommunities.com/concertsinthegarden IOLA OLD CAR SHOW Iola, Wis. July 9-11 iolaoldcarshow.com FESTA ITALIANA - HENRY MAIER FESTIVAL PARK July 10–12 https://www.iccmilwaukee.com/festa-italiana Italian cuisine and desserts, La Cucina showcase, national and local live music, cultural performances and heritage exhibits, bocce ball tournament and more. Fireworks on July 10-11.

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DOMINIC DAYS -ST. DOMINIC CATHOLIC PARISH, BROOKFIELD July 10-12 https://stdominic.net/welcome/dominic-days/ BRISTOL RENAISSANCE FAIRE July 11–September 7, Saturdays, Sundays and Labor Day Kenosha renfair.com/Bristol Where Can Party Like it’s 1599? Every Faire day recreates a time when knights were noble, maids were merry and turkey legs were titanic.

WHITEFISH BAY ART FEST July 11-12, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Downtown Whitefish Bay along Silver Spring Drive https://amdurproductions.com/event/2023-whitefishbay-art-fest/ Start your day with breakfast at your favorite Whitefish Bay spot, then immerse yourself in thousands of paintings, sculptures, photographs, jewelry from 100 juried artists.

RIVERWEST SECRET GARDEN TOUR July 12 11 a.m.–4 p.m. https://www.facebook.com/secretgardentour/ It’s no secret anymore! Discover and enjoy some of the finest urban gardens in Milwaukee.

LAKE PARK SUMMER STAGE Musical Mondays: July 13–August 24 lakeparkfriends.org/visit/events/music-in-the-park Season 28 brings another gumbo of top-flight acts including New Orleans’ Flow Tribe, the annual R&B Cadets groove-athon, “Buckets of Prine: The Songs of John Prine,” Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. & The Legendary Ils Sont Partis Band and more.

Also, check out Wonderful Wednesdays for children and their families.

BASTILLE DAYS July 9-12 Cathedral Square Park, 520 E. Wells St. easttown.com/bastille-days Bastille Days, Milwaukee’s popular French festival and one of the nation’s largest French-themed celebrations, is held in Milwaukee’s Cathedral Square Park. The free, four-day bash attracts over 250,000 visitors annually who enjoy live music, an international marketplace, French and Cajun cuisine, and roaming busker entertainment. Storm the Bastille 5K Run/ Walk on July 9 at 9 p.m.

WAUKESHA COUNTY FAIR July 15-19 Waukesha County Expo Center waukeshacountyfair.com This year’s main stage acts include 38 Special, Hoobastank and Sebastian Bach.

MIDSUMMER FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS July 18-19 John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan jmkac.org/event/midsummer-festival-of-the-arts-15 Free admission with 100 artist booths, live music, exhibitions, demonstrations, art making and food trucks.

ARMENIAN FEST July 19 St. John the Baptist Armenian Orthodox Church 7825 W. Layton Ave. armenianfest.com What began in the 1930s as a summer picnic for Milwaukee's Armenian community has grown into a popular attraction for Milwaukee festival with live music and food including kabobs, bureks, and unique Armenian dishes and flavors.

SCENIC SHORE RIDE FOR A CURE July 25-26 Lake Michigan Shoreline from Mequon to Sturgeon Bay pages.lls.org/events/vtnt/ss150 Blood Cancer United is sponsoring a two-day, 150-mile, fully supported cycling event open to riders of all ages and abilities along the beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline. The goal is a cure for blood cancer; please visit the website to register.

MILWAUKEE AIR AND WATER SHOW July 25-26 Milwaukee Lakefront from Bradford Beach to Veterans Park mkeairwatershow.com Since its launch, the WaterStone Bank Air & Water Show has grown into one of the Midwest’s largest free events, drawing hundreds of thousands of spectators every year.

MAY 2026 | 39

SPECIAL SUMMER FESTIVAL GUIDE WASHINGTON PARK WEDNESDAYS

EAA AIRVENTURE

July 8-August 26 washingtonparkneighbors.com/calendar See Vincent Van Great and Amanda Huff, Orquestra Rumba, Ladies Must Swing and more at the Washington Park Bandshell Summer Concert Series. Early evening event with live music in the bandshell and local food trucks.

July 20-26 Wittman Regional Airport, Oshkosh eaa.org/airventure Travel to Oshkosh for an international gathering of some 800,000+ aviation enthusiasts. Attend a workshop or catch a lecture from a notable flight pro, then take in the daily afternoon air show with top-flight pilots dazzling onlookers with aerial acrobatics.

MIDWEST FIRE FEST June 13-14 Westside Park, Cambridge (Dane County) midwestfirefest.com A demonstration-heavy celebration of all things created with fire, heat, and smoke including but not limited to clay, metal arts, welding, forging, hot glass, food and performance.

PORT FISH DAYS July 17-19 Port Washington Lakefront https://portfishdays.com/ SOUTH MILWAUKEE HERITAGE DAYS July 19-26 smheritagedays.org Friends of the Grant Park Art Fair July19, Veterans Appreciation Dinner July 21, South Milwaukee Farmers Market May 28-Oct 1, and Saturday Heritage Days Parade July 25.

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WASHINGTON COUNTY FAIR July 21-26 Washington County Fair Park, West Bend wcfairpark.com/fair TASTE OF WISCONSIN July 24-26 Celebration Place at Kenosha’s Harbor 54th Street and 1st Avenue (east of the museums), Kenosha tasteofwi.com PRAIRIE DOG BLUES FEST July 23-25 St. Feriole Island, Prairie du Chien prairiedogblues.com The Prairie Dog Blues Festival is held every year on historic St. Feriole Island, on the Mississippi River and nestled between jagged cliffs and green hills untouched by the Ice Age.

MAY 2026 | 41

SPECIAL SUMMER FESTIVAL GUIDE GERMAN FEST

RACINE STARVING ARTIST FAIR

July 24-26 Henry Maier Festival Park germanfest.com German Fest Milwaukee brings the spirit of Germany to life each summer with authentic food, lively entertainment and a vibrant community atmosphere.

August 2 DeKoven Center, Racine racineartguild.com/safracine This juried fair features the work of over 130 artists from Racine County and all over the Midwest.

BRADY STREET FESTIVAL

August 7-9 https://www.lacs.lu/luxembourg-fest-week/ Celebrate the 40th Annual Luxembourg Fest Week at the World’s Largest Luxembourg Family Reunion

July 25 Brady Street https://bradystreet.org/brady-street-festival/ The annual Brady Street Festival features three stages of entertainment for all ages, local food vendors, makers and nonstop energy throughout the day. A longtime tradition, the festival continues to be a must-attend event for residents and visitors alike.

