Milwaukee's Daily Magazine Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009
Today
Hi: 66
Lo: 50
Mon
Hi: 60
Lo: 45
Tue
Hi: 56
Lo: 39
Section Sponsor
Article Tools
Print this Article
Make text larger
Related Twitter Posts


    Follow us on Twitter ...
    In Milwaukee Buzz Blogs
    Is Milwaukee losing its retro?
     
    By Molly Snyder Edler RSS Feed Twitter Feed
    OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writer

    E-mail author | Author bio
    More articles by Molly Snyder Edler

    What is a blog?  For us it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. Published Oct. 23, 2007 at 12:49 p.m.
    Tags: goldmann's, art's concertina bar, bryant's cocktail lounge, albanese's, at random, angelo's cocktail lounge, koz's mini-bowl, maria's pizzaria, holler house, owl imports, stemper's, quirky, retro

    First Goldmann's closed at the end of September. Then Art's Concertina Bar. Then Bryant's Cocktail Lounge. These places were Milwaukee's pillars of retro quirkiness. They were hip without trying to be hip.

    Surely, there are still places like this left in Brew City. So, let's give 'em a shout out, and try to visit so they don't go by the wayside as well. Whether they're lounges, restaurants, shops or bowling alleys, these slice-of-life establishments have unrivaled signature idiosyncrasies. Please add others using the talkback feature.

    1. Albanese's Tavern, 701 E. Keefe Ave. This mom-and-pop Italian joint has Sinatra on the juke and jugs of homemade wine.

    2. Angelo's Piano Lounge, 1686 N. Van Buren St. More Italian kitsch, but with big martinis, live piano playing and 60-somethings in cocktail dresses serving drinks.

    3. At Random, 2501 S. Delaware Ave. Get a Tiki Love Bowl while you still can.

    4. Falcon Bowl, 801 E. Clarke St., Holler House, 2042 W. Lincoln Ave. and Koz's Mini Bowl, 2078 S. 7th St. Small, manual bowling alleys. Koz's and Holler House have human pinsetters.

    5. Maria's Pizzaria (sic), 5025 W. Forest Home Ave. This is the kind of joint Buca di Beppo tries to emulate. It's kitschy without trying to be kitschy. (Although it can't match the original Greenfield Avenue location! -ed.)

    6. Owl Imports, 7546 W. Greenfield Ave. Features a kooky collection of clocks, beer steins and figurines.

    7. Stemper's, 1125 E. Potter Ave. Stop by to see an incredible selection of church supplies, including communion wafers, which are available white- or wheat-flavored.

    4 comments about this article.
    Post a comment / write a review.

    Recent Talkbacks ...

    Posted by RJ on Oct. 24, 2007 at 11:06 a.m. (report)

    Is Dretzka's Department Store on Packard in Cudahy still open? I haven't been there in a couple of years, but it was quite a step back in time.

    Rate this:
    • Average rating: 0.0
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5


    Posted by deex on Oct. 23, 2007 at 3:16 p.m. (report)

    I believe the Owl Imports you are talking about is 7546 W GREENFIELD Ave in 'Stallis. Unfortunately the last time I drove by there they had signs in the windows..."Going out of business". 75th & Garfield is in Wauwatosa, A.K.A. North 'Stallis.

    Rate this:
    • Average rating: 0.0
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5


    Posted by EatWisconsin on Oct. 23, 2007 at 2:55 p.m. (report)

    Goldman's, Arts, and Bryants. All three were great but all three were in areas that worked against them. Those neighborhoods have changed for the worse and that is almost impossible to overcome. Of the three I will miss Bryants the most. Arts was always a fun time, but Bryants was a great place to take people from out of town and have them marvel at the creations that they came up with. I am just bummed they didn't have a big party to celebrate their closing.

    Rate this:
    • Average rating: 0.0
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5


    Posted by bennyjet on Oct. 23, 2007 at 2:28 p.m. (report)

    Art's didn't exactly close, Art finally agreed to a price and retired back to Mosinee. The new owner promises to keep it basically the same. For much of Milwaukee's blue-collar yet friendly places, ya gotta look further south and west (think Cudahy and West Milwaukee). We still got Serb Hall and Bay View VFW.

