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, as well as any time a national publication deigns to acknowledges our Midwest existence. Today’s bot report comes courtesy of frequent Milwaukee lover The New York Times, who, when not showering love on our independent bookstores, is into freezing its extremities off at our annual Polar Plunge.
In an NTY video shot by Maddy Power, Jeff Fitzsimmons, and Maureen Towey, we get a a 360-degree view of the beloved New Year’s Day celebration, which finds hundreds of brave/foolhardy folks diving into the icy waters of Lake Michigan on Bradford Beach. Plus, it comes complete with some funny quotes from Polar Plunge vet Garth Gasky, like “It never hurt me until I found out that my toes were turning black from going in the water. I didn’t want them cutting my toes off, so I quit,” and “After we’re done we go right to a tavern.” Damn straight (and great job), Milwaukee.