LUXEMBOURG FEST

SUMMER PARK JAM WEEKEND August 14-15 Marcus Performing Arts Center https://www.trueskool.org/summerparkjam

MILWAUKEE BREWFEST

CENTER STREET DAZE FESTIVAL

July 25 McKinley Park milwaukeebrewfest.com

August 15 East Center Street between Holton Street and Humboldt Boulevard centerstreetdazefestival.com Center Street Daze Festival, held in Milwaukee’s vibrant Riverwest neighborhood between Holton and Humboldt on Center Street, has been happening annually since 1997.

AUGUST OZAUKEE COUNTY FAIR July 29-August 2 W67 N866 Washington Ave., Cedarburg ozaukeecountyfair.com Begun in 1859 and billed as one of the last free fairs in the Midwest, it has all you'd hope for in a county fair, including a full midway, fair food, multiple stages of live entertainment, magic and kids' shows, animal judging, truck and tractor pulls, lumberjack show, demolition derby and fireworks.

BLACK ARTS FEST MKE - HENRY MAIER FESTIVAL PARK August 1 https://blackartsfestmke.com/ A cultural festival celebrating and showcasing African and African American culture. Various genres of music on tap, performances and workshops for children, dance performances and activities focused around African heritage are in store. A Market Square will feature wares and products aligned with the culture and produced by Black-owned businesses PENINSULA MUSIC FESTIVAL August 4-22 Door Community Auditorium, Fish Creek Kress Pavilion, Egg Harbor musicfestival.com The 74th Peninsula Music Festival features symphonic concerts of major classical pieces.

WISCONSIN STATE FAIR August 6-16 Wisconsin State Fair Park, West Allis wistatefair.com Our great Wisconsin State Fair boasts 30 entertainment stages featuring local and national acts, a host of exhibits and enough food and shopping to keep you busy for days.

Did we mention the cream puffs? Almost anything on a stick!?

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HANK AARON STATE TRAIL 5K RUN/WALK August 8, 8:30 a.m.

American Family Field–Tailgate Haus hankaaronstatetrail.org/events/23rd-annual-hast-5k MILWAUKEE DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL July 11 Lakeshore State Park milwaukeedragonboatfest.org Dragon boat races, Chinese culture and traditions including dance performances, folk music, martial Arts and hands-on opportunities for the young and young-at-heart to make opera masks and lanterns, play traditional games, participate in a dragon parade, and even learn to speak and write Chinese.

MILWAUKEE IRISH FEST August 13-16 Henry Maier Festival Park irishfest.com The world's largest Irish festival features nonstop Celtic music from traditional to rock, Irish dance, cultural area, theater performances, food, drink and more.

MOWA ART AND CHALK FEST August 1-2 Museum of Wisconsin Art, West Bend wisconsinart.org/art-chalk-fest Experience chalk artists creating large-scale works of chalk art right before your eyes, watch a glass-blowing demo in a mobile hot shop, or see clay sculpted into handmade vessels on a pottery wheel all while listening to live music.

TASTE OF EGYPT August 21-23 St. Mary & St. Antonius Coptic Orthodox Church, Oak Creek

MEXICAN FIESTA August 21-23 Henry Maier Festival Park mexicanfiesta.org Mexican Fiesta is much more than three days of tamales, Mariachi music and dancing. It's an education in Mexico's rich culture and history encouraging people of all backgrounds to share in the beauty of Mexico's culture.

COUNTRY IN THE BURG August 28-29 Cedar Creek Park countryintheburg.com The two-day country music festival is held in Cedarburg.

WALK FOR WISHES August 29 Milwaukee County Zoo wish.org/wisconsin/walk-wishes-milwaukee Proceeds from the 5K or one-mile run/walk will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin and grant the wishes of children with critical illnesses.

SEPTEMBER WISCONSIN HIGHLAND GAMES Labor Day Weekend: September 4-6 Waukesha Expo Center wisconsinscottish.org Opening Ceremonies Friday night, followed by two days of competitions in bagpiping, heavy athletics, Highland dance, and more, plus the Clans Area, Celtic Canines, Pub Tent with live music and more.

THIRD WARD ART FESTIVAL September 5-6 345 N. Broadway amdurproductions.com/event/2023-third-ward-art-festival Showcasing the work of nearly 200 juried artists in a variety of mediums, including ceramics, fiber, glass jewelry, sculpture, mixed media, paintings, drawings, photography, printmaking, wood and furniture.

TOSAFEST September 11-12 Hart Park, Wauwatosa wauwatosavillage.org/tosafest Celebrating 50 years this year, Tosafest is a community festival with live music, art, food and children's activities including pony rides, a petting zoo and face painting. All proceeds go to area charities.

WINE AND HARVEST FESTIVAL Sept. 19-20 Downtown Cedarburg cedarburgfestival.org/wine-and-harvest-fest This festival fills the historic town. Sample food and wine, much of it locally made, as you enjoy many family activities and live musical performances.

DOORS OPEN MILWAUKEE September 26-27 historicmilwaukee.org/doors-open More than 160 buildings open their doors in this annual citywide celebration of history, architecture and neighborhoods organized by Historic Milwaukee. Expect performing arts events and children's activities.

IKEA FRANK MOTS INTERNATIONAL KITE FESTIVAL Gift of Wings Kite Store, Veterans Park Sept. 12-13 https://www.giftofwingslanding.com/events.html

MAY 2026 | 43

SPECIAL

FARMERS MARKET GUIDE

| SPONSORED BY OAK CREEK FARMERS MARKET

2026 Farmers

Farmers Market Guide

BY BLAINE

Market

Guide

BROOKFIELD FARMERS MARKET

CATHEDRAL SQUARE MARKET

ENDERIS PARK FARMERS MARKET

16900 W. Gebhardt Road, Brookfield Brookfield Central High School brookfieldfarmersmarket.com

520 E. Wells St., Milwaukee, Cathedral Square Park easttown.com/cathedral-squaremarket

72nd & Locust St., Milwaukee Enderis Park enderispark.org/enderis-park-farmers-market

Days & Times TBD

Days & Times TBD

Saturdays, May 2 through Oct. 31, 7:30 a.m.-noon BROWN DEER FARMERS MARKET 4920 W. Green Brook Drive, Brown Deer Village Park and Pond browndeerwi.org/482/Brown-DeerFarmers-Market Wednesdays, June 24 through Oct. 14, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

BURLINGTON FARMERS MARKET 517 Congress St., Burlington, Riverside Park burlingtonwifarmersmarket.com Thursdays, May 7 through Sept. 24, 3-7 p.m.

