Before the Kwik Trip Tour of America’s Dairyland pedals into the Milwaukee area for the West Allis Cheese Wheel Classic on Tuesday, June 20, the cycling series will have already left five events in five Wisconsin towns in the dust.
Here’s the dish on those first five events, so you don’t have to wait so long to get your fix.
Day 1: June 15
Janesville Town Square Gran Prix
First events: 11:15 a.m.
While you’re there: Rock Aqua Jays Water Ski Team
Who says you have to go all the way up to Minocqua to see top-notch water ski shows? Head to Janesville, a little more than an hour southwest of Milwaukee, to check out this 21-time National Champion team. The Rock Aqua Jays put on a high-energy show twice a week from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Day 2: June 16
East Troy Cycling Classic
First events: 11:10 a.m.
While you’re there: East Troy Brewery
East Troy Brewery, just across from the central Village Square Park – a true town square with a beautiful almost Prairie Style bandshell – has not only brought craft beer to East Troy, but also a creative menu of elevated bar food, and it has returned the vintage luster to an 1892 bank building that had been heavily remodeled. Try to nab the table inside the old vault for maximum vibe.
Day 3: June 17
Giro d’ Grafton
First events: 11:20 a.m.
While you’re there: Sahale Ale Works
Sahale – the name rhymes with koala – opened in the summer of 2019 and quickly made a name for itself with great beer, great community-supporting events and a really patio in the heart of the historic center of Grafton. Stop in and see what owner Matt Hofmann is up to in the brewhouse and enjoy the results outside in the summer sunshine.
Day 4: June 18
Manitowoc Maritime Bay Classic
First events: 11:10 a.m.
While you’re there: Wisconsin Maritime Museum
This fun, engaging and interesting museum – open seven days a week – was on my list years ago when I spent a weekend exploring Manitowoc and it's definite worth a visit. There are artifacts, hands-on exploration, historical displays and more. Docked outside and open to the public for visits is the USS Cobia, a World War II submarine that was, from 1959 to 1970, kept in Milwaukee and used as a Naval Reserve training vessel.
Day 5: June 19, 2023
Tour De Pere
First events: 11:45 a.m.
While you’re there: River Tyme Boat Tours
Green Bay is said to be the largest freshwater estuary in the world, and its watershed is a third of the Lake Michigan basin. One way to see it is via River Tyme Boat Tours, which offer relaxing jaunts around the waterways of Green Bay on a vessel with a full service bar. There are sunset tours, river tours, private charter opportunities and more.
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.
