Every Milwaukee neighborhood has a liquor store (or three), but some neighborhoods have wine, spirits and beer emporia that are worth driving across town for.
Ray’s Wine and Spirits, 8930 W. North Ave. in Wauwatosa, is one of those places, thanks not only to a deep selection of wine, craft beer and liquor, but because of its upstairs growler gallery with tastings and other events, outdoor seating and, above all, a knowledgeable staff.
The shop opened in its current location in 1961 and has recently improved a lot, so to speak...
Guess you could say we're improving a lot at Ray's. 😂 pic.twitter.com/KDioC1IDyp — Patrick J (@PaddyJ_) July 6, 2017
So why not throw a 56th anniversary parking lot party, right?
That’s what Ray’s is doing from noon until 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 16.
Johnathan Dye will be there selling his delicious Mr. Dye’s Pies, Marco Pollo and Fatty Patty Burger food trucks will be on hand dishing out tasty goodness, while The Steelheads will perform from 1 until 5 p.m.
Ray’s will sell its booze slushies and there will be "a beautiful, big-ass beer truck" dispensing five beers and Sprecher Root Beer. There will also be ladder ball and bean bag toss.
There’s no cover charge and everyone is welcome at the event, which takes place rain or shine (there are tents!).
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.