CEDARBURG FARMERS MARKET

FONDY FARMERS MARKET

W76 N627 Wauwatosa Road, Cedarburg Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church redeemercedarburg.com/general-info

2200 W. Fond du Lac Ave., Milwaukee fondymke.org/fondy-farmers-market

Saturdays, Aug. 1 through 29, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

DELAFIELD FARMERS MARKET 417 Main St., Delafield Fish Hatchery Sports Complex lot delafieldfarmersmarket.com Saturdays, May 2 through Oct. 24, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

(Early Season) Saturdays, May 9 through June 27, 9 a.m.-noon (Regular Season) Thursdays 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturdays 7 a.m. – 2 p.m., and Sundays 9 a.m.–2 p.m., July 4-Oct. 31 (Late Season) Saturdays, Nov. 7 through Nov. 14, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

FOX POINT FARMER'S MARKET 7330 N. Santa Monica Blvd.

North Shore Congregational Church lot foxpointfarmersmarket.com Saturdays, June 13 through Sept. 26, 8 a.m.-noon

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Photo of woman at farmers market by GettyImages/zamrznutitonovi.

Photo of vegetables by GettyImages/5PH.

MAY 2026 | 45

SPECIAL

FARMERS MARKET GUIDE

| SPONSORED BY OAK CREEK FARMERS MARKET

GERMANTOWN FARMERS MARKET

KENOSHA FARMERS MARKET

N112 W17001 Mequon Road, Germantown Germantown Village Hall germantown.gov/373/Farmers-Market

6501 Third Ave, Kenosha Kemper Center kenoshapublicmarket.com

Saturdays, May 2 through October 31 8 a.m.-noon GREENDALE DOWNTOWN MARKET

KENOSHA HARBORMARKET

5710 Broad Street, Greendale greendale.org/our_community/ downtown_market.php

2nd Ave, between 54th and 56th Streets, Kenosha Downtown Kenosha kenoshaharbormarket.com

Saturdays, June 20 through Oct. 3 8 a.m.-noon

Saturdays, May 2 through Oct. 31 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

GREENFIELD FARMERS MARKET

MENOMONEE FALLS FARMERS MARKET

5151 W. Layton Ave., Greenfield Konkel Park greenfieldwifarmersmarket.com Makers Market first Sunday each month Sundays, May through October (Closed Memorial Day Weekend) 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

HARTUNG PARK FARMERS MARKET W Keefe Ave, Wauwatosa Hartung Park farmfreshatlas.org/view/hartungpark-farmers-market Wednesdays, June 17 through Sept. 23 3:30 p.m.-7 p.m.

HIGHWAY 11 OUTDOOR MARKET 8505 Durand Ave., Sturtevant Fountain Banquet Hall facebook.com/ SouthshoreEssentialMarkets Mondays, starting June 8 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

JACKSON PARK FARMERS MARKET 3500 W. Forest Home Ave., Milwaukee Jackson Park jacksonpark.us/farmers-market Thursdays, June 18 through Oct. 1 3 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

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Saturdays, starting May 2 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

N87 W16749 Garfield Drive, Menomonee Falls Village Park fallsfarmersmarket.org Wednesdays, June 3 through Oct. 14, 2-6 p.m.

Sundays, July 12 through Sept. 13, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

MILAEGER’S GREAT LAKES FARMERS MARKET 4838 Douglas Ave., Racine milaegers.com/info/farmers-market Sundays, year-round 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

MUKWONAGO FARMERS MARKET Hwy NN & 83, Mukwonago Field Park mukwonagochamber.org/farmersmarket Wednesdays, May 13 through Oct. 7 (except June 17) 2 p.m.-6 p.m.

NEW BERLIN FARMERS MARKET 15055 W. National Ave. New Berlin City Center newberlinchamber.org/farmers-market Saturdays, May 2 through Oct. 31 8 a.m.-noon

Photo of vegetables by GettyImages/5PH.

MAY 2026 | 47

SPECIAL

FARMERS MARKET GUIDE

| SPONSORED BY OAK CREEK FARMERS MARKET

OAK CREEK FARMERS MARKET

RIVERWEST GARDENERS MARKET

TOSA FARMERS MARKET

361 W. Town Square Way, Oak Creek Drexel Town Square oakcreekwi.gov/visitor/events/ farmers-market

2700 N. Pierce St., Milwaukee riverwestmarket.com

7720 W. Harwood Avenue, Wauwatosa tosafarmersmarket.com

Sundays, June 7 through Oct. 25 (except July 5) 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Saturdays, June 6 through Oct. 24 8 a.m.-noon

Saturdays, May 2 through Oct. 24 (except July 4) 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

OCONOMOWOC FARMERS MARKET 155 W. Wisconsin Ave, Oconomowoc Bank Five Nine Campus Lot oconomowoc.org/events/oaccsignature-events/summer-farmersmarket Saturdays, May through October 8 a.m.-noon PEWAUKEE FARMERS MARKET N24W26430 Crestview Drive, Pewaukee Galilee Lutheran Church facebook.com/ pewaukeefarmersmarket24 Wednesdays, June 3 through Sept. 30 3 p.m.–6 p.m.

PORT WASHINGTON FARMERS MARKET Main Street Downtown downtownport.com/farmers_market Saturdays, June 13 through October 31 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

RACINE HAYMARKET Monument Square, Downtown Racine racinedowntown.com June 11 and 25, July 9 and 23, Aug. 6 and 20 4-7 p.m.

RICHFIELD FARMERS MARKET 1893 WI-64, Richfield Richfield Nature and Historical Park richfieldwifarmersmarket.org Most Saturdays, May 30 through Oct. 10 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

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SAUKVILLE FARMERS MARKET 601 W. Dekora St. (Hwy 33), Saukville Saukville American Legion Post 470 village.saukville.wi.us/343/FarmersMarket Sundays, July 12 through October 25 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

SHOREWOOD FARMERS MARKET 4100 Estabrook Parkway, Shorewood Estabrook Park shorewoodfarmersmarket.com Sundays, June through October 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

SOUTH MILWAUKEE DOWNTOWN MARKET 1101 Milwaukee Ave., South Milwaukee Bucyrus Commons smmarket.org Thursdays, May 28 through Oct. 1 3-7 p.m.

SOUTH SHORE FARMERS MARKET 2900 S. Superior St., Milwaukee South Shore Park southshorefarmersmarket.com TBD 8 a.m.-noon THIENSVILLE VILLAGE MARKET 251 Elm St., Thiensville Thiensville Village Park downtownthiensville.com/thiensvillevillage-market Tuesdays, June 16 through Oct. 13 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

WALKER SQUARE FARMERS' MARKET 1031 S. Ninth St, Milwaukee Walker Square walkersquare.org/market Sundays, July 5 through Sept. 27 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

WAUKESHA FARMERS MARKET 125 W. St. Paul Ave., Waukesha Waukesha State Bank lot waukeshadba.com/farmers-market Saturdays, May 2 through October 31 8 a.m.-noon WEST ALLIS FARMERS MARKET 6501 W. National Ave, West Allis westallisfarmersmarket.com May 2 through Nov. 28 Tuesdays & Thursdays noon-5 p.m.

