Milwaukee is an underrated city, but many people think they’ve got it figured out. Whether it be the headlines, our iconic name in brewing, or the fact that we’re in Wisconsin amongst the farms, most people have an idea about our city. That being said, Milwaukee will still surprise you. Brew City is a unique place to live, and there are few things you probably haven’t heard before. Here are eleven things you might not know about life within The Good Land.
1. The city is smaller than it looks.
Though Milwaukee has all of the perks of a big city, it really isn't that big. Often Milwaukeeans refer to it as "Smallwaukee," and after living here for awhile, you'll know everyone. That being said, MKE is an extremely accessible city and it isn't hard to get from one side of town to another.
2. It gets cold here. Really, really cold.
When you think of Milwaukee, you might associate it with horrible winters. Though we don't get two feet of snow at a time very often, it can get unbearably cold. Milwaukeeans are tough because we can survive in temperatures that hit 40 below zero. Pro tip: always keep emergency blankets and hand warmers in your car!
3. That said, summer is unforgettable.
Because the winters are cold and can seem to last forever, we embrace summer in full force. Milwaukeeans are outside all summer long, and there's always a celebration going on.
4. Our lake really is that great.
Lake Michigan is our heart and soul, and lake living really is that awesome. Living on a shoreline isn't only a blast for watersports and beach days; the lake also tends to make weather more tame. We don't often have severe storms because they die down as they get closer to the lake.
5. You might already love cheese, but you will truly become addicted here.
Cheese isn't just a food, it's its own food group. Living here will make you a cheese connoisseur.
6. Beer is an entire way of life.
As the beer capital of the world, we know a thing or two about beer. Not only are we home to some of the most iconic names in beer, it's also worked its way into our daily lives.
7. Frozen custard is favored over ice cream.
If you love ice cream, get ready to be mind blown. Frozen custard is like ice cream but ten times better. We can't explain why, but we will fight you over it if you try to say there's no difference between the two.
8. We eat fried fish every Friday.
Fish frys are a community wide event. Every Friday, Milwaukeeans gather to eat a fish dinner and dance to polka music together. It's sacrilegious to spend your Friday dinner any other way.
9. Sports are vital, but tailgating is a day-long event.
If you've never been tailgating, it's a sports event pre-game. In the parking lot of the venue, attendees open the trunk of their car, bust out a mini grill, and have a cookout before the big game. There's always beer and there's usually games, too. It's a blast, and here in Milwaukee, tailgating lasts from sun up to sun down.
10. Diversity is something we take pride in.
From our neighborhoods to our food, festivals, and city streets, Brew City is bursting with culture. Many Milwaukeeans know more than one language and we're always happy to learn something new from a different culture. We have entire festivals dedicated to various ethnicities and we celebrate them to no end.
11. Your neighbors will become family.
Once you meet a Milwaukeean, they don't stay a stranger. You might be used to neighbors that yell at you to get off their lawn, but a Milwaukee neighbor will always have your back, lend a helping hand, and be a friend for life.
What do you think? What would you tell an outsider about Milwaukee that they might not know yet? Feel free to share your ideas with us!
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