Author: Lee Matz

“The Soldiers Home is critical to understanding Wisconsin’s important place at the beginning of veteran patient care. This project is about more than preserving the brick and mortar of buildings, it’s about renewing the legacy of these buildings and returning them to the veterans who they were uniquely designed to serve.” – Jim Draeger, Wisconsin State Historic Preservation Office Alderman Michael J. Murphy, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, and developer Kalan Haywood were among the coalition participants at a special press announcement on December 6, where the first part of a $600,000 grant was handed out for the restoration of...

The Pabst Mansion is celebrating the holiday season again this year with their popular Christmas Twilight Tours that decorates the former beer baron’s home as it appeared in the Victorian Age. Visitors can experience the Mansion by the glow of the original light fixtures and illuminated Christmas trees. These evening open houses include self-guided tours where guests can explore each beautifully decorated room filled with holiday cheer. “Jodi Rich-Bartz, the Pabst Mansion’s curator, oversees the Herculean effort to transform three floors of the Pabst Mansion into ‘A Grand Avenue Christmas,’ a process that takes a very intense two and a...

Participating in the annual Santa Cycle Rampage that has attracted visitors from as far away as Boston, hundreds of Santas rode bicycles across Milwaukee on December 2. The tradition of people riding around Milwaukee dressed in Santa suits has spread holiday cheer through neighborhoods and communities along the route. The idea originated to get riders out on bikes in the winter, as a way to help local businesses. The route began at Cranky Al’s Bakery at 69th and North Avenue and finished at the Lakefront Brewery along the Milwaukee River. The slow, 5.5 mile group ride down North Avenue...

After the tree lighting in New York City, Milwaukee held the second oldest holiday tradition of its kind in the United States on November 16, with festivities that included performances of music and dance, and a fireworks show along the river. Previously held at Red Arrow Park for many years, the tree lighting location returned to its original spot at Wells and Water Streets in 2016, at the City Hall planter. Thousands of Milwaukee residents attended the festivities and enjoyed treats like hot cocoa and freshly baked ginger bread men. Special guests included Santa and his reindeer, and carols...