Visiting Milwaukee

[mcblazer]

I'm a UAB alum and will be visiting Milwaukee for the first time this weekend. I've got tickets to all 3 days and look forward to finally seeing some college basketball. I do have a couple of questions: I'm staying at the Comfort Inn downtown, are there any good restaurants/bars/pubs nearby? Also, after our game Friday night, our football team is playing on ESPN2 (I know, we stink this year). Is there a sports bar near (walking distance) the Areana where I can watch the game?

Good luck this weekend!

[Big Ern]

You're in luck ... Major Goolsby's is right across the street from the U.S. Cellular Arena -- literally 45-second walk from the doors at Goolsby's to the doors at the Arena.

Goolsby's was rated No. 4 in Sports Illustrated's Best Sports Bars in America rankings a few years ago. ... Great burgers ... Great wings. It's the pregame hangout for many UWM fans, as is the Miller Time Pub ... located at the Milwaukee Hilton Hotel a few blocks away. Here's a list of other sports bars:

www.onmilwaukee.com/bars/articles/sportsbars.html

Water Street contains the main strip of bars downtown, so your hotel is probably a four- to five-block walk to that, which isn't bad at all. Streets fairly safe at night downtown so you could easily walk that. My recommendations are The Lodge, The Harp, Brothers, McGillicuddy's and Rosie's (infamous bar where Charles Barkley once got arrested):

www.onmilwaukee.com/bars/articles/waterstbars.html

www.onmilwaukee.com/bars/articles/downtownbars.html

There are several options off Water Street in the downtown area. Milwaukee Ale House is in the Third Ward on the south end with a great beer selection. Buck Bradley's is right by the Arena and can be a fun place to be at, so can Flannery's.

You could also travel a couple of miles north of downtown to the UWM area bars ... located on a five-block strip on North Ave. on the fashionable East Side. Live, Vitucci's, Hooligans, BBC and The Eastsider get my recommendations:

www.onmilwaukee.com/bars/articles/uwmbarguide.html

www.onmilwaukee.com/bars/articles/northbars.html

On your way to the East Side, stop off on Brady Street for a few. Up and Under Pub is my fave on that street:

www.onmilwaukee.com/bars/articles/bradybar.html

www.onmilwaukee.com/bars/articles/bradystbar2.html

Make sure you also make a late-night stop to Real Chili ... there's two locations -- one right next to Flannery's and one on the Marquette campus.

Bottom line ... there are plenty of options. We're called Brew City for a reason.

Have fun and good luck!

[pnthr30]

mcblazer said:

I'm a UAB alum and will be visiting Milwaukee for the first time this weekend. I've got tickets to all 3 days and look forward to finally seeing some college basketball. I do have a couple of questions: I'm staying at the Comfort Inn downtown, are there any good restaurants/bars/pubs nearby? Also, after our game Friday night, our football team is playing on ESPN2 (I know, we stink this year). Is there a sports bar near (walking distance) the Areana where I can watch the game?

Good luck this weekend!

Welcome (to the board and MKE)! I am sure that many on this board will be happy to try and help you out.

What type of food/atmosphere are you looking for? There are a lot of options downtown (regular bars on Water Street that serve food, sports bars, microbrews that serve food (my favorites include Rock Bottom and Water Street Brewery), casual places to eat (the "new" Brew City is pretty good) , upscale places to eat if you are looking to spend a bit more for something like........a nice steak, seafood, ethnic spots (lots of German places), etc.). Just let us know what you are looking for.

To answer your second question, there is a fairly large sports bar across the street from the US Cellular Area (Major Goolsby's), and another one just down the street, across from the Bradley Center. If you don't want to go to either one of those places, I am sure you could find the game on at one of the bars on Water Street, just a few blocks away.

[mcblazer]

Thanks for the help. This should work out well since I have a good deal of German ancestry! My 5 favorite things are women, beer, cheese, sausage and basketball! BTW, ya'll endeared all Blazer fans to your program by knocking off UAT (University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa) 2 years ago. Good job! Looking forward to my weekend.

[Big Ern]

Too bad our neighbors (Marquette) couldn't do the same to Bama last year.

Since you're German, you have to visit Mader's restaurant then ... it's on Old World 3rd St. right across from the Bradley Center, which is right across from the Arena. Many presidents and foreign leaders have dined there when in town.

www.madersrestaurant.com

[pnthr30]

purple said:

Too bad our neighbors (Marquette) couldn't do the same to Bama last year.

