Bars & Clubs - May 15, 2009
On the town in Milwaukee: Beer spoiled or selection savvy?
Maybe it's this city's German heritage or the boisterous obsession with microbrews, but in Milwaukee, Belgian rarities are more and more the norm. Long lists of authentic Belgian and German brews are standard at places like the Palm Tavern, Sugar Maple, Roman's Pub and Von Trier. Café Centraal stocks nearly 90 beers, each paired with its namesake glass.
Tags: cafe centraal, palm tavern, the publican, chicago, beer lists, belgain beers, german beers, german restaurants, sugar maple, roman's pub, von trier

Bars & Clubs - Feb. 16, 2009
Milwaukee's best smoke-free bar 2009: Water Buffalo
There are not a whole lot of entirely smoke-free taverns to choose from, but it's clear that the list is growing and growing and next year we wager that there will be at least twice as many vying for position in the readers' poll. But this year, you dear readers have chosen Third War bar and restaurant Water Buffalo as your favorite smoke-free place.
Tags: Water Buffalo, Joe Sorge, Adrienne Pierluissi, Palm Tavern, Sugar Maple, Swig, non-smoking

Bars & Clubs - Feb. 3, 2009
Smoke-free bars breathe easier as trends shift
Unlike Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Paul and Madison, the lack of an official smoking ban in the city of Milwaukee places the decision to allow patrons to light up on business owners. Until recently, the number of bars and restaurants willing to tamper with tradition was minimal, at best.
Tags: smoke-free, non-smoking, smoking ban, adrienne pierluissi, water buffalo, swig, joe sorge, angie sorge, sugar maple, cuvee, kris gorski, bruno johnson, palm tavern, la merenda, peter sandroni

Bars & Clubs - Feb. 1, 2009
Milwaukee's best bar district, 2009: Bay View
The fact that Bay View won the readers' choice award for best Milwaukee bar district really says something about this up-and-coming neighborhood. Five years ago, you'd find plenty of bars in the South Side neighborhood, but almost everyone who patronized them lived down the street.
Tags: bay view, best of, brady street, Palomino, Sugar Maple, Burnhearts, Cactus Club, Blackbird, Café Centraal, Palm Tavern, Lulu, Highbury Pub

Bars & Clubs - Nov. 28, 2008
On the town in Milwaukee: What's your local hotspot?
There is plenty of neighborhood pride on the East Side, in Riverwest and in Bay View. Not to mention outlying suburbs. But, I was a bit of a junkie for Bay View last weekend. Here's a take Bay View spots, and a question: do you live where you like to hang out or do you like to hang out where you live?
Tags: club garibaldi, palomino, cactus club, burnhearts, palm tavern, blackbird, bay view