Vivarium is a new live music venue on Milwaukee's lower East Side, and I saw the band Luna there in…read moreabout the third week of Vivarium's existence. Run by the Colectivo crowd, it looks just like the Back Room, high ceilings adorned with metal trusses, fake and real plants, and no soundproofing. Checking in with the app the employees were super nice! Really refreshing. If you follow live music in Milwaukee you've already heard about the talking crowds and bad sightlines from the Buffalo Nickels show and a co-worker said the same about the Charlie Paar show. We were there early so got a good spot closer to the stage, but even close up the stage could stand to be higher. Luna was sounding good but the guitarist was noting a ghost in his equipment, band members seemed to be wincing from sound issues. Something for the club to figure out. Went to watch from the back and the room sound is really good. Sightlines are horrible back there, as the stage needs to be higher. The crowd was so talkative during the whole show, my friend noted people are disengaged from the bad sightlines, so that makes sense. Stand in front of the truss with the wifi device for a better engaged crowd, good sound and better sight lines. Bar offerings are good, bathrooms are clean and stylish. A solid three stars (OK) with room for improvement.

BF and I visited Vivarium to see the band Enter the Haggis. It was the third show at the new venue,…read moreso everything is clean and nice. The interior decor appears to have been moved directly over from the Back Room at Collectivo, with the same ceiling treatment and plants - both real and faux. The bar is also pretty much the same, with mixed drinks, wine, beers and non alcoholic options. Seating at this show was all folding chairs, but the staff brought out more when they saw the size of the crowd in attendance. Perhaps it was our average collective age. There are a few loveseats and high stools along the right side of the room. It is not a fantastic acoustic space, with it's abundance of hard surfaces and no soft finishes, but it is intimate and allows you to get right up by the musicians. The bathrooms, at least the women's, are large with plenty of stalls and flattering lighting. This is a good replacement for the Back Room - essentially a carbon copy - but you have some chance of parking successfully over here as the street is less busy. There are also plenty of restaurants around for pre-show eats.

IG: diamante.lara.milwaukee…read more The food is fantastic and the ambiance was great. Seems to be a unique go to spot for me. Service was well. Watch the video attached.

Always a great time at the uptown. So many fun things to do and when you come and it's actually…read morenice out they have the patio open. Today is buy one get one tokens until 9 PM so we got a bunch and are gonna stay for a while Great staff lots of fun and a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon

Black Cat Alley is an eclectic art experience in Milwaukee. It's what Black Alley calls "an outdoor…read moreart gallery" or simply said a collection of cool murals. I love seeking out new street art, so I added this alley to my Milwaukee itinerary. You can say it was right up my alley. LOCATION: I Uber'ed to the East Side to the Axe Bar (AXE MKE) which is right next to the alley. You'll find the alley behind the historic Oriental Theater at the intersection of North Avenue and Ivanhoe. Entry from Prospect Avenue and Ivanhoe are both available. Personally, I get lost everywhere and found it right away entering from the Prospect Avenue. The locals must not all know about this alley because my Uber driver was unfamiliar with this location. The area has some cool businesses, grab some food nearby! ART: Free and open 24/7. You'll find 21 murals by 24 different artists in the alley. You'll find the stories behind the art on Black Cat Alley's website or via QR codes next to the art. All murals are vibrant and creative. It's an equivalent of a museum where you'll linger by the art and try to find some meaning. The art is by global artists from places like Germany, Colombia, and others. My favorite mural was Catalina Bayona's "We Are All Immigrants" depicting wild animals and migration. It's very powerful when you think about it a little longer. All art is photogenic but be sure to check what releases you'll need for any commercial use. I wish that every city had art alleys. It's such a creative way to beautify cities. I look forward to my next visit to Milwaukee and another visit to the alley. I'll read up more about the art here before my next visit.

[Please keep in mind I travel a lot and hunt graffiti everywhere so this review is a direct…read morecomparison to other graffiti areas.] It's a small alley dedicated to graffiti. Some professional, some tagging. Some look like they were commissioned, some you can tell some were definitely done on the fly. It's not the best graffiti but I appreciate that Milwaukee has a small dedication to one of my favorite things- graffiti. Also- it's a safe alley. We went early in the morning and got donuts nearby. Drove by again a day later and a boba place is right around the corner.

Our Guide, Mike, gave an exceptional tour! Saw so many activities, food places, and historical…read moresights in Milwaukee we never knew existed... and we live close by!! Highly recommend this tour, especially if you're looking for the best of what Milwaukee has to offer !!

We had the best time on this tour! Mike was funny, informative and friendly!…read more I would recommend this to anyone visiting Milwaukee or if you even live there and want to know more about the city's history and architecture. This isn't only a on the bus tour, you also get to hop off at some spots. We had so fun!! We would do it again! Thanks Mike!

This place is such a fun mix on the usual Friday or Saturday night activity for a date or a small…read moregroup. I went here on a date and it was an absolute blast. He signed us up for a time on a Friday night and it was completely packed. We got there early to grab a drink and scope out the props for our hole. They have a full bar and so many fun and random props to create your hole. It's a lot of fun to see the creative side of everyone. You have around an hour to design your hole and another hour then to play all of the other holes. My one tidbit on this was I think we could have used a little less time to design and more to play the holes, because we weren't able to finish all of them. Overall, I would definitely come back here. I think I would recommend not to have too large of a group, because that's what makes it take longer for each hole.

