A sure sign that summer is on the way has arrived. Historic Milwaukee Inc. is re-starting its walking tours this week.
The nonprofit that runs a great Downtown Milwaukee-themed shop and organizes the annual Doors Open Milwaukee is bringing back tours of Downtown, the RiverWalk, Third Ward, Bay View and North Point Mansions starting on Wednesday.
The schedule of weekly tours led by expert guides – which run through mid-October – is Downtown at 10 a.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays; RiverWalks at 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays; Third Ward at 11 a.m. Saturdays; Bay View at 1 p.m. Saturdays; and North Point Mansions at 1 p.m. Sundays.
"After running an abbreviated tour schedule for the past year, we are thrilled to kick off a full walking tour season this week, " said HMI Executive Director Stacy Swadish.
"Our volunteer tour guides are ready to share their love of Milwaukee, it's architecture and neighborhoods with our guests."
To help ensure safety, Historic Milwaukee is using an audio headset system for its tours to allow for social distancing. HMI is also adhering to local guidelines, which require masks. If you do not have one, HMI will provide one. Tours are also limited to 20 people.
Because of the limited enrollments, advance registration is highly recommended.
You can book a tour online at historicmilwaukee.org or by calling (414) 277-7795.
Tours are $10, $5 for children. Historic Milwaukee members get five regular walking tours for free as part of their membership.
These tours are a great way to get to know the city and its history, to get a deeper look at a specific neighborhood and enjoy the sunshine all at the same time.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