Saturdays 1-5 p.m.

WHITEFISH BAY FARMERS MARKET 325 E. Silver Spring Drive, Whitefish Bay Aurora Health Center lot wfbfarmersmarket.com Saturdays, June 6 through Oct. 3, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Night Market June 27, July 25 and Aug. 29, 5-9 p.m.

Photo of vegetables by GettyImages/5PH.

MAY 2026 | 49

SPECIAL TRAVEL

Wisconsin’s

Quirky Daytrips

BY BEN SLOWEY

I

am a huge aficionado of quirky, off-the-beaten-path tourist attractions. Wisconsin happens to be full of them, whether it be an unusual museum, whimsical folk art or the world’s largest of some random object. Over the years I have traveled all over the state seeking Wisconsin’s truly weirdest offerings, and here are just a few that make for solid day trips from Milwaukee.

We cannot start anywhere else than Spring Green’s The House on the Rock. Epitomizing sensory overload maximalism, The House on the Rock is without a doubt one of the most bizarre environments you will ever experience.

The story goes, an eccentric rich guy named Alex Jordan built the architecturally peculiar complex into Deer Shelter Rock in the mid 20th century, where he displayed his curious, obsessive collections of gadgets, oddities and antiquities.

These collections encompass everything from room-sized music boxes and old-timey storefronts to dollhouses and circus dioramas to model ships and suits of armor to classic cars and old firearms and lots more. Three of the most famous features within the House are the Infinity Room (a glass corridor that juts 250 feet out from the building), the 200 ft long sea creature (in the “Heritage of the Sea” exhibit) and the enormous carousel—the world’s largest, in fact. Outside, a beautifully curated Japanese-style garden adorns the grounds. About halfway through the attraction, you can grab a bite to eat in a Lynchian black-and-white tile pizza parlor. Give yourself at least three hours or so to experience the whole thing.

In North Freedom, behind the otherwise unsuspecting Delaney’s Surplus Sales right off Highway 12, is the wildly odd Dr. Evermor’s Sculpture Park whose centerpiece is Forevertron, the second-largest scrap metal sculpture in the world.

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Built in the 1980s by Tom Every (“Dr. Evermor”), Forevertron was designed with a science fiction storyline in mind that involves a genius inventor, a lightning storm and getting launched into space. Among the industrial junk installations adjacent to Forevertron are various giant bugs as well as a band of 70 birds.

Although Dr. Evermor passed away in 2020, his family carries on his legacy and can sometimes be found at the park sharing his stories and memories. It is free to enter and donations are accepted. A parking lot is accessible from the highway.

CIRCUSES AND CLOWNS Celebrated for its history as a circus town, Baraboo is home to two extraordinary attractions that can be easily incorporated into one trip. Circus World is a museum devoted to all things circus history and culture, featuring archives of news clippings and gaudy advertisements as well as exhibits of wacky artifacts like antique circus wagons, dioramas and clown cars. Over the summer, the museum hosts real circus and magic performances. Just a couple minutes away is the International Clown Hall of Fame, located in a downtown business strip, dedicated to the art and history of clowning. Run by practicing clown Greg DeSanto, the small museum houses all sorts of props, costumes and memorabilia showcasing the most famous of clowns, the many different types of clowns, and clowns from across the world.

More than 5,000 different mustards from across the globe are displayed in Middleton’s National Mustard Museum, hundreds of which you can actually sample. There is also a gift shop where you can purchase sweet mustards, hot mustards, fruit mustards, Header photo - Apostle Island Sea Caves by GettyImages/timothy mattimore.

horseradish mustards—or pick up some mustard-themed merchandise. Entry is free, plus the museum puts on a street festival in Middleton (“painting the town yellow”) every year on the first Saturday of August.

Go spelunking in Cave of the Mounds in Wisconsin’s Driftless Area, a natural limestone cave and treasure trove of marvelous geological formations like stalagmites, stalactites, flowstone and “soda straws.” You may also want to ask the tour guide about the otherworldly critters known as springtails that live in the cave waters. In addition to the normal guided tour, Cave of the Mounds offers a blacklight experience where you are provided with specialized flashlights while completely in the dark.

Known as the “Bicycling Capital of America,” Sparta is home to several noteworthy roadside attractions. As the hometown of Apollo astronaut Deke Slayton, Sparta honors the late, decorated pilot with the small but striking Deke Slayton Memorial Space and Bicycle Museum housing artifacts dedicated to both space travel and the town’s rich cycling culture. To put it in perspective, dozens of antique bicycles occupy the same room as a small sliver of rock from the Moon billions of years old.

FIBERGLASS ANIMALS Sparta is also home to F.A.S.T. (Fiberglass Animals, Shapes and Trademarks), a company that constructs fiberglass molds used as scenery or advertisements for restaurants, theme parks and tourist attractions (The House on the Rock’s sea monster was built by F.A.S.T.). Behind the company factory is the Mold Yard, an open field littered with hundreds of discarded statues that may or may not be reused in the future. Visitors are welcome to walk through the eerie landscape and stumble upon shark heads sticking out of the ground, a whale with a wide-open mouth that likely was once a children’s slide, elephants with trunks in the air and even a discolored Big Boy. This just scratches the surface of all the weird Americana inhabiting Wisconsin. Other honorable mentions include Dodgeville’s Don Q Inn (featuring themed fantasy rooms as well as a whole C-97 Stratofreighter plane in the front yard), Taliesin in Spring Green (Frank Lloyd Wright’s residence and studio), the Wisconsin Dells’ Museum of Root Beer (featuring root beer flights), M. Schettl Sales in Oshkosh (humongous supply store with warehouses full of lawn ornaments as well as several acres of junk art), the Toy Train Barn in Argyle (for model train lovers), Mount Horeb’s Trollway (troll sculptures peppered all over town, owing to the area’s Norwegian heritage), the Museum of Unremarkable Objects in Gays Mills (a curation of ordinary everyday things plus a creepy folk art project outside) and the Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum in Two Rivers (still a functioning print workshop, home to over a million wood types letters). Also, who could forget the World's Largest Six Pack in La Crosse.

Some weird Wisconsin sites are too far from Milwaukee to do in a day and would be more ideal for a weekend trip.

Expect those to be covered separately in the future!

Ben Slowey is a Shepherd Express Staff Writer.

MAY 2026 | 51

CULTURE

Fine Arts Quartet CELEBRATES 80 YEARS

BY KENNETH KAPP

T

he Fine Arts Quartet (FAQ) is one of the most distinguished and famous ensembles in chamber music, thrilling audiences worldwide for decades.

Founded in Chicago in 1946, they were in residency at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee from 1963-2017.

