Prepare for Spring with a Rain Garden Workshop

Rain garden. File photo courtesy of MMSD.

There’s plenty to do in Milwaukee this week while practicing safe social distancing. Celebrate Pi Day with a slice of pie and a Lakefront Brewery beer, or virtually gaze up on the breathtaking Northern Lights. And with the rainy season coming up, learn how to design and implement a rain garden in your home while also protecting Lake Michigan.

Ongoing: Winter Chalets at South Shore Park

The winter chalets at South Shore Terrace in South Shore Park (2900 S. Shore Dr.) are still open for reservation. 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.

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.

March 11: Harley-Davidson Virtual Gallery Talk

Harley-Davidson continues its new Virtual Gallery talk series with a talk focused on the story of a 2004 Harley-Davidson Night Train motorcycle with Japanese license plates that washed ashore in British Columbia after a devastating tsunami hit Japan. The motorcycle was discovered by a beachcomber named Peter Mark, and went on to become a tribute to those lost in the tsunami. The event will begin at 7 p.m. and will run for 45 minutes, which will include a Q&A session with several resident Harley-Davidson experts. Tickets are $6 and can be purchased here.

March 12-13: Northern Lights Virtual Planetarium Show

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee planetarium invites you to experience nature’s radiant natural light show: The Northern Lights. The event will take place live on Youtube and will begin at 7 p.m. on March 12 and at 2 p.m. on March 13. A Q&A session will take place at the end of the event. Those interested in attending must register online, and can select either a $0, $5 or $15 donation. Click here to register.

Join the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District and Fresh Coast Guardians for a virtual workshop exploring the construction of rain gardens — a soil-absorption and filtering system designed to treat polluted stormwater runoff. The virtual event will explain how to design and build a rain garden, how to select the appropriate plants and how your rain garden could help protect Lake Michigan. The event is free, but you must register to attend by clicking here. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

13: Milwaukee Winter Farmers Market

Despite the melting snow, the Winter Farmers Market is still on. 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.

March 13: The Perfectly Imperfect Craft Fair

Stock up on unique, hand-crafted goods and gifts at the Perfectly Imperfect Craft Fair, an event that will host 125 different vendors and artists selling their creations. Social distancing precautions and mask-wearing will be enforced. The event will take place at the Brookfield Conference Center at 325 S. Moorland Rd. and will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission to the event is $2 per adult and is free for children 12 and under. For a list of participating vendors, click here.

Find yourself missing the usual packed schedule of Milwaukee festivals celebrating the city’s diverse heritage and population? Milwaukee Food Tours presents a virtual tour of Milwaukee’s history, focusing on the Irish, German, Polish, Italian and Mexican immigrants that came to the city. The hour-and-a-half event will run from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and costs $10 to view. Click here to register.

March 14: Pi Day at Lakefront Brewery

You’d be hard pressed to find a better way to celebrate Pi Day than by eating some actual pie, and Lakefront Brewery recognizes this. Therefore on March 14, head on over to one of Milwaukee’s favorite breweries to taste some curated pie-and-beer pairings. Lakefront will have six different housemade pies to try with six different bottles of beer. Try the Peanut Butter & Chocolate Cream pie paired with the Fuel Cafe Coffee Stout, or the vegan and gluten-free Strawberry Rhubarb Pie with a gluten-free New Grist Gose with Lime. Pairings can be preordered and then picked up for takeout, or can be ordered by dine-in guests. Do all the options sound good? Get all six pairings in a package for $40. Click here to preorder.