Guest contributor Al Navarro is the father of a Y14 Women’s Epee fencer. When not standing around convention centers waiting for DEs to start, he lives and works in New Jersey. He is working on a blog for the parents of current and aspiring youth fencers.
A fellow Y14 WE parent and I have this running joke…whenever we see each other at NACs/SYCs, we greet each other with some version of “Our tour of America’s second-tier cities’ convention centers continues…”.
All kidding aside, and with full acknowledgement that cost is a factor for USA Fencing when planning these events, I happen to love the fact that my daughter’s involvement in fencing has taken our family to places in this great land that we might not have visited otherwise.
Consider this the first in what I hope to be a series on some of the “usual suspects” on the USA Fencing circuit. A quick profile of what to do/see/eat when you’re not at the venue. It’s skewed towards the families of youth fencers, because you know, I have a youth fencer. Feel free to add comments or your own suggestions in the comments — hope you like it!
Fencingtown: Milwaukee
If I based my like or dislike of a city on how well my daughter fenced there, Milwaukee would rank fairly low. But since I don’t factor that in (well, maybe just a little…three cheers for Memphis!), Milwaukee is one of our favorite fencing destinations. Why? Besides just an overall safe and welcoming vibe, there’s a lot to do for non-fencers, the convention center is among the nicest we’ve been trapped in, and the food scene is pretty darn good.
If you try any of the places below, please be sure to mention that you heard about it from TFC.
Where to eat
Kegel’s Inn [http://www.kegelsinn.com]
Millioke [http://www.milliokerestaurant.com]
Photo from Yelp.com
Alem Ethiopian Village [http://alem-ethiopianvillage.com]
Photo from Alem Ethiopian Village website
Tenuta’s [http://www.tenutasitalian.com]
Photo from Yelp.com
Milwaukee Brat House [http://www.milwaukeebrathouse.com]
Leon’s Frozen Custard [http://leonsfrozencustard.us]
Got a free day/morning/afternoon?
Milwaukee Art Museum [https://mam.org]
This lakefront cultural landmark is most famous for its Santiago Calatrava-designed addition, which sports a wing-like “brise soleil” (google that one kids!) which opens and closes at set times throughout the day. Definitely worth scheduling your visit around these times. The museum houses a nice art collection (which according to the website is currently not on display due to the renovation of the galleries) but it’s the architecture of the building itself that will keep the majority of kids engaged.
Harley Davidson Museum [http://www.harley-davidson.com]
Despite my affinity for motorized wheeled vehicles of all kinds, I’ve never been here, mostly because I think my daughter would be bored out of her gourd. According to the website, the H-D Museum showcases over 450 motorcycles and artifacts — including “Serial Number One”, the oldest known Harley on the planet. The museum has an on-site restaurant and offers guided behind the scenes tours for an additional fee.
Milwaukee Public Museum [http://www.mpm.edu]
A natural history/anthropology museum that should capture the imagination of pretty much any kid (especially those who find art museum’s boring). We went on our first visit to the city, and had a good time. Some of the exhibits felt a tad out of date, but were still charming in their own way. Be sure to check the website before going to see what special exhibitions might be going on. When we visited last season, “The Scoop on Poop” was on display…and made for at least a weekend’s worth of bathroom jokes and giggle-inducing photos.
Milwaukee Public Market [http://www.milwaukeepublicmarket.org/main.html]
Similar to the North Market in Columbus, the Public Market in Milwaukee houses a range of mostly food/beverage vendors. It’s a short walk from the more popular convention center hotels. There are several restaurants listed on the market’s website that are not actually in the market, but on adjacent streets. We had brunch at Benelux Grand Café [http://www.cafebenelux.com/menus.php]and enjoyed the food and atmosphere (try the crepe-like “pannenkoeken”, available with sweet or savory toppings). Note…this place is good which mean it’s popular. By the time we left, there looked to be a significant line and wait time for an available table.
If you have time, I would suggest stopping by the Milwaukee County Zoo. Admission is fairly reasonable. You will likely need a car to get there, but it’s worth the trip. http://www.milwaukeezoo.org/