Maintaining strong ties with our community, they have returned to Milwaukee every summer since then.

Ralph Evans and Efim Boico have performed together in FAQ for over 40 years. Evans was a prizewinner in the International Tchaikovsky Competition and Boico was the Orchestre de Paris’ concertmaster under Daniel Barenboim.

In 2018 violist Gil Sharon, founder of the Amati Ensemble, and cellist Niklas Schmidt, co-founder of Trio Fontenay, joined FAQ. This summer FAQ will treat Milwaukee to performances of Mozart's six string quintets and six quartets from Beethoven's Opus 18. There will be a pre-concert talk an hour before each concert (except on May 19). Each concert will include one Mozart and one Beethoven quartet. Guest violist Hartmut Rohde joins FAQ for the first three concerts and violist Razvan Popovici for the last three.

Ralph Evans sat for an interview.

How does it feel to celebrate an 80th Anniversary?

And to be back here in Milwaukee?

It's always a great pleasure to return to Milwaukee where we spent so many wonderful years and where we have so many good friends.

52 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

We are so grateful for the loyal support of local music lovers over such a long period and lately, in particular, the Friends of the Fine Arts Quartet for organizing our concerts in Milwaukee over the last eight years.

Being together a long time has meant we've been able to learn and perform an immense amount and variety of great repertoire, but during my 44 years, longevity also has come with the inevitable unfortunate loss of a few colleagues along the way.

Does the quartet have a special or distinguishing style or tone?

Though a playing style which could be characterized as austere has been in fashion in recent decades, I've never bought into that idea. For me, an aesthetic approach which focuses on a rich beauty of tone is much more likely to give pleasure to my ears and those of concert goers, despite the dictates of some music critics and musicologists. And so, when the quartet has had an occasional position opening, I and my colleagues have zeroed in on candidates who play with the most beautiful sound quality.

Even though Mozart and Beethoven can speak for themselves, could you say a few words about why these were selected for your Milwaukee celebration?

Without doubt, Mozart and Beethoven are among history's greatest classical composers. We wanted to present something special for our 80th, so what could be better than offering 12 of the greatest chamber works offered by these two genius composers?

Photo courtesy of The Fine Arts Quartet.

Mozart's six string quintets are true masterpieces, on par with his late symphonies, operas, and piano concertos.

And Beethoven's famous six Op.18 string quartets are unmatched in the quartet world. We recorded all 12 of these works many years ago, but it's always thrilling to return to them.

Stradivarius, Amati, and Guarneri instruments are well known for their quality, rareness and expense.

Concert string instruments cost tens of thousands of dollars and more. And each has its own voice, some deeper and others crisper. Does the FAQ have a “tone,” and have you changed or selected your instruments for a certain sound?

We play on some fine instruments although none by the three makers you mentioned. It's undeniable that many string instruments created by old masters can have a certain depth and tonal sheen that makes them preferable.

Nevertheless, it's the skill and intent of the performers which ultimately controls what their instruments sound like in performance. The best players can create a beautiful tone even on inferior instruments. It's not necessary to play on a Stradivarius.

In this multimedia world of halftime shows and rock concerts, how is chamber music holding up around the world?

I wish so much I could be optimistic about classical music's future, but the severe decline of government and private support, as well as the lack of musical education for young people, doesn't bode well.

Still, I think classical music will never die out completely and even chamber music, a niche which attracts an enthusiastic but much smaller public, is bound to survive—although on a much-reduced level. Most small ensembles, such as string quartets, can't survive without residencies so it's up to universities and conservatories to decide whether, for the cultural enrichment of their communities, if they wish to support the arts—and more specifically, to support chamber music. It is truly admirable that here in Milwaukee, we have a group of dedicated music lovers (Friends of the Fine Arts Quartet) who've devoted so much time and energy to bringing the quartet back to Milwaukee for annual concerts after our long-time residency at UWM had to end. Both UWM and now the Friends deserve huge thanks.

The Fine Arts Quartet will perform May 17 at the Zelazo Center; May 19 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church; May 21, 26 and 28 at UWM Recital Hall; and May 31 at the Zelazo Center.

The Fine Arts Quartet will return on Sunday, July 12, with Mozart piano concertos (Nos. 11-13) in impressive 19th century transcriptions for piano and string quintet by Ignaz Lachner with guest star pianist Alon Goldstein. For more information, visit https://fineartsquartet.com/concerts

Kenneth Kapp is a published fiction author and retired mathematics professor at UWM. He writes about classical music for shepherdexpress.com.

MAY 2026 | 53

CULTURE

Y

ou could fly to Basel or Miami for their annual art fairs, but you’d probably have a better time—and save on plane fare—by driving to Door County this summer. The Second Annual Door County Contemporary Art Fair promises 20 booths from galleries in Wisconsin and elsewhere (including Milwaukee’s Green Gallery, Portrait Society and Addendum), along with artist talks, panel discussions, live music, a bar serving old fashioneds and food trucks in a verdant natural environment that says: stop for a minute and enjoy the sunlight and scenery.

Cofounder and co-director Shane McAdams calls the fair’s location, the Peninsula School of Art in Fish Creek, “a perfect setting. Parking is easy. The art will be indoors, but the events will be under a tent. Fish Creek is a nest of leisure comfort in Door County. And the fair is in early June—just before the summer madness begins.”

Last summer’s Door County Contemporary drew art scenesters from Chicago, Minneapolis and beyond. The setting provided a convergence between the thriving craft artisans and landscape painters associated with Door County and the cosmopolitan, big-city art world. “The mix of people and art was good—and people were engaged. It was a meaty, composite experience,” McAdams says.

SITE SPECIFIC This year’s Door Contemporary will also include a sitespecific, designed landscape courtesy the John Michael Kohler Art Center, and inflatable sculpture on the grounds by artist Claire Ashley.

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The Miller Art Museum will have a “dedicated space” on the grounds. The Bad at Sports podcast will broadcast onsite during the event from a whirligig-festooned booth.

“We don’t want to be just a trade fair,” McAdams continues.

“It’s multi-dimensional with so much going on. It’s the full experience of what art can give you. The whole thing is to show the value art has in the world. It’s not just about acquiring objects.”

With Door Contemporary’s reputation resonating as far away as New York, it has already become a point of connection between the insular world of contemporary art and the wider public. “Contemporary art has done a poor job of creating a living story,” McAdams concludes. “It often hides behind a dogma of its own importance. Art can be smart and conceptually rigorous and enjoyable. Art can be fun!”

The Door County Contemporary Art Fair will be held in Fish Creek from June 4-7. For advance tickets and more information, visit info@doorcountycontemporary.com.

David Luhrssen was executive director of the Milwaukee International Film Festival and is managing editor of the Shepherd Express.

