Snuggle up with some holiday cheer as OnMilwaukee shares stories of everything merry and bright in the spirit of the season.
The OnMilwaukee Ho Ho Holiday Guide is brought to you by Harley-Davidson Museum and MolsonCoors.
Baby, it's cold outside. But there's warm holiday cheer brewing in Bay View thanks to John Dye, owner of Bryant’s Cocktail Loungeand At Random, who – with the help of his staff – has brought back The Magic Forest for a fifth year running.
The Magic Forest, the festive outdoor cocktail experience, will take place at At Random, 2501 S. Delaware Ave., beginning Nov. 27 and continuing through the end of January. And it's guaranteed to be filled with more lights, more charm and more festive holiday cheer than ever.
What you can expect
Guests can look forward to basking in the holiday spirit surrounded by live, decorated Christmas trees, festoon lights and plenty of holiday-themed mood music.
The Magic Forest will feature a variety of seating options, including eight vented heated greenhouse-style “Cocktail Huts”, equipped with warm mood lighting, which can be reserved online for groups of four or six.
Seating located around At Random's gas fire pit, as well as at a few outdoor tables will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please check in with the host when you arrive.
On the menu
The Magic Forest beverage list will include myriad cocktails, including some new offerings created by At Random General Manager Leslie Cadillac.
Options will range from classics like the Wisconsin Old Fashioned, Boulvardier and Last Word to hot drinks like the Cocao Fernando (Irish Cream and Fernet); Irish Coffee; and Hot Toddies (Bourbon, Drambuie, honey, lemon, spices).
Guests will also find ice cream drinks including classics like the Brandy Alexander, Golden Cadillac and Pink Squirrel along with newfangled drinks like Pumpkin Pie (J. Henry Bourbon, ginger, pumpkin, spices) and Gingerbread Cookie (rich molasses, gingery snap).
Commemorative Magic Forest camp mugs designed by Pete Klockau of The Black Lagoon Room will also be available for purchase ($12).
Well-behaved children accompanied by their parents are welcome nightly until 8 p.m. No dogs are allowed in the cocktail huts.
Remember: Be kind. Be safe. Tip well. Also be sure to dress for the weather (even a Cocktail Hut can’t stop the wintery winds from blowing).
The Magic Forest is open Tuesday through Thursday from 5 to 11 p.m., Friday from 5 to midnight and Saturday from 3 p.m. to midnight and Sunday from 3 to 11 p.m. Cocktails will also be available for carry-out until 9 p.m. (last call is 8:30 p.m.)
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
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