Glorioso's
1020 E. Brady St.,
(414) 272-0540

Glorioso's is one of the last of a dying breed. Once Milwaukee was full of ethnic grocery stores reflecting the various cultures of the European immigrants that settled here. Now Asian and Mexican groceries abound, but if you're looking for a taste of Italian Milwaukee, Glorioso's is one of very few choices. With a great deli and a selection of Italian specialties, it's a good place to grab a quick lunch or the raw materials for a yummy dinner.

Jim's Time Out
746 N. James Lovell St.
(414) 276-9610

You might not be able to point it out on a map, but there's a townie bar smack dab in the middle of Downtown. Look for it nestled among much bigger fish, across the street from the fire house and kitty corner from the Milwaukee Public Museum. Jim's Time Out is the kind of low-key, neighborhood tap that could once be found everywhere in the city. And for some reason, it's still here.

Nite Owl Drive-In
830 E. Layton Ave.
(414) 483-2524

It's not that old-timey drive in restaurants are unbelievably rare in Milwaukee. You need to look hard, but you can still find a few. But this place across from the airport seems especially unchanged. Why else would the "Brewtown Cruisers," a car club dedicated to 1949-'51 Lincoln and Mercurys, drop in for their car show, which they've done for 27 years running? According to a review at roadfood.com, one reader says he's been eating their food since 1958. And, considering this is the place that once billed itself as serving "the largest post-war hamburger in the area," you really owe it to yourself to order the "Jumbo" for a less-than-jumbo $4.

Oriental Theatre
2230 N. Farwell Ave.
(414) 276-8711

In 1917, a Milwaukee newspaper proclaimed "the Golden of Age of the moving picture business in Milwaukee is past." Nearly 10 years later -- July 2, 1927 to be exact -- the majestic Oriental Theatre opened for business. John and Thomas Saxe built 45 theaters around the country, but the Oriental was considered their crown jewel. Designed by Gustave A. Dick and Alex Bauer, the theater had the look of the East Indies.

The design, which remains largely intact today, was simply breathtaking. The building, itself, is a sight to behold. From blocks away, its distinctive minarets poke above the East Side skyline. Inside is even more spectacular. The entrance features Indian tiles with eight porcelain tile lions guarding the staircase to the theater. Inside the inner lobby, large murals of Oriental street scenes adorn the walls. Sixteen silver leafed elephant heads with coiled trunks support the inner lobby ceiling beams. As if that's not enough, East Indian idols, elephants and other distinct symbols round out the three brass and stained glass chandeliers and their matching wall sconces. Home to six giant Buddhas, the auditorium ceilings are graced with a golden sunbeam and edged with 26 dragons standing on 26 elephant heads.

The Oriental today is still Milwaukee's largest theater with an incredible capacity of an 1,100 seats.

Winkie's
629 E. Silver Spring Dr., Whitefish Bay
(414) 964-2130

Something about this Whitefish Bay variety store rolls with the times. Ask anyone of a certain age who grew up on Milwaukee's North Shore, and they'll recount shopping at Winkie's with a glint in their eyes. Upstairs, it's gifts, candy and sports memorabilia. Downstairs, it's toys, arts and crafts and dime store fare. But even as the Silver Spring thoroughfare gets more and more upscale, Winkie's perseveres, staying current and relevant -- and it's still a favorite shops of kids and adults, alike.

Wolski's Tavern
1836 N. Pulaski St.
(414) 276-8130

You might think that a 90-year-old tavern that's tough to find even for seasoned East Siders, may have lost its cool factor. Considering more people know about the "I Closed Wolksi's" bumper sticker than where the bar even is, you may think time has passed the bar by. But you'd be wrong. Maybe it's the free popcorn. Maybe it's the darts. Maybe it's the mix of old East Side regulars and young Marquette kids, but this delightfully uncomplicated tavern retains its "je ne sais quoi" that has inspired patrons to plaster bumper sticks on every corner of the globe.