Since you're German, you have to visit Mader's restaurant then ... it's on Old World 3rd St. right across from the Bradley Center, which is right across from the Arena. Many presidents and foreign leaders have dined there when in town.

www.madersrestaurant.com

Good call on Maders......I was just going to suggest that! They serve very good food, and definitely provide a German feel. If I am not mistaken, Maders was recently featured on $40 a Day hosted by Rachel Ray - on The Food Network (yes, yes, I know........I have stooped to referencing The Food Netword, on a bball board nonetheless! haha Let this be a warning to all you youngin's..........this is what happens when you get old, married, and have kids. ;D ).

If you have some time, you may want to do one of the many brewery tours in town - they are a lot of fun (Sprecher, Lakefront, Miller, etc.).

Also, if you like sausage, Usingers is a MKE product - they provide some darn good Brats, Italian sausages, authentic hot dogs, etc. There are also a ton of local places/butcher shops (I believe there are a few downtown) that do a great job with "meat".

[mcblazer]

Thanks again everyone. I currently live in Detroit and hope I can return the favor when ya'll visit either UDM or Oakland. I can usually be found visiting the BlazerTalk board at this site:

www.ncaabbs.com/forums/uab/phpbb/index.php

Also a good place to get a few previews for our game with you Sun. Again, thanks and good luck!

[jhart05]

Like pnthr30 said, depends what are you looking for. All of those above are good suggestions. Here's my two cents...

Water Street is usually packed with a younger crowd. I'm only 35 and I avoid the Water Street bars. Too crowded for me. Just not into standing in line to get into a bar or having to sift thru a crowd of people just to get another drink. I do go to Water Street Brewery when I'm down there, a roommate from when I went to U of Milwaukee is the Brewmaster there.

And yeah, Goolsby's will be good to watch your football game. They have multiple TV's, tons of seating. The game should be on, as people around here will watch any football game. If not just ask and I'm sure they will help you out.

I try to find Brew Pubs when I visit other cities. If you like good beer with some good food, Rock Bottom, Water Street Brewery, or the Milwaukee Ale House are all good picks. I think I like the Ale House best. They have live music also. Saturday night looks like they have a U2 cover band there. I'm not a U2 fan, but if you are, might be cool. Probably a cover charge thou.

Hope you have a good experience here in Milwaukee.

[Pantherholic]

mcblazer said:

My 5 favorite things are women, beer, cheese, sausage and basketball!

good god, you don't live in Milwaukee b/c...?

[bball30]

I don't think I've seen mention of Game Time yet right on 4th street. It's one of my personal faves if I'm looking to get a bite to eat as well. They have a pretty good menu. Not sure when you are getting to town, but as someone stated before, the Lodge is an excellent choice, especially if you are in town yet tonight, buy a pitcher, get a free pizza.

[mcblazer]

pantherholic said:

mcblazer said:

My 5 favorite things are women, beer, cheese, sausage and basketball!

good god, you don't live in Milwaukee b/c...?

Ha Ha..Detroit Suburban (Royal Oak) Women, Canadian Beer, Kowalskys in Hamtramck, and the Pistons. You got me on the cheese. ;D

[pantherdon]

Come on... thats describes 50% of the U.S. population.
We can't all be fortunate enough to live in Milwaukee.

[brewtownbrian]

If you are looking for a relaxed place to go with plenty of TV's that is close to the Arena, pre-game...it's gotta be the Calderone PUB (not Club).

It's located on State St. between 3rd and 4th Street. Good food, nice atmosphere, $2 High Life's (and Lite's) pre and post-game and the waitresses are nice on the eyes.

Very UWM friendly...

[Kroener3535]

I would go eat at McDonalds, i mean McRib is back it really doesnt get any better in Milwaukee for cuisine that the McRib, ok in all seriousness though Goolsby's is a good bet for your sports bar but as for as eating places if you are looking to go upscale. Mo's a Place for Steaks on Plankington and Wisconsin is a good one otherwise the Milwaukee Chop house in the Hilton City Centre. Those are probably the two best places for chops in this town..Bar time food? Try Oakland Gyros on Oakland and Locust or Ma Fischers on Farwell just south of North Avenue

[PantherLou]

I am pretty sure all the teams are staying at the Hilton. After the games, head to the Miller Time Pub, on the street level of the Hilton at 5th and Wisconsin.