If you read yesterday's story on OnMilwaukee.com called, "100 things that suck in Milwaukee," you might mistakenly think we don't love it here.
Quite the contrary. We've published countless "100 things" to eat, sleep and breathe the Milwaukee experience, but the real answer is this: the almost 20 people who work at OnMilwaukee.com -- including the company's founders -- feel passionately about this city and champion its stories every day.
Yesterday, we just chose to highlight 100 things that we don't love; partially to have a little fun, but mostly to spur on ideas for change.
At the end of the day, we're thankful for so very much about our favorite city. But as Thanksgiving approaches, we're also thankful for Milwaukee's little things.
Here's a list of 100 of them, and yes, we know the headline ends in a preposition. Please add your own using the Talkback feature below:
- The sunrise over Lake Michigan
- In some neighborhoods, a tavern on every corner
- Fishing at McKinley Marina
- A cup of Alterra coffee outside in the summer
- The smell of leaves at Lake Park in autumn
- Boating on a cleaner Milwaukee River
- Just the right number of Domes
- The Seven Bridges at Grant Park
- Getting Brainbusted at Bryant's
- Anywhere in town in 20 minutes or less
- And, just a quick drive to "the country"
- Those Midwestern friendly stereotypes are actually true
- Four, count 'em, four seasons
- Fish fries!
- Rock candy at The Streets of Old Milwaukee
- Accessible, expansive and green lakefront
- The Oriental Theatre
- Some great public schools
- Still cheap beer
- We can see stars from our backyards
- Buying sausage off the seconds table in the old world Usinger's shop
- Have you seen the renovated Milwaukee County Historical Society yet?
- St. Joan of Arc Chapel at Marquette University
- The Safe House
- 25 cent milk at State Fair
- A nice, easy airport with many direct flights
- A reliable bus system
- The decor at Maria's Pizza
- That ballpark roof sure is nice in early April
- Miller Brewery tour is free
- Lakefront Brewery tour isn't free, but you won't walk away sober
- Wonderfully, ethnically diverse population
- The view of Downtown from atop the old reservoir
- Tailgating
- Calatrava created an amazing symbol for the city
- Miller Park is one of the less expensive ballparks to visit
- Plenty of good street parking still available
- Real Chili
- WMSE, WUWM and 88Nine Radio Milwaukee are excellent public radio stations
- Sausage races
- Several great universities and colleges
- Downtown library is a gem
- The Milwaukee Public Market
- The National Avenue noodle houses
- Cream City brick
- Mark Attanasio
- Vibrant local music scene
- Many great, livable neighborhoods
- Mike Gousha
- 11 days of live music and cup stacking at Summerfest
- Rolling out the barrel during the seventh inning stretch
- Photo ops with the janitor at Milwaukee Art Museum
- How many cities have statues of ducks, like our Gertie?
- El Rey lemon tortilla chips
- Saz's mozzarella sticks
- The chance to perch atop lots of bikes at Harley Museum
- The Oak Leaf and Hank Aaron Trails
- Frozen custard
- Plate lunch at Conejito's
- Bowling at the Polish Falcon
- Miller Bakery's pretzels
- Brandon Jennings
- Fireworks every weekend during the summer
- Polka music at the Fair
- The giant foot piano at Betty Brinn Children's Museum
- A city of ethnic festivals
- Cooler (in summer) and warmer (in winter) near the lake
- Particularly humane Wisconsin Humane Society
- Polar bears and their plunging
- Biketoberfest and Tour de Farce
- Free cashews at Blu
- American Science and Surplus
- Marcy at Holler House
- More pro sports than many cities our size
- County-owned water parks
- Kochanski's Concertina Bar
- Nessun Dorma
- You can still see some old painted advertisements on buildings in the Third Ward
- Milwaukee Public Museum dinosaurs co-starred in "Dinosaurs!" movie with Fred Savage
- Von Trier is back from the edge
- Free popcorn at Bliffert's hardware
- Fond memories of Pizza Man
- Butter burgers
- Ryan Braun will be with the Brewers for a long time ... unless he's traded
- Plenty of clean drinking water right there in your tap
- Brett Favre isn't our problem anymore
- Local characters like Pepperoni Cannoli Guy and Freeway
- Candy Cane Lane that supports the MACC Fund
- Plenty of kitsch on tap
- At least two woman-owned erotic boutiques
- Discovery World, Art Museum and Harbor House combine to make a great destination
- Snake button
- We have a great zoo
- Emerald Ash Borer appears to be under control
- Playing shuffleboard at Burnheart's
- Lighthouses in Lake Park and behind Marcus Amphitheater
- Milwaukee Sailing Center
- Boerner Botanical Gardens
- Human pinsetters at Koz's Mini Bowl
- Shopping in the Historic Third Ward