    Rate this:
    • Average rating: 0.0
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5



    Recent blogs/briefs by Molly Snyder Edler
    What is a blog?  For OMC, it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. 11 benefits of being an adoptive mom
    Monday
    The adoptive mom lets go of a lot, but she receives an abundance in return, too. Here ...

    What is a blog?  For OMC, it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. Can you politely "unfriend" on Facebook?
    Oct. 30, 2009
    A real friend from the real world told me she wanted to clean up her Facebook page and ...

    What is a blog?  For OMC, it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. Rapid review: Centro Cafe
    Oct. 29, 2009
    Today's quick review focuses on Riverwest's newest eatery, Centro Cafe. It's a cozy, Italian ...

    What is a blog?  For OMC, it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. Are spelling tests stupid?
    Oct. 26, 2009
    I spend hours a week grilling my kid on spelling words, and even though I'm a writer, ...

    What is a blog?  For OMC, it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. Rapid review: Roots Restaurant & Cellar
    Oct. 22, 2009
    Here's a mini review of Roots, a fresh and natural restaurant in Brewer's Hill with an ...

    OnMilwaukee.com is part of the In Click Network. Other In Click sites include: 30RockReport.com | Behind The Scenes at OnMilwaukee.com | BetterRecipes.org | Bimmer Digest | Brain Brawn & Body | BrewCityBeats.com | Brewcitybigscreen.com | britneysnation.com | BritPop Rocks | Brooklynbanter.com | CactusLeagueReport.com | Caffeinateddigest.com | Culinary Piedmont | Cycling Chainring | Daily Lost Update | Daily Milwaukee News | Daily Spa | DannyGokeyMilwaukee.com | Dogs Blogs | EarthFueled.com | Edible Wisconsin | FanaticPhotog.com | Gadget Deals and Steals | GolfLinksWisconsin.com | H1N1 Alerts | H1N1 Blog | H1N1 Prevention | H1N1 Reporter | H1N1 Tracker | HogEnthusiast.com | Informed Runner | iPhone Daily Report | Man United Nation | Milwaukee Brewers Nation | Milwaukee Bucks Blog | Milwaukee Dad | Minnesota Wild Nation | MomMilwaukee.com | My Super Stocks | MyGayMilwaukee.com | MyHangoverHelper | News on Draught | NY Mets Nation | OnAtlantaGA.com | OnAustinTX.com | OnBaltimoreMD.com | OnBirminghamAL.com | OnBostonMass.com | OnBuffaloNY.com | OnCharlotteNC.com | OnCincinnati.com | OnClevelandOH.com | OnColumbusOH.com | OnDallas.com | OnDCmetro.com | OnDenverCO.com | OnDetroitMI.com | OnDoorCounty.org | OnFortLauderdale.com | OnGreenBay.com | OnHartford.com | OnIndianapolisIN.com | OnKansasCityMO.com | OnLakeCountry.com | OnLosAngelesCA.com | OnLouisvilleKY.com | OnMadison.com | OnMemphisTN.com | OnMiamiFLA.com | OnMilwaukee.com Cars | OnMilwaukee.com Metro Headlines | OnNashvilleTN.com | OnNewOrleansLA.com | OnNYCny.com | OnOrlandoFL.com | OnPalmSprings.com | OnPhiladelphia.com | OnPhoenixAZ.com | OnPittsburgh.com | OnPortlandOR.com | OnProvidence.com | OnRichmondVA.com | OnSacramento.com | OnSaltLakeCity.com | OnSanAntonioTX.com | OnSanDiegoCA.com | OnSanFran.com | OnSanJose.com | OnSeattleWA.com | OnSinCity.com | OnStLouis.com | OnStPetersburg.com | OnTampaBay.com | OnTucsonAZ.com | OnTwinCities.com | OnWichita.com | OnWindyCity.com | Packers Posts | Porsche 911 Fans | PriusFans.com | Roller Derby Network | SnuggieFans.com | SummerfestRocks.com | Swine Flu China | Swine Flu Reporter | The 24 Reporter | The Barack Obama Fan Club | The Brilliant Manager | The Comic Book Reporter | The In Click | The Office Fan Blog | TheHDTVReporter.com | TheNetbookBlog.com | TheNewParentBlog.com | Trueguitarheroes.com | Vintage Mets | VW Busses | WaukeshaWeekly.com | Weekly Media News | Wisconsincustomhomenews.com | WisWomen.com | Woodworker Digest