By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor Published Jun 10, 2019 at 9:01 AM

It’s almost time for the very first Newaukee Night Market of the season. And that means an evening of community, connecting and getting inspired by the awesomeness that is Milwaukee Downtown in the summertime.

The market will take place on Wednesday, June 12 from 5 to 10 p.m. on the stretch of Wisconsin Avenue between Plankinton and Vel R. Philips Avenues. And you simply don’t know how fun it is until you go.

While you’re there, you can participate in any number of fun activities. Eat great food. Enjoy a craft brew. Get a temporary tattoo or visit the Snapifeye photo booth at the OnMilwaukee tent. Make s’mores by the fire. Dance in the streets to great live music. Shop.

There are over 60 retail vendors selling wares at the market. So it’s a great time to treat yo’ self to something nice. Here’s 10 great ideas for things you can find while you’re there.

1. Joy

Pay a visit to Bright Eyes Boutique and try not to smile. It's owned by 7-year-old Ava and 1-year-old Alyssa, who sell jewelry, fancy hair bows and other accessories.

The boutique got its start when Ava decided she wanted to earn some spending money. Her mother decided it would be a great idea for her children to learn basic life skills like managing money and addressing envelopes. 

"I don't just want to give my kids the world I want to teach them how to run it," says Ava and Alyssa's mommy.

2. Clothing

You’ll find great vintage pieces at Bolted Vintage, plenty of Milwaukee pride at MilwaukeeHome and street wear from Conxa Apparel to mention a few. But if you’ve already got a MilwaukeeHome shirt, it might be time to diversify your Milwaukee pride T-shirt collection with a piece from Cuatro Uno Cuatro.

3. Jewelry

If you’re looking for a new pair of earrings, a bracelet or necklace, you’re likely to find something you love. Maybe it's a handrafted Nepalese fair trade ring from Earth Delights or a vintage find from A Happy Thought Indeed.  Personally, I’m crossing my fingers they're bringing a few of these adorable book necklaces. 

4. A henna tattoo

Speaking of treating yo’self, maybe it’s time to explore the beauty of henna tattoos, body art created to symbolize joy, beauty and spiritual awakening. Henna by Priti is vending at the market; she comes to the table with 19 years of experience as a henna artist, so you’re in good hands.

5. Things for your plants

It’s still early in the growing season, so you might have gardening on your mind. If you do, you probably need one of these Alonzo Artistry wine bottle planters for your patio, right? No patio? No problem. They make all sorts of beautiful creative items with discarded wine bottles.

6. Pretty things for your walls

Looking for that special piece to spruce up your bathroom? Or maybe a local addition to that collage in your hallway? Keep your eyes open at the Night Market for locally made art in a variety of styles.

Whether it’s vintage motorcycle photos from VintageMoPho or beautiful local doodle art from Sam Hanson Doodle, you’ll find plenty of choices to browse and buy at the market. Be sure to stop by and check out the fun, quirky designs at T.L. Luke, a Madison-based artist whose sensibilities veer toward the magical, whimsical and dark.

7. Candles

Candles are great in the house; but they’re even better outside during the summer. Light up your patio, porch or balcony with long-burning soy candles from Sarah Badera, quirky beer can candles from Lit MKE or beautifully scented locally inspired jar candles from Milwaukee Candle Co. On cool summer nights when it’s just you, your friends, a bottle of wine and the fireflies, you’ll thank me.

8. Knick knacks

The market is filled with countless home goods like vases, mugs and ceramic bowls from JBC Pottery or crocheted goods from Tizzy Dee. While you’re browsing all the beautiful things for your home, don’t miss the colorful paper mache sugar skulls and figurines from Ceci.amatl.

9. Beauty products

Everyone wants better skin, longer eyelashes and more beautiful skin. And thanks to a number of natural beauty care vendors, you can explore all of that. Check out Nourish Naturals for lash and brow growth serums, facial mists and natural deodorants. Or harness the power of ancient herbalists with luxurious raw shea butter moisturizers, lip balms and more from Africa Alive.

