The streets of Milwaukee after dark AIMEE GALASZEWSKI
Once the sun goes down in the city of Milwaukee, the electric atmosphere begins to emerge. For students at Marquette University, the nightlife is just minutes from campus. From Water Street to the Deer District, the list of after-dark activities is endless. For Caleb Kwasigroch, a junior in the College of Communication, this was his first summer living in Milwaukee. “Being in Milwaukee this summer has been very rewarding,” Kwasigroch says. “I’ve gone to a few restaurants here and there, down to the riverwalk and down to the third ward. It’s nice to have things open again.” The city of Milwaukee lifted many of the COVID-19 restrictions that were in place through a Health Department order June 1. This allowed for businesses and restaurants to operate at full capacity without a mask mandate. Macie Robinson, a senior in the College of Health Sciences, says she agrees with Kwasigroch that it is refreshing to return to a new normal. “It’s really nice to see everyone out enjoying themselves and actually socializing, whereas last summer everybody had to either stay at home or socially distanced,” Robinson says. “It’s nice just being around new people every Friday and Saturday night and just having a lively atmosphere.” Madelyn Fainga’a, a senior in the College of Communication, says she spent her summer as a cocktail waitress at Buck Bradley’s. Buck Bradley’s, residing on Old World Third Street, is known as the longest bar east of the Mississippi River. 8
Fainga’a says she immediately noticed a change in the nightlife this summer compared to last summer. “The atmosphere and the people who have been coming out are a lot different,” Fainga’a says. “I’ve met a lot more people from out of state than I ever did last summer.” During the summer of 2020, there were travel restrictions in place that urged tourists to stay home. In an article from the Wisconsin State Journal, it was reported that Wisconsin’s state tourism dropped 28.3% from 2019 to 2020. This summer, Milwaukee has been hit by a powerful tourist boom. “Basically the streets have been filled, people have been out and you can just really feel the vibrant community that Milwaukee has,” Fainga’a says. One place in Milwaukee that has encouraged and built a strong community in is the Deer District. The Deer District is one of Milwaukee’s most popular areas, located right outside of Fiserv Forum. Thousands of people have gathered in the Deer District this summer, cheering on the Milwaukee Bucks to their first NBA championship victory in over 50 years. “There’s something about the whole vibe of the Deer District parties,” Kwasigroch says. “Just having fun and meeting people, everyone’s so kind there.” Robinson says she has frequently visited the Deer District since the third round of the NBA playoffs. “Everybody will come out and everywhere was crowded, but it was nice just to see everyone united and
