Here at Milwaukee Record, we employ a sentient machine known as the Great Job, Milwaukee! Bot to keep track of the city’s many appearances on dopey online lists and studies, as well as any time a national publication deigns to acknowledges our pathetic Midwest existence. Enjoy!
Way back in 2017, the editors of Condé Nast Traveler claimed that Milwaukee was a “city to watch.” “Long overshadowed by its Midwest neighbors Chicago (92 miles), Minneapolis (337 miles), and state sister Madison (79 miles),” the editors said, “Milwaukee has many, if not all, of the same qualities that make these sister cities buzz—and then some.”
Well, it appears 575,048 folks—or 575,048 Condé Nast Traveler readers/voters, at least—have indeed been watching Milwaukee. Today, the website published its Reader’s Choice Awards for “Best Cities in the United States.” And hey! Milwaukee came in at a plumb #3 for “big” cities! For the second year in a row! Great Job, Milwaukee!
Does the accompanying Condé Nast Traveler blurb—like all travel blurbs about Milwaukee—mention Chicago in the first sentence? And does the 2024 Condé Nast Traveler blurb have a lot in common with the 2017 Condé Nast Traveler blurb? YOU BET YOUR CONDE NAST ASS IT DOES!
First, 2024:
So much more than just a day trip from Chicago, Milwaukee has many (if not all) of the same qualities that make other cities on this list buzz—and then some. Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, the city’s surprisingly eco-diverse location makes it a hotbed of locavore cuisine. A spate of award-winning restaurants have helped Milwaukee shed its beer-and-cheer reputation, though you can still get your fill of both between fine dinners. The dedicated revitalization of neighborhoods such as the historic Third Ward and Lincoln Village has also kept visitors busy with specialty shops, galleries, and more creative businesses.
Now, 2017:
Long overshadowed by its Midwest neighbors Chicago (92 miles), Minneapolis (337 miles), and state sister Madison (79 miles), Milwaukee has many, if not all, of the same qualities that make these sister cities buzz—and then some. Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, and at the convergence of three rivers, Milwaukee is, ironically, a water city in the middle of the country. Its ecologically diverse location makes it a hotbed of locavore cuisine, and a spate of award-winning restaurants have helped the city shed its beer-and-cheese reputation: Pay a visit to restaurants Ardent, Wolf Peach, Odd Duck, and the Vanguard to see what we mean. New hotels are arriving, too: A Kimpton hotel opened in the historic Third Ward in June 2016, and in June 2017, a 220-room Westin Hotel will open downtown—the first one in Wisconsin. Come summer, the city is an endless party, with more than 40 festivals between June and September. Don’t miss the Milwaukee Art Museum, which, with 25,000 works of art, is one of the biggest in the country; bar-hopping the “tied” houses; or the Pabst Mansion and Theatre, both named after the famed beer family.
And oh yeah, Chicago came in at #1. Great Job, Midwest!
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