New Beers, Musicals and Harley History

Tequila Town Plaza. Photo courtesy of the Florentine Opera Company.

Each week, Urban Milwaukee curates a list of events that are taking the necessary safety precautions provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in order to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

What’s on tap this week? A new musical by Paul Williams will receive its first ever performance, a premiere by the Skylight Music Theatre. The X Ray Arcade is bringing live music back in a fun and virtual way featuring weekly performers and delicious pizza bagels. And escape the Wisconsin cold with a virtual trip to Mexico with the Florentine Opera Company’s new show that explores a variety of genres from zarzuela to classical opera.

Ongoing: Visit Milwaukee’s Giving Fest

Giving Fest is a series of over 50 events hosted by local businesses that help them raise money. For more information visit this website.

The winter chalets at South Shore Terrace in South Shore Park (2900 S. Shore Dr.) are open for reservation. This is the county’s first winter beer garden season. The chalets can fit up to six people and there is nearby fire for warming up. Up to six people from the same household or two people from different households can share a chalet for $75, which includes a $50 food and beverage credit and a 90 minute time slot. The chalets are reservations only, and are available seven days a week. To reserve, follow this link or call 414-257-5616.

Ongoing: Florentine Opera Presents Shakespeare

The Florentine Opera is celebrating music inspired by Shakespeare with performances of classics from Britten, Gounod, Verdi and more. The hour-and-a-half long program will take place in a secret room in a Milwaukee landmark home with ties to England and bootlegging. Historian John Eastberg will make an appearance to provide some historical background. The performance is digital only and can be purchased for $25 by following this link.

Ongoing: The BelAir Ice Bar

Bel Air Cantina’s Brookfield location (250 High St.) has unveiled its new 30-foot ice bar, made with over 10,000 pounds of ice, located in Market Square. The bar will serve specialty cocktails and there will be fire pits, ice sculptures and photo opportunities. A small food menu featuring Tortilla Soup and Gringo Nachos will also be available. The ice bar will remain until the weather starts getting a little warmer. For more details, visit the BelAir website.

February 18: Harley-Davidson Virtual Gallery Talk

The Harley-Davidson Museum continues its Virtual Gallery Talk series with part two of its Road Gallery. This week’s talk will continue the focus on selected motorcycles from the museum’s Road Gallery, highlighting the changes in aesthetic and functionality from the 1940’s to the 2000’s. The talk will showcase the key drivers behind these machines, and will feature post-war Harley-Davidson motorcycles and race bikes. The event will run for 45 minutes and will feature a Q&A session with Harley-Davidson experts. The talk will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are $6 and can be purchased here.

The Zoological Society of Milwaukee is presenting eight days of animal-related activities, family-friendly videos and zoo-related auction items. Each day of the auction will feature a different video or activity, and various items that are related to and exclusive to the zoo will be auctioned off. Donations will also be accepted at any time during the event, with the proceeds going towards the Zoological Society, a nonprofit organization striving to conserve, educate and support the Milwaukee County Zoo. Click here for more information.

February 19-20: Skylight Presents New Show by Paul Williams

Skylight Music Theatre is presenting a live-streamed reading of a new play with music by Paul Williams, Fortunate Sons, marking the first time that the musical has been performed. William is known for hit songs and movie soundtracks.  Fortunate Sons is a reflection on the time leading up to the Vietnam War draft, discussing issues of race, social status, geography and gender. The reading will feature nine actors and is being directed by Skylight’s Artistic Director, Michael Unger. A maximum of 350 patrons will be admitted to Skylight for the reading, but there is a live-streamed option as well. Tickets are free. For more information and to reserve your spot in-person or digitally, click here.

February 20: Third Space Brewing Beer Release

Third Space Brewing Company, 1505 W. St. Paul Ave., is celebrating a double beer release: The Maestro Italian-Style Pilsner and an Experimental IPA called Pockets Full of Sand (featuring tropical flavors reminiscent of locations warmer than Wisconsin). The beers will be on tap at the brewery but are also available in six packs to-go for those who would rather stay home.

February 20: Milwaukee Winter Farmers Market

There may be snow on the ground, but there are still farmers markets to enjoy, such as the Milwaukee Winter Farmers Market. The market, which is celebrating its 12th season, takes place on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Greenhouse Annex at the Mitchell Park Domes (524 S. Layton Blvd.) until March 27th. The market will feature 30 vendors offering fresh local produce, baked goods, cheeses, handmade soaps and more. COVID-19 safety precautions and guidelines will be enforced, including a mandatory mask policy and restrictions on eating and drinking in the market.

February 21: X-Ray Arcade’s Pizza Bagel and Virtual Concert Combo 

X-Ray Arcade, a live music venue in Cudahy (former known as The Metal Grill) is rolling out its new series of virtual live music events that will pair with specialty pizza bagel options. Pizza bagel options will feature four basic varieties as well as two specialty options, and each order will come with a bag of chips. For this Sunday, the two specialty toppings are buffalo chicken and vegan spinach artichoke dip, and the featured performer is Fox Face. To make an order, click here.

The United Community Center will host a virtual cooking class featuring Miguel Sanchez, chef at Café el Sol. The cafe is known for its Mexican and Puerto Rican cuisine, so its only fitting that this class will tackle guacamole and margaritas. A list of ingredients will be sent ahead of time to those who register, and participants will have the opportunity to live chat with and ask Sanchez some questions. Tickets to the event are $10, which includes a $5 gift card to Café el Sol (redeemable with the cafe’s curbside to-go meals). The event will run from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Click here for more info.

February 25-August 25: Experience Mexico with The Florentine Opera

As part of its Voyages series of events, The Florentine Opera will next “travel” to Mexico, highlighting the music of the town of Tequila in an operatic adventure exploring genres from zarzuela to classical opera. The performance will be viewed digitally and will run for approximately an hour and fifteen minutes. Tickets are $40, and a link to watch will be sent to your email. You can purchase those tickets here. The Florentine Opera is partnering with La Dama Mexican Kitchen and Bar, encouraging viewers to complete their experience with an authentic Mexican meal as well. The restaurant is offering three different three-course meals, all available for pickup. For more information on that, click here.