The Kinn Guesthouse will partner with Morr Evens and Hidden Kitchen MKE to operate its new rooftop event space, called The Lookout.
The Lookout is in a new structure perched low on the rooftop and built as part of the renovation of the 1860s Lawrence Block into the new hotel.
The venue has 3,500 square feet of indoor/outdoor event space and offers great views of the skyline and lakefront. It will have room for 125 seated guests and will be available for all kinds of events, including weddings, rehearsal dinners, corporate and charity events.
Milwaukee-based Morr Events is a “boutique event planning and design company” operated by owner Monica Orr, who has more than 20 years of event planning experience planning luxury weddings, international destination management services, VIP concierge services and event industry consulting services.
It will manage the bookings at The Lookout.
“We’re thrilled to have someone like Monica leading our event planning and management for The Lookout,” says Charles Bailey, who owns the new Kinn and another Kinn Guesthouse in Bay View.
“Monica’s uncanny ability to connect with customers and create one-of-a-kind events will be invaluable as we build our event portfolio at The Lookout. We’re lucky to be working with someone so talented and driven.”
Mobile kitchen catering company, Hidden Kitchen MKE, was launched in 2015 by chef Oliver Hunt. It now also has a food truck, as well as a presence at Hi Hat & The Garage. It will handle catering at the new venue.
“Oliver’s passion to delivering culinary excellence in every dish for every event is unprecedented,” says Bailey.
“He aims to please and our customers will be blown away by the quality of the food and drinks at their event. It will truly be what sets us apart.”
The Kinn Guesthouse is expected to open in March with 31 rooms and a communal kitchen on each floor. There are also libraries, games and more. And pets are welcome.
The hotel will also have a lobby restaurant and details on that are expected soon.
The hotel will offer zero-contact check-in, advanced COVID-19 safety and air-filtration systems and a 24-hour interactive concierge with communication apps.
“We want our guests to feel a sense of connection with the space, like they are living here, not just staying here. This inspired the design of the common area – creating a sense of openness, connectivity and community for our guests," says Bailey.
“Travelers today more than ever are looking for unique and authentic experiences in the destination, activities and the lodging as well.”
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.