Vibe - weird. It's in a basement and smells like it…read more We had a work function here and the communication wasn't the best with our Bars and Rec reps as we found out as we arrived that they would have food out then we'd do a demo and start golfing. The spread was laughable for the price paid. The pizza was probably the best value. What sucks the most is that they take everything away after an hour and a half, even the "safe to leave out" things like pretzels. You can't leave food out that we paid for, especially if it's not a health concern? Maybe provide boxes so people could take things home? Wasteful and disappointing. The pizza and garlic bread got the best reviews. Cheese and veggie tray were what you'd expect. The staff behind the bar were friendly and quick to help, but I wasn't a fan of the demo provider. Spoke quietly and was upset that the group couldn't hear him though it was pretty full in the event space with another party who was already underway. The idea was unique enough but you'll need extra time to set up the courses. Overall, not impressed with this venue. Recommend any other Bars and Rec instead.

We went for a 30th birthday and it was absolutely wonderful! They had wonderful staff who were very…read moreexperienced with VR and made great game suggestions! There was a great selection of NA and alcoholic drink options. 10/10 would recommend for a party, it was nice having the whole space to our group and they had many different game options for people not participating in VR.

If you're looking for a great place to kill some time with a teenager I highly recommend RSVR. As a…read morefirst timer staff was knowledgeable and patient in getting us acclimated to the gaming system. Visiting Milwaukee and having a teenager you may think what to do? With numerous games to play and in a bustling district a wonderful time was had. Will visit again and enjoyed our time. Keep up the great work.

This place is simply breathtaking, it's like taking a step through time. So beautiful, the details…read moreare amazing. Such a fun way to see a movie. The film festival was great.

The Oriental is a gorgeous theater. They show interesting films, as well as Hollywood…read moreblockbusters.They have the sole 70mmm screen in the area. The concessions stand has fun offerings including bottles of wine and THC treats. The popcorn does stand out as better than most. What's the problem then? I don't see films here to sit through a lengthy sales pitch asking for donations and film club support. In fact, I avoid this lovely theater because they do it. After sitting through an hour or more of passive slide pitches for money, they brought their leader on stage to make another, way too long, pitch for support. It was such a turn off I may never go back. Enough. Yikes.

We went there during the Milwaukees Doors Open, it has beautiful view over looking Lake Michigan…read more Going downhill you will also find a big lawn area and garden. In the villa, it has so many rooms that is also a museum.

Even though the Villa Terrace is an art museum, the real superstar here is the Villa/property. From…read morethe moment you step into the courtyard - complete with an impressive sculpture of Mercury - you're going to feel as though you were transported to a small Italian village. It's an exquisite time capsule of a place. And the views of Lake Michigan are the cherry on top. Your entrance ticket grants you access to both floors, the courtyard, the outside terrace and the grounds that you can walk down. There's small art exhibits that get rotated out every few months and plenty of community events including yoga, sound baths and a cafe in the warmer months. This place also moonlights as a wedding venue (in case you're about to tie the knot!) Entrance is $15 pp but there are free days offered throughout the year including during Milwaukee's annual museum days. And if you have a Milwaukee County library card you can checkout a pass for Terrace Villa which is how we got to experience this hidden gem.

This years night market was bigger than I have ever seen it before! So many food trucks, a variety…read moreof vendors, and lots of people to enjoy it! Only once a month, (June, July, August, and September), its a fun stop for your Milwaukee Summer bucket list. Its so great to see all the different vendors and food each year. This last market had a karaoke stand, various shops selling Milwaukee art, soap, and other handmade goods. Tons of food truck to chose from, we tried the tots (one of our favorites) and the brisket mac and cheese. Yum! Whenever I am able to, I make sure to stop by for a bit. It's an easy stop after work! Great music, good food, fun activities, and people watching too!

Heart of Downtown packed on a Wednesday night every time it's hosted. Great selection of vendors…read more Lines were pretty long for some, I wouldn't wait in. Did score some local honey, a mini sample pack of the cutest little bears. I really was just passing through, didn't want to make any impulse purchases since there was a lot of great stuff. It was a melting pot, people of all ages and backgrounds. Feels like there's more and more vendors each year.

What a gorgeous event space! We went here for a wedding and it was so beautiful. The attention to…read moredetail in the decor was so fun. We had great service and an amazing time. Truly a unique space!

Dandy in Wauwatosa is an absolute gem! Whether you're hunting for unique vintage treasures or…read moresearching for an incredible event space, this place delivers. Their selection of vintage goods is thoughtfully curated and reasonably priced, with everything from mid-century furniture to quirky decor pieces you won't find anywhere else. The event space is equally amazing--full of character, charm, and a vibe that would make any gathering feel special. We attended a holiday market hosted in the space. The proprietors are friendly and welcoming. Highly recommend checking out Dandy for shopping or hosting an event. Can't wait to stop in again soon!