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Sure, you’re stuck at home, but you’re stuck at home in Milwaukee – presumably – and even if you’re not here, you can celebrate 414 Day from anywhere, thanks to the magic of technology.
Here are nine (4+1+4) ways to celebrate Cream City with your fellow Milwaukeans ... from a distance:
Milwaukee’s 414 toast with 414 lager
Tuesday, April 14 is "414 Day" in Milwaukee and this year more than ever we need to rally and Prost. In honor of Brew City's Big Day, OnMilwaukee will host a virtual happy hour at 6 p.m. with special guest and 414 beer maker, Fred "Too Much Metal" Gillich. Details here.
More on the beer here.
Gertie the Duck storytime with John Gurda
Historic Milwaukee Inc. hosts a virtual story time with John Gurda reading the beloved local children’s book, "Gertie the Duck" via Zoom. HMI’s Selena Fregoso will read it in Spanish, too. Free, donations welcome. 11 a.m. Details here.
Check out the new Jazz at Noon podcast
Guitarist and bassist Don Linke leads the free weekly Jazz at Noon series at the Broadway Theatre Center, or he did before the pandemic shut everything down. But now, the series moves to a podcast format and even if it's a Tuesday, the first one launches just in time for Milwaukee Day. You can find it, and enjoy it, here.
Support local custard stands
Local, independent businesses need your support now more than ever and long-lived places like Leon’s, Kitt’s, Gilles’, Kopp’s, Murph’s, Oscar’s and others are all family-owned businesses that dish up Cream City custard. Show them love and celebrate this sweet hometown tradition. Here’s a list to get you going.
Enjoy Company Brewing’s third annual Milwaukee Day Lager
Too Much Metal isn’t the only one with a local lager celebrating Milwaukee Day. Company Brewing continues its tradition of brewing and canning 16-ouncers of its Milwaukee Day Lager for the third year and you can buy this helles delish lager at Ray’s, Discount, Downer Wine, the Outpost in Tosa and on Capitol Drive and Consumer Beverage.
Virtual 414 Day presented by 88Nine Radio Milwaukee
Swarmm Events programs eight hours of local DJs and artists painting murals at a variety of area venues, all streaming right into your home. Complete details and schedule here.
Shop and help independent bars, breweries and restaurants
Here are some of local favorites that are selling merch – tees, hats, hoodies, gift cards and more – on their websites. Sales of these kinds of items can help businesses survive during these rough times. See a list here.
Donate to a local organization in need
As the Milwaukee Day organizers say, "Let's help those who have always been there for us by being here for them." Find a list with links here.
Let the music play with WMSE 91.7
Milwaukee’s Frontier Radio promises to be, "ready to celebrate Milwaukee to the fullest starting at 12 a.m. on Tuesday morning and rolling it though ‘til midnight. All of our Tuesday DJs will have something up their sleeves, or should we say on the turntables, that shows their love for our city on 414 Milwaukee Day."
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.
