Opening day at Miller Park marks the beginning of Milwaukee awakening from its winter slumber. The slush has melted away and the temperature is now consistently staying above 50 degrees. Goodbye winter blues.
My mood has dramatically improved, and it's so nice to walk outside and see the sun shining. Milwaukee is a summer town. Besides heckling, tailgating and relaxing at Brewers games, the city is full of so many hot spots to visit.
Beginning in June, Cathedral Square becomes home to Jazz in the Park. Every Thursday, you can sit back, listen to jazz and dance through the crowd. All you need to bring is a blanket, a bottle of wine and some close friends or significant other. It's one of my favorite places to go in Milwaukee. Beforehand you can stop by Elsa's or Louise's for good and reasonably priced food.
Of course, I can't forget about Summerfest and all the heritage fests, such as German and Irish, which truly bring the city alive. You can listen to great music, discover new bands and stuff your face full of good food, practically all summer long.
See — our city is sounding more fun already. Then there's shopping, which is my weak spot. The east side of town is great for checking out thrift stores, boutiques and grabbing a bite to eat. Let me suggest Bella's Fat Cat for the best burger and Mr. Shoe for the cutest and most affordable shoes in town. The Third Ward has some great art galleries, coffee shops and fashion boutiques. You definitely have to go beyond Marquette and explore.
This city does offer some advantages for students. Tickets to different performances, such as the theater and ballet, are very reasonable in price for students. I definitely suggest you make it to at least one show before your four years are up.
Then there's just the luxury of finally having warm weather. We can now play catch and Frisbee in front of the Alumni Memorial Union or Lalumiere Hall and even make boring reading assignments enjoyable by lying outside. The weather even motivates me to go for a jog down by the lake.
Still need more ideas to keep you from succumbing to boredom this spring and summer? You can go to the Milwaukee County Zoo or look at onmilwaukee.com for upcoming events. For the 21-year-old crowd you can often find wine- and martini-tasting events. And for those of us looking for some fresh air and good company right here at Marquette, there is the patio at Caffrey's — which I am anxiously awaiting to reopen.
Finally, I think that everyone needs to make a list of places to go in Milwaukee before graduation. Honestly, there are some fantastic restaurants, bars and shops that you should definitely check out.
I have to admit this city has grown on me. Now that spring has arrived and the city is awakening I am going to live up my final days here!