Author Juan Miguel Martinez

Frida Fest returns to Farmhouse Paint & Sip July 31-August 1

July 29, 2021

Milwaukee is known as the "City of Festivals," and one of its newer festivals will take place Saturday, July 31 and Sunday, August 1. Frida Fest, at Farmhouse Paint & Sip (4511 S. 6th St., 414-404-5858), wi...

Puerto Rican Family Festival returns August 1, moves to Wilson Park

Juan Miguel Martinez

July 8, 2021

The summer of 2020 was a rollercoaster of emotions for festival-goers, with constant updates about postponements and cancellations. Most in-person events were ultimately canceled, leaving the future of many Mil...

Mr. Piragua and Island Ice serve shaved ice treats with Caribbean history

Juan Miguel Martinez

June 29, 2021

The old "piragüero" (shaved ice vendor) pushes his cart down a busy promenade in old San Juan, Puerto Rico. He wears a straw hat, a billowy linen shirt, and sandals. There is a certain level of pageantry involv...

My favorite taco trucks in Milwaukee

Juan Miguel Martinez

May 28, 2021

Summer is just about here, which means people are becoming nostalgic for eating food while standing in the sun. I get many requests for taco truck suggestions that will scratch that itch, so here are four stapl...

“Legalize MKE” aims to answer questions about marijuana possession in Milwaukee County

Juan Miguel Martinez

May 6, 2021

Milwaukee County Supervisor for the 12th district Sylvia Ortiz-Velez recently proposed an ordinance that would lower the fine for marijuana possession in Milwaukee County to only $1. The proposal was made in th...

My favorite Mexican restaurants in Milwaukee

Juan Miguel Martinez

April 8, 2021

My father has always hated restaurants. We took him to Mad Rooster on Father's Day, and we were told there was going to be a 10-minute wait. He immediately said "No, no, we're leaving NOW!" After some coaxing a...

Sypher Lady X takes the lead on organizing south side community cleanups

Juan Miguel Martinez

March 26, 2021

The snow has melted and springtime has arrived. Usually for Milwaukee, this means beautiful rainy days and the smell of blossoming flowers. For the south and north side of Milwaukee, it means all the trash that...

Milwaukee County Supervisor Sylvia Ortiz-Velez discusses reducing marijuana possession fine to $1

Juan Miguel Martinez

February 11, 2021

Tuesday was a big day for Milwaukee. First, the downtown portion of Old World Third Street was renamed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Second, Sylvia Ortiz-Velez, Milwaukee county supervisor of District 12, p...

Mi Pais serves up hot dogs and mini tortas, snacks and shots, more

Juan Miguel Martinez

February 2, 2021

There are places that feel like home. They make you feel safe, there's food, and there are people who remind you of your own family or warm memories. Mi Pais (1401 W. Greenfield Ave., 414-935-2567) provides all...

Why does Milwaukee call Nike Air Force 1s “Dookies”?

Juan Miguel Martinez

January 19, 2021

Dookies (noun): North Side Milwaukee slang for a style of shoe created by Nike in 1982. Pairs come in low, mid, and high top. Typically solid white.Philadelphia. Twenty-eleven. I was at the Rocky stairs whe...

Dale’s of Milwaukee is a classic corner bar, but with clowns (and soup)

Juan Miguel Martinez

January 4, 2021

There is a place, a place called Dale's of Milwaukee, that sits amongst the hustle and bustle of Capitol Drive on the north side of Milwaukee (6132 W. Capitol Dr., 414-463-6920). Dale's is everything you dream ...

Vic’s Wholesale mixes toys, candy, pork hocks and turkey gizzards

Juan Miguel Martinez

December 21, 2020

My friend Max Knowlton-Sachner's birthday was last week. He was a camp counselor of mine when I was 16 and we kept in touch afterward. There are many things he has a strong affinity for, but two of them are lab...

El Sebas of Browns Crew tests the solo waters with “Chavo De Abajo”

Juan Miguel Martinez

December 1, 2020

A long time ago—well, not too long ago for some—Latino/a/x music was a more tangible thing on the south side of Milwaukee. In the 1990s, there were constant events and shows, artists sold CDs and tapes out of t...

Beto’s Pizza brings unique pies (and more) to Milwaukee’s south side

Juan Miguel Martinez

November 19, 2020

Jair Varela has a passion for experimenting with food, but mostly for delivering a well made and delicious meal. Beto's Pizza (1234 S. Cesar E. Chavez Dr., 414-559-1586) is his second restaurant."My first r...

Chuy’s Red Tacos brings consommé-dipped birria tacos to Farmhouse Paint & Sip

Juan Miguel Martinez

November 5, 2020

The Farmhouse Paint & Sip (4511 S. 6th St., 414-404-5858) is a place unlike any other in Milwaukee. Jesus Enrique Nañez had a vision for this business, a place where people could casually sip drinks and cre...

Micheladas Galán delivers to you, proves micheladas aren’t just for hangovers

Juan Miguel Martinez

October 30, 2020

Micheladas are funny things. Everyone can make them, as the ingredients are quite simple: There has to be Worcestershire sauce, lime juice, hot sauce, and salt. But some people will argue that they also have to...

Maya Ophelia’s becomes a vegan Milwaukee staple

Juan Miguel Martinez

September 4, 2020

There is a product known as "chikin," which is quite possibly the tastiest of all chicken substitutes in all the vegan product world. I have always been a voracious meat eater, but upon having the chikin banh m...

Monterrey Market Plaza rises in former Toys “R” Us on 27th and Howard

Juan Miguel Martinez

August 20, 2020

Toys "R" Us went out of business in 2018, only to kinda-sorta return a year later. (My parents always told me it was closed when we drove past it, but that's beside the point). The 38,000-square-foot Toys "R" U...

Meat on the Street brings Filipino culture and cuisine to Milwaukee (and beyond)

Juan Miguel Martinez

August 13, 2020

Food trucks are perfectly suited for the times. The mere concept of them is COVID-proof, as they are usually operated by no more than three people, and there is a wall and window separating those people from th...

Milwaukee Turners partner with Ayuda Mutua MKE and Metcalfe Park Community Bridges for food and supply drive

Juan Miguel Martinez

August 4, 2020

The pandemic has taught us many important things. Among them are two apparent truths: people find wearing a mask violates their civil liberties, and the government is even less willing to help in the face of wi...