I always take a greater good approach to Milwaukee’s relationship with Chicago. Milwaukee’s a much better place because of our proximity to Chicago, and add up everything from Milwaukee to Chicago and you get yourself one amazing mega city.
Of course, my loyalties never stray from Milwaukee and especially on the sports side you’ll never find me rooting for the Bulls or Bears. I do, though, love trips to Chicago and really appreciate all the city has to offer.
Niceties aside, it’s cool to see Milwaukee shine when compared to our favorite sister city. The most recent example comes today via The Chicago Tribune and Jun Song, one of the most prominent travel bloggers from China.
The Tribune story is pay walled, so if you have problems accessing cut and paste this link – http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/ct-chinese-tourist-blogger-chicago-0716-biz-20150715-story.html – into google and then access it.
Last weekend Visit Milwaukee hosted Song, along with a rep from Brand USA, a destination marketing organization. Margaret Casey from Visit worked up the itinerary here in Milwaukee and accompanied them around town on Saturday. Casey told me that Brand USA had indicated Song would be interested in a Miller Brewery tour (as that brand is known in China) and especially the Harley-Davidson Museum.
The itinerary for his day was filled in with the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Lakefront, RiverWalk, Milwaukee Public Market, dragon boat races at Juneau Park, Wisconsin Cheese Mart for beer/cheese pairings, Mader’s (their choice), and a few other stops that Casey and Visit Milwaukee squeezed in.
Even though Song spoke no English, the results of his visit shine in the Tribune story. Sure, it’s more focused on Chicago but check out the headline: "Chinese travel blogger likes Chicago but loves Milwaukee."
And, the second paragraph from Tribune reporter Robert Channick, "But after a whirlwind three days of ballgames, festivals, museums and tours (In Chicago), Jun Song said that, all things considered, he'd rather be in Milwaukee." Nice!
Watch for Song’s blog here.
Want more Milwaukee love? Here’s the final paragraph from the Tribune piece: "While his blog will convey his preferences, Song said it may still encourage more Chinese tourists to visit Chicago – if only as a stop on the way to Milwaukee."
Finally, Sung, as The Week points out, also really loved Costco pizza. So, take this all with a grain of fun and Milwaukee love salt.
A life-long and passionate community leader and Milwaukeean, Jeff Sherman is a co-founder of OnMilwaukee.
He grew up in Wauwatosa and graduated from Marquette University, as a Warrior. He holds an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University, and is the founding president of Young Professionals of Milwaukee (YPM)/Fuel Milwaukee.
Early in his career, Sherman was one of youngest members of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, and currently is involved in numerous civic and community groups - including board positions at The Wisconsin Center District, Wisconsin Club and Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. He's honored to have been named to The Business Journal's "30 under 30" and Milwaukee Magazine's "35 under 35" lists.
He owns a condo in Downtown and lives in greater Milwaukee with his wife Stephanie, his son, Jake, and daughter Pierce. He's a political, music, sports and news junkie and thinks, for what it's worth, that all new movies should be released in theaters, on demand, online and on DVD simultaneously.
He also thinks you should read OnMilwaukee each and every day.