10. Edibles to take home

Sure you can eat dinner at the market (plus second dinner and dessert); but you'll also find some nice finds to take back home with you from prepared food vendors like Mama’s Boy Salsa, Not Just Jam and Damn Good Sauces. While you’re perusing, be sure to stop by Dragonfly Farm. They’re an awesome urban farm that produces local honey from bee colonies located in backyards throughout Metro Milwaukee area. Each neighborhood, provides a honey with a unique taste, color and benefit. Pretty cool.

Check out the entire list of retail and food and beverage vendors below.

Organizations & Retail vendors

414 Milwaukee
88Nine Radio Milwaukee
Africa Alive LLC
A Happy Thought Indeed
Alonzo Artistry
Artistica By Josseline Castillo
Beer Me. Waukee
Birrddy Print Shop
Bolted Vintage
Bright Eyes Boutique
Carcade
Ceci.amatl
Conxa Apparel
Creative Designs by Carrie
Cuatro Uno Cuatro / La Finca
Cultivate Taste
Damn Good Sauces llc
Detailed Canvas
DragonFly Farm LLC
Drawn & Quartered
Earth Delights
Ethical Trade Co
FlyBlooms & The Bronzeville Collective MKE
Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin
Ghost Owl Studio
Gothic Milwaukee - Walking Milwaukee
GRAEF
Gruber Law Offices
Henna By Priti
Hyde & Chic MKE
Impulse Car Share
Ina Maka HC (healing Crystals)
James Steeno Gallery
JBC Pottery
Jenna Kashou
JohnEphoto.com
Kahler Slater
Kickin’ it Tarot Style
KovaB’s
LakeMode / Silverware by Misty
Lit MKE
L’BRI Pure N Natural
Mama’s Boy Salsa
MANCAN
Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols
Milwaukee Barbarians Rugby Club
Milwaukee Candle Co.
Milwaukee Comedy
MilwaukeeHome
Milwaukee Rag
MKE Buttons
MKE Shotski
NEWaukee Info Tent
Not Just Jam
Nourish Natural Products
OnMilwaukee.com
Penelope Irene Co.
Plan Bee Honey Co
Rupert & Co
Sam Hanson Doodle
sarah badera
Secure Parking
Shred415 East Side
Studio 414
T.L. Luke Art
Taylor Duncan Photography
Teens Grow Greens
The Hop
Tizzy Dee
V100
VintageMoPho – Motorcycle Photography
Visit Milwaukee
Words & Images

Food & beverage vendors

600 Sweets & Treats LLC
Algo Dulce & Ruby’s bagels
Anytime Arepa Food Services LLC
Batches
BeBe’s Bistro
Bijoux (macarons!)
Bubble Waffle Shoppes
Bunny’s Bite
Central Standard
Double B’s BBQ
Drift LLC
Eagle Park Brewing Company
Fancyass Hotdogs
Fauntleroy
Foxfire Food Truck
Gathering Place Brewing Company
Golden Eggrolls
Greek Street LLC
Happy Dough Lucky
Hue Vietnamese Restaurant
Immy’s African Cuisine
Iron Grate BBQ
Junior’s Smoked bbq
Kasey’s Confections
Kilwins Milwaukee-Bayshore
La Campagne Bakery
Little havana express
Lumpia City
Marco Pollo
Maxx’s Munchery LLC
Meat on the Street
Miller Time Pub
Milwaukee Brewing Company
Milwaukee Pretzel Company
Mr. Dye’s Pies
Muse Brews Kombucha
Pedro’s Authentic Mexican Cuisine
Pedro’s South American Food
Pete’s Pops
Pig Tailz
Pilcrow Coffee
Pop’s Kettle Corn
Press.
Roll MKE
Scrimas Wood-Fired Pizza
Sprecher Brewing Company
Streetza Ltd.
T.Best Kettle Corn Co.
The Denson’s Catering
Third Space Brewing
Toast
Tots On The Street
Tres Flores Funnel Cake
Triciclo Peru LLC
Tudo Sabor Brasil LLC
Wan’s Oriental Cuisine
Wisconsin Fried Cheese Curds™

Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor

As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.

Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.

When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.