Tune Into the Minority Health Film Festival

From Durban to Tomorrow. Photo from the Milwaukee Film Festival.

There’s plenty to do in the Milwaukee area this week while still maintaining social distancing.

Each week, Urban Milwaukee is curating a list of events that are taking the necessary safety precautions provided by the CDC in order to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

This week, take the family on a trip to the Mesozoic Era with the Dinosaur Adventure Drive-Thru. And while you’re out and about, why not swing by Miller Park and make sure you’re registered to vote for the upcoming elections? Browse some local goods at Discovery World at the year’s first Milwaukee Makers Market, and get your film fest fix with the Minority Health Film Festival.

September 17-20: Indeed We Ride

Indeed Brewing (530 S. 2nd St.) is celebrating Wisconsin Bike Week with a ride that includes two beers and a swag pack. Choose between two routes: from Indeed Brewing Company to The Fermentorium Brewery and Tasting Room (7481 WI-60 Trunk, Cedarburg) or from Indeed Brewing to The Fermentorium Barrel House (6933 W. North Ave.). The routes are “ride when you like,” although there is a group ride option that will leave at noon on Saturday from each location. Swag packs include beer coupons, stickers, a Bike Fed head badge, a ride guide and more. Pickup is available at any of the three participating locations. Tickets are $20 per rider or four tickets for $70.

Milwaukee Film Festival is once again putting on the Minority Health Film Festival, an event that features unique film screenings and community forums that discuss issues that communities of color face, such as maternal mortality rate among black women and medical bias in the United States health system. This year, because of the pandemic, all screenings and events will be livestreamed. Tickets can be purchased at $2.99 per film (or 99 cents for Milwaukee Film Members). For a complete list of films and events and how to access them, visit mkefilm.org.mhff.

September 17-23: Dinosaur Adventure Drive Thru

The Waukesha County Expo Center (1000 Northview Rd., Waukesha) will feature 80 life-sized dinosaurs, include a 40-foot-tall T-Rex, for a family-friendly drive-thru event. The prehistoric tour runs for approximately 45 minutes and will allow guests to remain in the comfort and safety of their vehicles. Tickets are valid per vehicles of up to eight passengers. Purchase an Adventure Pack (not included with your ticket) to bring along on your drive, which includes a backpack, t-shirt, cotton candy bag and a variety of toys. Tickets can be purchased online only by clicking this link.

September 18: Shorewood Goes ‘80s

Spend some time outdoors in Shorewood while an ‘80s tribute band travels around the neighborhood performing your favorite hits from that decade. The Shorewood Business Improvement District is encouraging those who would like to join to grab takeout or food on the patio at your favorite Shorewood restaurant. The band will make its rounds from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and the event will be live-streamed on the Shorewood BID’s Facebook page.

September 18-20: The Party on Pitt Pop-up Beer Patio

Broken Bat Brewing (135 E. Pittsburgh Ave.) and MobCraft Beer (505 S. 5th St.) are teaming up for a two-month long pop-up beer patio event. Every weekend from Sept. 4 until Oct. 25, Broken Bat Brewing will host local food vendors and musicians and have plenty of safe outdoor activities. The event aims to highlight as many Milwaukee breweries and artists as possible for the duration of its two months. This weekend it’s celebrating live music at Alpine Valley. The beer patio will be streaming full live shows from bands that have graced the Alpine Valley stage such as Dave Matthews Band, Phish and Jimmy Buffet. Those who wish to attend must purchase a $30 ticket that translates to a $30 beer voucher upon arrival. Guests have a choice between a 100-square-foot plot (bringing your own chairs is a must) or a picnic table. Each option only allows for six guests. Reservations are good for 90 minutes, and spots will be sanitized in the 15 minutes between reservations spots. To purchase tickets, follow this link.

Downtown Employee Appreciation Week has been celebrating those who work downtown with virtual and in-person events all week. Friday marks the final day of this week-long celebration, which will start with a 7 a.m. morning meditation. A conversation on networking and staying connected will follow at 10 a.m., and then a lunch break concert featuring local band KASE will take place at the Marcus Performing Arts Center. Closing out the event is a bodyweight workout class at 2:30 p.m. led by a trainer from the downtown Wisconsin Athletic Club. All events can be livestreamed here.

September 19: Tosa Farmer’s Market

Every Saturday until Oct. 17, the Wauwatosa Farmer’s Market will be open from 8 a.m. to noon. In accordance with guidelines from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and local health officials, the market has added new safety precautions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Some important guidelines include limiting families to one healthy adult shopper (leave the kids at home if possible), one-way walking traffic routes and pre-ordering for quick pick-up. For a full list of guidelines, check out the Facebook event page. The market is located at Hart Mills Parking Lot at 7720 Harwood Ave.

