I could have sworn the name of the city was pronounced Mil-WAH-key. However, after listening to the newscasters for a few days, I now know that it is MWAH-kee.
I learn so much in my travels,
The main reason for including Milwaukee in this trip – nay, the reason I came to Wisconsin in the first place – was to celebrate my godson’s wedding.
Oh, wait, that’s an old photo.
Here’s one that’s more up to date.
Me and my godson, Paul.
One thing that surprised me was that there are so few places to camp near Milwaukee. I ended up at the Wisconsin State Fair RV Park. It was another one of those “acres o’ asphalt” places. There were full-hookup sites, but I opted for a more budget-friendly electric-only site. Budget-friendly is relative, though. Supply and demand rules the day.
However, when I would peek out my window in the morning, sometimes I almost thought I was at the shore when I saw the blue privacy cover on the chain link fence.
view out my window
The full-hookup sites did have a bit of grass, picnic tables and the occasional tree. And, if that is not enough to suit you, you can always bring your own greenery.
But, I wasn’t there to hang out at the park, I was there to celebrate with my friends – and celebrate we did!
First there was the shower for all the women-folk. This gave those of us who had never met the chance to meet and greet.
It was a lovely party, with tasty food and the requisite games along with gift opening.
Towards the end of the party, the men-folk joined us. They had been out enjoying a Friday night fish fry.
The next day was the rehearsal, so it was a day off for me. Most of the day, I enjoyed the comforts of my Airstream, electricity, wifi, and good TV reception.
However, I did join up with them later for the rehearsal dinner. It was a wonderful picnic in the park. Here’s something that surprised me: the parks in Milwaukee not only allow beer, they have beer gardens in the parks! Must be part of the beer culture. Pabst, Schlitz, Miller, Blatz.
I have no photos of the picnic, but I would highly recommend Estabrook Park for anyone looking for picnic venue in Milwaukee. Lush and green and well-maintained.
That night, I decided that I should do something in Milwaukee besides take part in wedding events. I googled top things to do in Milwaukee and came up with a couple things to do before the wedding on Sunday.
Surprise, surprise! I found some Frank Lloyd Wright buildings that I had never heard of.
I visited the Burnham Street Historic District.
There was a grouping of Wright’s American System-Built Homes. These designs were Wright’s first efforts to create affordable housing. Essentially, all the materials were cut, labeled and prepared off-site. They were delivered to the job site and constructed there.
These houses were built by Arthur L. Richards in 1914. This grouping was built as demonstrator models. He held the franchise to market these buildings, but World War I interfered with the supply of materials. Then Wright sued Richards for non-payment of royalties and fees, and that was the end of the American System-Built Homes.
This is the view standing on the corner looking right.
This is the view looking left. I assume they were built around the same time, but what a difference in styles!
Some of the buildings were duplexes and fairly well-maintained.
This one, however, was more of a Frank Lloyd Wrong. Imagine covering a Wright building with aluminum siding. Horrors!
There was also a bungalow design that was purchased by the Frank Lloyd Wright Wisconsin Program and was renovated in 2010. I read on the web that they open it for tours several times a month. This wasn’t one of the times.
It looks like pink lawn chairs are the new pink flamingoes.
I found it interesting that the owner of this building added a clear barrier to the back porch. I wonder if that is because Wright designed the porch too low to be safe. From what I have heard from tour guides at other Wright sites, he was “vertically challenged” but designed for his height – which was naturally perfect.
My next stop was the Basilica of St. Josaphat.
The outside is amazing. The interior is eye-popping!
The first church was built in 1888, but destroyed by fire in less than a year. They rebuilt, but by 1895, the growing Polish population had exceeded its capacity. Erhard Breilmaeir was hired to design a new church that was to be built in brick and terra cotta and to be modeled after St. Peter’s in Rome.
In 1896, the U.S. Post Office and Customs House in Chicago was demolished because it was too heavy for the ground it was built on. Father Grutza asked Mr. Breilmaeir if he could adapt his design to the materials used in the Chicago building. He said he could and they bought it for $20,000 and it was transported to Milwaukee on 500 railroad flatcars. The tour guide told us that they managed to use the materials with a minimum of reworking.
They even used the doorknobs!
Artists and artisans were brought to Milwaukee from Rome to handle the interior. The guide told us that the paintings were painted in buildings nearby and that the figures were cut out and attached to the surfaces with the backgrounds already painted in.
Oops. Not all that much marble. Some of the artisans they brought were faux marble painters.
You can see the brush marks so you know that it is a painted surface, but the overall effect is richly veined marble.
In addition to lavish decoration, a basilica is entitled to three symbols that ordinary churches aren’t allowed to use, a tintinnabulum, an umbraculum and to use the papal keys in their symbols.
The guide told us that the first two symbols were used in processions; the tintinnabulum was carried at the head of the procession, and that the umbraculum was carried over the host.
Time until the wedding was going to start was growing short, and Amber, the bride, had told me to be sure to have lunch before the wedding. Just across the street was a Salvadoran restaurant.
They had me at pupusas!
Pupusas are filled tortillas. A little pocket of filling is put into the center of the corn dough and then it is patted into shape. I chose one of cheese and one of bean. The repollo is a spicy cabbage garnish. Horchata is a rice beverage flavored with cinnamon and sugar.
Yum!
I had a window seat, and while I was waiting for my lunch, I noticed lights mounted on a nearby building to illuminate the dome of the basilica at night.
And then it was time for THE WEDDING!
Everyone is in place, the music is starting.
What’s a wedding without a photographer?
Then, the family photos.
There were many more photos by the photographer, and I went inside to admire the church that had been built by German immigrants. 
“But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:14
“And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” Luke 2:49
Okay, so these might not be the literal translation of the German, these are the Bible verses that correspond to the illustrations.
Then it was time for the celebrating. They chose a lovely venue on the shore of Lake Michigan. The reception started with a cheese curd and chicken wing buffet.
After we were sufficiently refueled, there was more photography.
And of course, there were many more photos, much eating, much drinking, and – after I left – dancing and high jinks. I had a lovely time, but left early. I was tired and worn out with joy.
Best wishes, Paul and Amber!