Photo provided by Door County Contemporary Art Fair.

MAY 2026 | 55

CULTURE

This Mont h in Milwaukee

8 Things to Do in May

BY SOPHIA HAMDAN, DAVID LUHRSSEN, BLAINE SCHULTZ AND BEN SLOWEY

MAY 1-10

MAY 8-17

ALICE (in wonderland) p Milwaukee Ballet, Marcus Performing Arts Center Ten years after its Milwaukee debut, choreographer Septime Webre’s dynamic retelling of Lewis Carroll’s mind-bending classic returns to the Milwaukee Ballet.

“ALICE (in wonderland) is a celebration of imagination at its most unrestrained,” said the Ballet’s artistic director, Michael Pink. “It’s playful, surprising, and visually rich—an experience that invites audiences of all ages to rediscover the joy of storytelling through dance.”

Brew City Birding Festival q The Brew City Birding Festival takes place May 8-17 with bird-related activities and educational opportunities at all three branches of the Urban Ecology Center and for all ages and experience levels.

The festivities include a World Migratory Bird Day celebration at the Washington Park branch on May 9.

MAY 3 The Cribs w/ Trolley Cactus Club Brothers Ryan, Gary and Ross Jarman aka The Cribs were at a crossroads having lived the rock and roll cliché of being ripped off by management when Dave Grohl offered the U.K. band the use of his studio. That was 2019, a point of rejuvenation. If you believe the internet, Milwaukee’s Trolley is a power pop band.

If you listen to your ears, that’s a pretty limiting description. Last year saw the release of the album A Carnival of Grey & White, an album nearly a decade in the making. Trolley embarks on a new chapter with a five-piece lineup.

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Photo of bird watching courtesy of the VISIT Milwaukee Media Library.

Photo of Marize Fumero - By Nathaniel Davauer, provided by Milwaukee Ballet.

MAY 2026 | 57

CULTURE

MAY 16

MAY 24

Ledisi with Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra q Bradley Symphony Center Grammy-winning singer Ledisi will perform her 2025 album, For Dinah, with the MSO. The album is her tribute to Dinah Washington, a jazz singer who straddled many genres and scored many hits in a career that stretched from the ‘40s into the ‘60s. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame based on her R&B recordings.

“Peace thru Music” – A John Lennon Tribute Linneman’s Riverwest Inn It was 25 years ago and Linneman’s Riverwest Inn co-owner Marty Hacker wanted to commemorate her birthday in a special way. She chose two subjects important to her. The annual John Lennon tribute evening has called attention to support the effort to enact responsible and sensible law regarding use of handguns. The Benefit for Wisconsin’s Anti Violence Effort (WAVE) & The National Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence gathers over a dozen acts offering their takes on John Lennon solo and Beatles songs.

Spooky Frog Horrifying Book Fair Sheraton-Milwaukee-Brookfield Hotel The Spooky Frog Horrifying Book Fair returns to the Sheraton in Brookfield on Saturday, May 16 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

For $5, attendees can meet with spooky authors and artists, browse a curated selection of books and catch live sets from Goth Barge, DJ Synthia and DJ Ferngully throughout the day.

MAY 19 An Evening with Roxy Music’s Phil Manzanera: In Conversation with Steve Palec Shank Hall Phil Manzanera joined Roxy Music in 1971.

That may be how most listeners know the British guitarist but his wide ranging discography includes work with 801, Steve Winwood, David Gilmour, John Cale, Godley & Creme, Nico, John Wetton, Brian Eno, Tim Finn and Robert Wyatt.

MAY 28 Rilo Kiley The Riverside Theater Songwriters Jenny Lewis and Blake Sennett began collaborating in the late ‘90s; eventually adding bassist Pierre de Reeder they settled on the name Rilo Kiley. Three albums on indie labels and growing popularity led to Under The Blacklight for Warner Bros. Then the band split up in 2014. Since then, Lewis released a string of well-received albums and in spring 2025 the band began playing reunion dates.

THE MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

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Photo of MSO Orchestra with Chorus - by Jonathan Kirn.

MAY 2026 | 59

LIFESTYLE OUT OF MY MIND

What We Get to Keep

BY PHILIP CHARD

S

andy lives in an apartment so small that when she comes home from shopping at Goodwill, she has to decide what to move out to make room for her purchases.

She struggles day-to-day to feed and clothe herself and her 4-year-old daughter on some money from free-lance writing and two part-time jobs. Her ex-husband has long since disappeared down some unknown highway, probably never to be heard from again. On occasion, her car decides it needs a day off and refuses to budge. That means bicycling (weather permitting), walking, or bumming a ride from friends.

The things most Americans consider essential for survival, like a television, microwave, and high-end smartphone, are far down Sandy's list of “maybe someday” items. Nutritious food, warm clothing, an efficiency apartment, student loan payments, books and toys for her daughter, absolutely necessary medical care, and an occasional matinee at the movies eat up what little cash there is to go around.

LIVING IN POVERTY Increasingly, this type of scenario is being played out across our nation. One of the results of our rigged economic system is that 11 million of our children live in poverty. Many are hungry and malnourished. That’s shameful.

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And don’t give me any “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” crap. Sandy has knocked on more doors than she can recall trying to land a decent job, but there is always something that doesn't quite fit; too little experience, or not the right kind, or hours that make childcare financially impossible. While not entirely unemployed, she is clearly under-employed.

Sandy's story is not unusual. Many decent, responsible people struggle in our rich-getting-richer economic con game, falling into the crevasse between being truly self-sufficient and sufficiently impoverished to gain government assistance.

What makes Sandy unusual is her outlook.

AMERICAN DREAM? “I don't have much in the way of stuff or the American dream,” she told me with a genuine smile.

“Does that bother you?” I asked.

“Sometimes when I see another little girl around my daughter's age who has nicer clothes and fancy toys, riding around in an upscale car or living in a fine house, then I feel bad. Everyone wants to do better by their children,” she replied.

Illustration by GettyImages/Nuthawut Somsuk.

“But you're not bitter?”

“What's to be bitter about? We aren't starving or freezing to death, and I have what is really important,” she replied.

“And what is that?” I asked.

“As I see it, no matter how much stuff you buy, no matter how much money you make, you really only get to keep three things in life,” she said.

“What do you mean by keep?”

“I mean nobody can take these things away from you unless you let them,” she replied. "One, your positive experiences; two, your integrity; and three, what you grow inside yourself, whether that is love or, in some people, hate.”

When life is tough, when it tries to knock us down, that’s when remaining true to your values becomes so important.

I’m not going to betray myself,” she explained.

As for what we grow inside, Sandy said, “That's up to each of us, isn't it? I don't grow bitterness or anger. I could if I wanted to, but I'd rather not hold on to toxic feelings. They only hurt me."