September 19: Oak Creek Farmer’s Market

Every Saturday until the end of October, the Oak Creek Farmer’s Market will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The market has new safety precautions in place and added an online ordering option that includes a drive-thru. Vendors start taking orders for pickup each Monday. The market is located at the Drexel Town Square, at 8040 S. 6th St.

September 19: South Shore Farmer’s Market

Every Saturday until the end of October, the South Shore Farmer’s Market at South Shore Park in Bay View will be open from 8 a.m. until noon. The market is following a new social-distancing format that will allow for safe, fast and easy transactions. Pre-orders can be made from the online store Monday through Thursday.

September 19-20: The East Side Art Market

Every Saturday and Sunday throughout September, the East Side Art Lot (a new outdoor hangout spot that Urban Milwaukee previously reported on) will host a socially distanced art and maker market presented by The Waxwing, Milwaukee Makers Market and The East Side BID. From 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., guests can browse 12 vendors while enjoying live local music. Masks are required for this event.

Every Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday until early November, the Fondy Farmers Market will be set up at 2200 W. Fond du Lac Ave. Fresh vegetables, baked goods, wellness products and more will be sold. The event is taking precautionary measures to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as requiring masks and prohibiting eating on-site. Free masks are available at the information booth. SNAP benefits are accepted, and some vendors also accept WIC and Senior vouchers. The market will run from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

September 20: Gallery Night at Black Cat Alley

The Black Cat Alley, the one-block art installation located behind the Oriental Theatre (2230 N. Farwell Ave.) is receiving some new art. Beverages will be provided by the Crossroad Collective’s Pharmacy Bar and Milwaukee Fuzzy Logic will be spinning some tunes. QR codes are set up by each mural, which can be scanned for more information on the artists and their visions.

September 20: Greenfield Farmer’s Market

Every Sunday up until the end of October the Greenfield Farmer’s Market at Konkel Park, 5151 W. Layton Ave., will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The market encourages social distancing and mask wearing. And there are one-way traffic arrows to help prevent crowded spaces. The market is accepting cash, Visa, Mastercard and SNAP benefits for payment. For more information, visit the market’s website.

September 20: Riverwest Farmer’s Market

Every Sunday until Oct. 18, the Riverwest Farmer’s Market will take place on N. Pierce Street between E. Center Street and E. Hadley Street  (next to the basketball court). Fresh produce, flowers and baked goods are just some of the stuff for sale at the market. Vendors will be set up from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

September 20: Burgers for Mental Health and Addiction

The Original, a fine-dining restaurant on the East Side located at 2498 N. Bartlett Ave., formerly the home of Red Dot, is hosting a fundraiser for two organizations dealing with mental health and addiction. The event will raise money for Drop the Needle, an organization dedicated to fighting opioid addiction, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness, a group advocating for those affected by mental illness. On the event page, The Original’s chef Vinny Cornils wrote, “This is a very important cause to me having suffered from these (illnesses) throughout my adult life. Our industry now is finally starting to recognize these problems and take action by trying to break the stigma of talking about these topics.” The fundraiser will sell half-pound cheeseburgers with cheddar cheese, raw onion, pickles and mayo for $10. The restaurant is asking that customers pay with cash, but if necessary, a Venmo option is available. The event will start at noon and is limited to 100 burgers.

Lakefront Brewery (1872 N. Commerce St.) is bringing back its popular stand-up event in a socially-distanced format. Tickets are sold per table, and can be purchased for $30 for a two-person table, $60 for a four-person table and $90 for a table that seats up to six. The event will feature a lineup of comedians performing on stage while guests enjoy a special food menu and Lakefront’s beer on tap. Lakefront will only be accepting card payments during this event and will have hand sanitizer available at each table. Face masks must also be worn at all times while at the brewery. This event is limited to persons age 21 and up.

September 20: Milwaukee Makers Market

Celebrate the first Milwaukee Makers Market of 2020 at Discovery World (500 N. Harbor Dr.). The market features local vendors selling ceramics, clothing, leather goods, candles and more. The event requires masks to be worn and is free to attend. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

September 22: Voter Registration Drive-Thru

Miller Park is hosting a drive-thru voter registration event from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event is open to all Wisconsin residents, and participants are encouraged to request an absentee ballot, which will then be mailed to the voter’s home. To qualify, bring an acceptable proof of address and a valid photo ID. The process will allow participants to remain in safety and comfort of their vehicles, and masks will be required when interacting with volunteers.