Evan Hughes

Evan Hughes. Photo courtesy of NEWaukee.

What is your job and its responsibilities?

I am fortunate to have two amazing jobs! I serve as the Publisher for DRAFT Magazine, a national lifestyle magazine focused on craft and import beer and am the Co-Founder of Central Standard Craft Distillery in Walker’s Point. The best part about being an entrepreneur or working in small business is that my job responsibilities change by the day.

What is your favorite Milwaukee tradition?

My mother lives in a high rise condo on Prospect Ave. Every summer, we watch the Air & Water Show from her roof. Due to the close proximity of fly-overs, it’s quite possible that we all have acquired hearing loss. Totally worth it…year after year!

Favorite place to grab coffee/an after dinner drink?

My favorite place to grab coffee is Anodyne in Walker’s Point. It’s right around the corner from the Distillery; I love its’ convenience, coffee and friendly faces. Our frequent visits actually led to collaboration between Anodyne and Central Standard. I’m excited to announce that we will be releasing our Anodyne Coffee Vodka just before Christmas! If you enjoy coffee, this is the spirit for you!

My wife and I enjoy exploring the many places in Milwaukee to grab after dinner drinks! Some of our favorite places include: Buckley’s, The University Club of Milwaukee, The Pfister lobby bar, Iron Horse and Braise.

Favorite little known hidden gem in Milwaukee?

We love The Noble in Walker’s Point. The space is super intimate and the people are warm and welcoming. The menu changes often which allows you to step out of your comfort zone and try new things. Noble’s commitment to fresh local ingredients is the cherry on top for us. One tip: they don’t accept reservations so try and go before or after peak mealtimes!

What is the perfect thing to do in Milwaukee on a Sunday afternoon?

This answer would have been very different three months ago! My wife, Megan and I, welcomed our first child, Henry, on Sept 18th. He is amazing at being super cute, drinking milk and screaming! Our Sundays were once filled with Bloody Marys at Wicked Hop, brunch at Harbor House or watching Packer games at Stenys. Now, our Sundays are filled with grocery store trips to replenish baby necessities. Recently, we enjoyed hopping in the car and strolling through Candy Cane Lane.

How does Milwaukee vary from other cities you’ve lived in/visited?

I’ve lived in Minneapolis, Denver, Scottsdale and Chicago and there are two things that stand out. The first, being the quality of people that reside in Milwaukee. In other cities, I’ve noticed that people are too impressed by how important they think they are. It’s hard to have an interesting conversation because of the constant need to prove their importance. As a whole in Milwaukee, we are genuine and not judgmental. Secondly, I enjoy being in Milwaukee because I believe there is the ability to effect change easily. If you are willing to work hard to try and make a difference, doors will open and the community supports you by giving you the tools to succeed. I think NEWaukee is one of the best examples of this!