“So, what do you grow?” I asked Sandy looked warmly at her daughter and then back to me.

She pointed toward her own eyes, which were aglow with tenderness, gratitude and love.

“I grow this.”

POSITIVE EXPERIENCES For Sandy, positive experiences don't come on a grand scale. They are seemingly ordinary moments with her daughter, walks in the woods, napping under a shade tree, listening to music, taking a warm bath, or baking bread.

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.

For her, integrity is about staying true to her moral values. “I know what I believe is right and true, and I let those beliefs guide me.

MAY 2026 | 61

HEAR ME OUT DEAR RUTHIE | SPONSORED BY UW CREDIT UNION

BE TRUE TO YOURSELF DEAR RUTHIE, I’m a proud bi woman but my dad insists on saying that I’m “confused.” I confront him on this, but things just escalate so I just stop defending myself. How do I shut this all down without starting a nuclear family war?

HOPE YOU'LL ANSWER,

Serious S teph DEAR SERIOUS,

If you ask me (and you did!) you don’t need to start a civil war within the family or stage a royal coronation to prove you’re not confused. The next time this happens, simply, calmly and firmly state, “I’m not confused. I’m me. Please respect that.”

Try to leave the conversation at that. Don’t bait future conversations. If this continues to be an issue, give him info on the local PFLAG (Parent, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) chapter. If things continue to escalate you may need to put some short, temporary space between yourself and your dad. Parental acceptance can come late; your sanity can’t wait.

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

62 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS

DEAR RUTHIE BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Ruthie's Social Calendar MAY 1 DRAG QUEEN BINGO AT THE HOUNDS & TAP (W175N5645 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE, MENOMONEE FALLS): Join me for 10 rounds of prizes and laughs at this incredible tavern. A hangout for humans and their hounds, this change-of-pace pub and dog park serves up my bawdy bingo show at 6:30 p.m., so stop by and say hi!

MAY 2 KENTUCKY DERBY DAY AT SAINT KATE ARTS HOTEL (139 E. KILBOURN AVE.): Saddle up and strut your stuff at the city’s hottest hotel.

Grab your most impressive hat or bowtie and get ready for a run of the roses. Free and open to all, the 1 p.m. viewing includes best-dressed and hat contests, raffles, drink specials, nibbles and more. Trot over to www.saintkatearts.com for details.

MAY 7 OPENING NIGHT THE NANNY: A FINE PARODY AT LACAGE NIGHT CLUB (801 S. SECOND ST.): Purse String Productions (the team behind The Golden Girls Drag Parody) offers up this brand-new dinner-theater event. See what Fran, Mr. Sheffield and the gang are up to with this all-original show. Musical numbers and a fantastic meal make this parody the talk of the town. See www.ticketleap.com for tickets before the production closes May 10.

MAY 10 MOTHER’S DAY DRAG BRUNCH AT POP (124 W. NATIONAL AVE.): Treat mom to one helluva brunch when the team at Pop treats her like a queen.

Mimosa’s, music, drag and a munchable menu await, making this a mom’s day for the books. See www.popwalkerspoint.com for details and reservations.

MAY 14 MARKET ON THE RIVERWALK AT SCHLITZ PARK (1515 N. RIVERCENTER DRIVE): Celebrate spring with a stroll along the Riverwalk while you shop this marketplace of local artisans. Enjoy craft beers, food, music, games and more during the 4-8 p.m. market.

MAY 17 PET FEST AT HOUSE OF HARLEY-DAVIDSON (6221 W. LAYTON AVE.): Celebrate your four-legged friends with this daylong bash! Visit with any number of the multiple vendors, take a chance on raffle prizes and get down with a live DJ during the 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. outdoor festival. Best of all, proceeds benefit Friends of MADACC.

MAY 23 ART IN THE PARK AT HENRY MILLER PARK (315 E. GROVELAND DRIVE): Don’t miss this springtime art fair where you’ll find roughly 100 artists selling their best works.

The event starts at 9 a.m., and serves up live music, food trucks and make-and-take crafts for the kids.

MAY 28 PRIDE NIGHT FOR AND THEN THERE WERE NONE AT MILWAUKEE REP (108 E. WELLS ST.): The classic Agatha Christie piece comes to life at the recently renovated Milwaukee Rep, and we’re celebrating with a Pride Night! Join me and my gal pal Karen Valentine for a pre-show party before we all take in this remarkable production. Nab your tickets early via www.milwaukeerep.com, using PRIDENIGHT as the discount code.

MAY 30 HEATED RIVALRY CLUB AT THE COTTAGE DANCE PARTY AT STORY HILL FIREHOUSE (407 N. HAWLEY RD.): Take your love of Heated Rivalry to the dance floor during this high-energy night. A DJ competition, solo dance-offs, 20-foot monitors, drink specials and house music make this 9 p.m. rave something that’ll have the city talking.

MAY 2026 | 63

HEAR ME OUT | SPONSORED BY UW CREDIT UNION

Vivent Health’s 40 Years

of HIV/AIDS Care

BY PAUL MASTERSON

I

ncorporated in 1985, the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin began as a small local health organization established to confront the HIV pandemic.

It had a staff of one. Today, 40 years later and known as Vivent Health, it is the headquarters of a nationwide network with 15 locations in four states. Offering its clients comprehensive medical, dental and mental health care as well as social and financial services, Vivent Health’s legacy represents its commitment to heath equity and social justice.

Now, it would be one grant application rather than many at a time when each group competed for their piece of the pie. As much as any other effort, it is this care model that is a major part of Wisconsin’s success in the battle against HIV.”

INTEGRATED NETWORK

The state’s merged services became one integrated network under the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin. ARCW was then the only HIV specialized organization in the state. Without the distraction of competition, it could President and CEO Brandon Hill spoke to the current status of that legacy, HIV focus on patients’ outcomes. Programs like legal assistance and needle excare, and the future. “Underscoring the change that came from other projects history getting to where we are today were now part of the universal system. is the success of a model now in use “As they consolidated, we reached across the country. All the effort from more people, giving them access to lobbying to advocacy, the fundraising, services from across the state. The walks and other events is now embodfundraising became interconnection ied in 6th Street. It is part of the local of community through advocacy,” Hill pride. It is one of the things that is not said, recognizing early ARCW leaders fully replaceable because a lot of what like Doug Nelson and Paul Milakovich happened is unique.” he said. as the architects of the strategy to That model is Vivent Health’s strategy sustain and grow the network of HIV of crafting varied resources like MAP care we have today.

