Five reasons I love Milwaukee!

McKinley Beach and the skyline of Milwaukee

Nearby nature and the arts combine for a high quality of life

Recently Milwaukee Magazine, for which I write a column called Urban Wilderness, asked contributors to list reasons why we love Milwaukee. My slightly amended answers are listed below. The magazine used one of my own photos to illustrate the first of my answers and then a couple of stock photos after that. I’ve included all of my own photos in this version—as you would expect! 

Warnimont Park, Milwaukee County Parks, Cudahy

1. Lake Michigan. Not only does Milwaukee have public beaches and parkland for a front yard in its downtown but also miles of lakefront parks that stretch the length of Milwaukee County.

Milwaukee River Greenway, view north from Locust St. Bridge

2. Four rivers. All four of Milwaukee’s rivers—the Milwaukee, Menomonee, Kinnickinnic and Root—have been endowed with parkways that enable citizens to hike and bike long distances in natural settings.

The Big Bang over the Calatrava wing of the Milwaukee Art Museum

3. Calatrava. The newly improved Milwaukee Art Museum is the place to go to for outstanding art, and even after 16 years the Calatrava wing with its kinetic roof still seems like a miracle—a very worthy setting for fireworks!

The tropical dome in winter, Mitchell Park Conservatory

4. The Domes. The Mitchell Park Conservatory is the best place to go when the weather is lousy; of course they need to be repaired!

The Marcus Center for the Performing Arts

5. The theater scene. Milwaukee has so many theatrical offerings it’s impossible to keep up with them all: the Milwaukee Rep, Pabst Theater, Renaissance Theater, and Next Act, to name just a few.

Scenic Route: MKE in Riverside Park

In fact, on occasion my favorite things overlap, as in this performance of “Scenic Route: MKE” wherein the dancers used Riverside Park and the Milwaukee River as a stage.

The original version of this story was posted by Milwaukee Magazine on April 12, 2017.

To see more reasons why I love Milwaukee go to my Flickr albums.

"Scenic Route: MKE" dances in the park

Daniel Burkholder has been dancing in the natural environment for some time now. Last fall he began a series of seasonal dance programs called Scenic Route: MKE. I had the great fortune of seeing the most recent iteration, spring, which was third in the series. The event involved a select group of audience members who attended a 2-hour nature hike with site-specific performances at various stops along the way. Burkholder and company led the audience along one of Milwaukee's most beautiful parks--the exact location of which remains secretive so that ticket holders can have an exclusive viewing. (Anyone can buy a ticket, however.) I found it a lovely way to experience both nature and dance.

Here is my photo essay of the event.

"Scenic Route: MKE" is directed by Artistic Director Daniel Burkholder, and created in collaboration with Andrea Burkholder, Dani Kuepper, Joseph Pitalek, and Jenni Reinke.

The fourth and final "Scenic Route: MKE" will be held July 17. Tickets can be purchased here. The suggested donation starts at $10.

To see more of my photos of "Scenic Route: MKE" go to my Flickr album.