Last Weekend in Milwaukee…

Milwaukee is a diverse city with numerous events happening every weekend. The Third Coast Daily photo team visited several of them last weekend and has a photo gallery including Polish Fest, UWM Summerdances, the final brunch served at Crisp Pizza Bar and Father’s Day is celebrated at the Zoo. Just a small sampling of what our fair city has to offer.

All Photos by Angela Morgan

Friday | Polish Fest

The second festival by the lake, Polish Fest, began Friday afternoon. Five performance stages brought us everything from traditional and modern polka bands, Polish folk dancing, and the 15th annual Chopin Youth Piano Competition. The Non-Stop Polka Stage had a very large crowd all weekend showing off their polka moves on the dancefloor. If you wanted to learn how to make perogis or polish sausage, there were cooking demonstrations available. For the animal lover, over 20 beautiful Highland (Tatra) Sheepdogs welcomed you near the main gate. Each afternoon had a special ticketed vodka and Polish spirit tasting and Milwaukee historian John Gurda even gave a talk about the famed Kashubs of Milwaukee and Jones Island. Everything the lover of all things Polish could dream of plus the great Maier Festival Grounds staples like the Sky Glider, Saz’s Sampler, and an afternoon lounging on the rocky shoreline of Lake Michigan. Ahh, summer.

Saturday | UWM Summerdances

To complete their Year of the Arts and 50th Anniversary Year, UWM collaborated with award-winning director/choreographer Stephan Koplowitz holding several performances throughout the weekend of “Water Sight, Milwaukee.” Temporary performance spaces were created from the Old North Avenue Water Tower and the Cudahy Gardens in front of the Milwaukee Art Museum, sites chosen because of their connection to water for this World Premiere. Third Coast Daily had the opportunity to speak with Stephan Koplowitz before Summerdances weekend and was there for Saturday’s performance. Happy 50 years, UWM Peck School of the Arts!

Sunday | Crisp Pizza Bar closes, Father’s Day celebrated at the Zoo

After several years in business on Brady Street, Crisp Pizza Bar and Lounge served its last brunch Sunday afternoon. A new restaurant will be opening in its place in the near future. Good food and street views. It will be missed.

Dads were treated with several complimentary offers around the city on Sunday to celebrate their special day. The Milwaukee County Zoo gave free admission to Dad to spend a day enjoying the Zoo with his family. The park gave a free button making-workshop so kids could make a “#1 Dad” lasting memento of their trip. The Zoo was packed with families exploring animals, riding the new zip-line, railroad adventures, and of course ice cream on one of the warmest days so far this summer. This year’s special exhibit, the Sting Ray and Shark Bay, is open now through September 2. Keep an eye out for more info out soon on Zoo a la Carte coming in August, a showcase of the best of Milwaukee restaurants right at the Zoo.

See below for Third Coast Daily’s full photo gallery from last weekend in Milwaukee.