(Milwaukee AIDS Project) with organiMoving on to HIV treatments, Hill zations in Madison and Green Bay into reflected on the advances made one HIV care system throughout the since the organization’s founding. “In state. “It didn't happen anywhere else, ARCW’s crucial first years, the great no other state merged services,” Hill stride in treatment was the introducexplained. “It significantly reduced HIV tion of AZT in 1987. Still, even as AZT infection in Wisconsin. Today, health care collaboration is now the norm. But, came on the scene, HIV was ultimately a terminal diagnosis. Today’s mediin the 1980s, it was a novel concept cines with a regimen of one or two pills that individual AIDS organizations be a day or an injection every two months united into one standardized service. reflects the advances science made It alleviated competition for resources. since then.

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Its non-stop development has had a huge impact on the course of HIV. Today treatment management has reached 95% of viral suppression in three months and, eventually, a non-detectable level of infection. A non-detectable viral load means a zero possibility of transmission. It's as close to being free of HIV without an actual cure,” Hill said.

He noted some Vivent Health clients, now their 90s are living free of disease for decades. “Today, we are more worried about other health issues impacting our patients than of them dying of AIDS related causes,” he continued.

Meanwhile, several long-acting treatments are the future of care and prevention. The current trajectory of research to that end is the relevant issue of therapy adherence. “The one pill a day regimen is a challenge regardless of the patient. We will see dosing less often within two years with all different possibilities that include self-injection and implants similar to other chronic care delivery devices,” Hill said.

SUCCESSFUL LEGACY Another aspect of the Vivant’s legacy of successful care and strategies is the funding. Hill cited the 1990 federal Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and others that have made Vivent Health’s success possible. These programs provide funding as a payer of last resort, affording access to care regardless of economics. They also underwrote the continual study of the disease and its treatment.

Photo by GettyImages/Panuwat Dangsungnoen.

“In the past, federal funding accelerated success. It was not a matter of constant upping of the intervention but of constant funding,” Hill said, noting the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) prevention, testing, and condom distribution programs along with NIH (National Institute of Health) funding studies and innovation were all part of the equation.

However, all of this is now in a state of suspension and uncertainty. “The CDC is now looking to eliminate prevention grants. It seems like a dismantling is happening just when we are on the precipice of success. We could end the HIV pandemic, but funding is essential.

The concern is we could set ourselves back without those tools,” Hill said. The challenge, he explained, is figuring out whom lobbying should target. “The federal health system is very unclear at the moment. With its rearrangement, we don't know what the priorities are.

Without the partnerships, we no longer know what the federal goals of the CDC are. It is different than first Trump administration when HIV was a priority.

Right now, we don't know of any federal health priority.

We are in the same boat with everyone else in health care.”

With both a history of decades-long success and some uncertainty about the future, Hill expressed optimism and a resolute commitment to the Vivent Health mission. “We've walked this path before when the organization was founded, and HIV wasn't a government priority. We’re going to rely on our community and keep caring for folks. It will keep up, moving forward. We have a strong foundation in our organization that created ARCW. We are going to continue to innovate and demonstrate how we can make a difference in the epidemic,” Hill concluded.

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.

MAY 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, we’ve made it to the to another year’s “merry” month of May, one of four months that can be enunciated with one syllable, easy peasy, no problemo.

But I’ve got a hunch that should you reside in a Florida or Texas or Tennessee, lo, these days, your MAGA maniac white-guy legislators in charge of the education systems and what-not for the young people just might have a problem with a word like “syllable”: “Fellow patriots, a ‘syllable’ sounds to me like some kind of outfit one of those so-called men who’d rather be women would squeeze into to put on some kind of dancing show dolled up like a regular Carol Channing or Beafocking-Arthur. We will not tolerate these woke ‘syllables’ into our schools, libraries and general conversation. God bless America” Good lord, a drag “syllable” show that might feature a cross-dressed Carol Channing and Bea-focking-Arthur?

Cripes, tell me where I can get a ticket. I’ll be there, what the fock.

So yeah, it’s May, fifth month of the year, cripes, chockfocking-full of memorable calendar dates: International Workers’ Day, Cinco de Mayo, Memorial Day, Miles Davis’ birthday and Mother’s Day, which reminds me of Oscar Wilde who said: All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That’s his. O-Wilde, you be the man still to this day, you betcha.

This May also marks 40 focking years of me whipping out brain-jarring essays from off the top of my head for this news and entertainment empire called the Shepherd. Thank you for my service. But I could abso-focking-lutely pony up to a new challenge: Chief editor and correspondent of a hard-hitting “science section” this publication so sorely needs for the enlightenment of its readers, I kid you not.

For christ sakes, the discipline of science has been getting crucified by Christian and Republican nutbags for some time, and I say it’s high time that “The observation, identification, description, experimental investigation and theoretical explanation of natural phenomena” (i.e. “the criticism of myths”) gets lots of ink spewed from an objective source, like me, ain’a?

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Cripes, I’d never run out of material, and I’d make sure to craft my coverage nice and lively if not dang near practical, to boot. It wouldn’t at all be like the butt-boring science they tried to cram down your throat in school ’til you could barf lunch’s pigs-in-a-blanket, no sir. I’d give you “who’s hot/ who’s not” on the latest Periodic Table, photos with captions on anatomy, cutting-edge info on the science of statistics you could use on your next Vegas junket.

Or take a branch like entomology, the study of insects.

I’d like to explore reasons why on the TV pest-control commercials, the bug guy driving the snappy van wears a white shirt and tie on the job. Is this some kind of weird-ass psychological ploy? Do bugs dish up extra respect to a guy in a shirt and tie and simply vacate a premises on their own accord so that Herr Death won’t feel the need to unleash his secret chemical vapor storm right there in the kitchenette—a storm that could otherwise reduce a southeast Asian rainfocking-forest to pure pud for the next two, three millennia?

And I’d give you top-dollar botany coverage, yes sir. Jeez louise, I read a comment on some website that shoveled on about the reason ancient peoples were so groovy was because “they practiced animism—the belief that everything has a soul: people, animals, plants, trees...”

Plants have souls? What next? I’ll tell you “what next.” I remembered hearing of an English doctor who said he had recorded the “screams” of plants when they get chopped, diced or minced. Now, the conclusion I reach here is that those people who do not eat the meat for soulful reasons should now also not eat the vegetable and rather acquire a taste for Elmer’s school paste as some of us youthful gourmands did back in first grade. Bon appétit!

And naturally, there’s “political science.” The old-fart Greek Aristotle wrote, “Therefore, the good of man must be the end (i.e. objective) of the science of politics.” Hey, nice try, Ari. But simple observation has surely proved you were full of crap on that one. I never bought the term “political science.”

Combining something so foul with something so pure always sounded like bullshit to me, but of course if “politics” is involved, what the hell else could it sound like? You tell me.

And I’ll tell you’s to keep your eyes to the sky ’cause that’s where heaven’s supposed to be, what the fock, ’cause I’m Art Kumbalek and I told you so.

Photo of politician by GettyImages/Pressmaster.