I love this place! It has to be my favorite gift shop all over Milwaukee because they have…read moreeverything I didn't think I was looking for! It made it easy for me To find gifts for my friends & coworkers. They have gifts like unique and eclectic stickers, candles, clothing, wallets, books, games, jewelry, ceramics, chocolate, coffee, tea, kitchen stuff, Kids stuff, and more! I'm a huge fan of their wide range of earring selection! Affordable and reasonable pricing. Staff was helpful and available if you had any questions. Ample street parking outside

Swoon is a great mix of nick backs, baby clothes, kids toys, jewelry, candles and more. It's a…read moregreat place to stop for a gift for friends or families. They have the cutest onesies for kids and the largest selection of fern and needle I've ever seen. They also have a few other candle brands as well. They also have some small local artists work sold here. Overall a really cool artsy nick nack store that has a huge range of inventory.

This is one of the cutest variety stores in town and it's one of those places where you want to be…read morethere to shop in person. They have all kinds of candy, puzzles, knitting materials, and it's very likely you'll find something unique for you/and or loved ones.

A cute hidden gem! I've been looking for blind boxes (specifically sonny angels and smiskis) and so…read morefar this is the only place that has them in Milwaukee. They have a ton of other cute items as well (stickers, snacks, plushies, etc). The owner is super sweet and kind and will put items on hold for you if you ask. I'll definitely be back to check out their new miffy items (and other blind boxes of course!).

The a gem of a store. Its what I would describe as an urban housewares stores. It has lots of…read moreinteresting home decor items, but usually in scaled down versions. For example, lot of small/miniature plants to fit into a smaller apartment or condo. They also offer other knick knack like items to help accent your home. I like the nice selection of birthday/greeting cards. The staff are friendly and available for assistance.

I just did all my holiday shopping in one stop. Mod Gen is a perfect little shop that has unique…read moreitems (cards, holiday decor, kitchen and home items, books, etc) and fantastic planters and plants for all tastes. And the opportunity to have your chosen plants planted in your choice of planters on the spot makes it so special, especially for someone like me who can't seem to pot a plant to save my life. The store is heavily stocked but not overwhelming; it takes a while to see it all and decide what all I wanted to get. It is a lot of fun to shop here. Park at the Public Market for the easiest way to find a spot or wait for a spot on the street. I am not sure about accessibility as it is a few steps to get in the front door. I didn't see another option but I also didn't look for one. I hope they have access somewhere but call ahead to be sure.

GoodLand Home & Goods is such a wonderful store. It's actually more than a store and is truly a gem…read morein the growing Downer Ave. shopping scene. I love that they offer such a diverse selection of unique items that can't be found at big box stores. From beautiful art pieces to cozy robes, delightful candles, and even sweet treats, there's something special waiting to be discovered at GoodLand. Our visit felt like a treasure hunt, and we found some perfect gifts for friends, family and for ourselves during our jaunt through the store. GoodLand has curated a fantastic collection of one-of-a-kind items. Their commitment to providing a personalized shopping experience is evident, and it makes a significant difference in the community having such a unique shopping experience at everyones fingertips.

Stopped in here before a movie at the Downer and I'm so glad I did! This place is adorable and I…read morelove everything they have to offer. This place is going to be on my list for shopping local for the holidays and just gift-giving, in general. At the moment, I didn't have anything specific in mind, but I did need a birthday card, so I bought a really cute one with a cupcake on it. The owner was super friendly and was there to help, if we needed it. Definitely check this place out for gifts and treats for yourself.

Love this shop! All items chosen with love, and creativity- I can never decide when visiting her…read morepop up locations, which item to choose! Such a gift to Milwaukee!

From the owner: The She Shed is a Latina-owned and operated business, established in 2019. While we are located in…read moreMilwaukee, WI we operate online and participate in markets (mercados) throughout the year. We provide domestic shipping within the US. We carry small-batch items made by me and many others and strive to bring fun, vibrant, and unique gifts to you from us. When you shop with us, please know that you are buying from women, people of color and other small businesses. We really do a happy dance with each purchase! Thank you for shopping with us! Abrazos, Marissa

I love this store. I always find a little something either for myself or someone I was supposed to…read morebuy a gift for hence the reason I'm in the store in the first place :-) I would describe it as a "fine gift shop", while the prices generally are not cheap, albeit a tiny bit overpriced, the product is of a much better quality than your average gift shop (but we are in WFB so I am not sure people seem to mind.) It is a small shop but very dense so you have to look in every nook and cranny. I love going around Christmas time because they have the coolest ornaments. Very classy. I usually buy things for my Mother-in-law and Mother here because they are so hard to buy for. They have a variety of stationary- high end- brands such as Crane & Co. and will print wedding invites as well. The card selection is awesome- no Hallmark here- but really original cards that make you laugh out loud. Their Christmas cards are also divine. They have a corner of the store dedicated to baby/children things. A lot of things you can customize with the child's name, so if you are looking to put a smile on your child's face with a cool personalized gift, this would be the place to go. I think the motto: "Less is More" applies here because if you are looking for a gift or something for yourself that is truly special, you need to have to go to the big box stores, you can find it here at this super sweet shop on Silver Spring.

Fun spot for good food and drinks in an admittedly crowded Milwaukee staple (or so I'm told)…read more I'm not gonna make it a victim of its own success just because it's super crowded and the parking lot is a stressful experience! Its heavy attended volume is well deserved; lots of interesting stalls line the ground floor, from coffee and candy to bbq and Thai. I wouldn't say it could replace regular grocery shopping; it's more like a fancy spot to shop for artisan goods like cured meats, sweet treats, baked goods, and other accoutrement. Plenty of seating on the open second floor (also a good spot to take photos of the market) if you want to eat there; otherwise grab some delicious food to go and enjoy the surrounding neighborhood!

Due to limited availability of street parking, we decided to use the market's parking lot that…read moreadvertised 30 minutes of free parking. That was perfect since we were only going to be there for a few minutes while we had some shaved ice. The market offers everything from cheese, seafood, pasta etc. as well as many restaurants to choose from. We were in the mood for something cold on a hot summer day and Chillwaukee hit the spot. We finished our shaved ice and headed back to our car. We thought we had plenty of time to make it out of the parking lot in less than 30 minutes. When we got in the line to exit there were only 4 cars ahead of us with 5 minutes left of time. No problem, I thought. I was wrong. When it was my turn to exit I was told I had to pay for an hour of parking even though we were only over by a few seconds!! When I explained that I had been in line for 5 minutes, the attendant said that the same thing had happened to other customers before me and that there was nothing he could do about it. I would agree if I had shown up one minute late and there was no line to leave. Other than the parking situation, I enjoyed my short visit to the market.

Without knowing what to expect except for the fact that this has been a popular, big event in…read moreChicago, hubby and I went to Fiserv Forum Plaza to check out the Christkindlmarket Milwaukee on their first Sunday. We picked the evening to go hoping to see the beautiful yellow lights (and I recommend you to go in the evening too - same food same drinks same shops but the view is more beautiful). The ornaments and lights indeed made it festive, but there were surprisingly not many tents and people. And there was no music. The market felt kind of tiny, empty and quiet on the huge, open Fiserv Forum Plaza ground. Maybe as the holiday season approaches, the vibe will get better. Here are the things that we did and enjoyed: 1. Got the warm, creamy, rich Belgian hot chocolate in the super cute Milwaukee souvenir mug. It's $11 with the mug which is pricey for such a small size of drink. But I liked the mug a lot and thought sharing a mug of hot chocolate with someone you love on a cold winter evening is kind of sweet. 2. Different handmade crafts from Germany, blankets from Peru, outwear, tea, coffee cakes, chocolates, pies, candies, cookies, cream cheese, soap... We walked around the outdoor area to check out all the vendors. It took us less than 30 mins but it was fun. 3. Checked out the indoor Christmas décor and gift shop before getting food. The staff were super nice. 4. Got the Raclette cheese sandwiches! Watching the melty raclette got scraped into the bread was delightful. With $1 extra, you could add a brat to the sandwich with a similar amount of cheese (we thought, as I got one with just raclette and hubby got one with a brat). * My suggestions are: 1) eat the sandwich as soon as possible when it is still warm and moist. Don't spend too much time looking for seats or taking photos lol. 2) Your hands may smell stinky later if you touch the cheese, which is highly likely to happen as there is so much cheese! 5. Found the warming house and sat down and enjoyed some simple, traditional live Christmas music performed by a band.

Absolutely a fan of Christkindlmarket Milwaukee or CK/MKE, and have many thoughts after having…read morelived in Chicago for 20 years, with their market being one of my absolute favorite things about the Holidays in Chicago. A Christkindlmarket is a traditional European or German "Christ Child Market". Say "Kindle Fire". Now say "Krist Novoselic of Nirvana." Now say "Krist Novoselic has a Kindle." Then say "Krist Kindle Market". You've got the pronunciation! Love: - Gluwein in the heart-shaped souvenir mug! So tasty and festive! - Pierogi, sausages, sauerkraut - Raclette is so hot right now, and they've got it! (Tastes better than it smells, trust me.) - Hot chocolate in a souvenir mug - The warming house is huge, and sometimes has carolers - Bathrooms are the indoor kind by the Fiserv Beer Garden - It's.not.that.crowded (Seriously, just walk slowly, wait your turn at the stands, and practice patience). - Especially not crowded on a weeknight - Handmade crafts from Germany, and small businesses like Taylor Street Soaps from Little Italy in Chicago - Kaethe Wohlfahrt ornament and handcrafted nativities - Fiserv Forum Plaza/Herb Kohl Way makes a perfect location Improve: - More, more, more, make it bigger! - More crafts from Germany, please. Like those wooden handcrafted moose, dragons, animals, and those goofy toys like the squirrel whistles - More local businesses, and perhaps add Makers (from Milwaukee) that do Holiday signs 'n' stuff. This doesn't have to be just like Chicago's. - Add some high tops outside so people can post up to eat/drink - Can we get some Kinder Uberraschungs up in here? We won't choke on the prize, promise! - Commemorative art print really needs improving. Big missed opportunity to make a good art print into $ for charity, including cards, magnets, and an annual ornament. A good first year for Christkindlmarket Milwaukee!