Milwaukee Record launched on April 7, 2014. Since then, we’ve published more than 11,600 stories and reached millions upon millions (upon millions upon millions) of internet-weary eyeballs. Our 10th year (!) was one for the books. Here are 25 of our favorite stories, from giant baby balloons to fish frys with U.S. senators.

JANUARY

What’s keeping Wisconsin from legalizing marijuana? (And is it REALLY the Tavern League?)
So really, the only remaining holdouts to Wisconsin joining its Midwestern neighbors as a state where recreational marijuana is legal are Robin Vos, Devin LaMahieu, and legislative Republicans. There are also the Uihleins, the biggest Republican political donors in Wisconsin, who have funded opposition to legalization efforts across the country. Overall though, this is clearly an instance where the minority is dictating policy to the majority in Wisconsin. [Dan Shafer]

FEBRUARY

How does Anodyne Coffee’s Milwaukee Record Blend pair with various types of booze? We found out!
Hints of chocolate and almond are present, with the sarcasm being a little more medium than mild in this reviewer’s opinion. It is entirely possible and likely a bit of cream and/or sugar would enhance said flavors and bring out the promised caramel notes as well. Overall, this is a very approachable, drinkable, tasty, and balanced coffee that can fulfill all your coffee needs. So let’s dump some booze in it! [Rusty Drinkswell]

Make it MKE scents: Here are some of my favorite Milwaukee smells
This list is far from being complete, and I’m not looking for a fucking debate about something that you think smells better. To me, some of these scents come to mind when I think about the city. [Tyler Maas]

Bird City, Milwaukee County (monthly series)
Bird City, Milwaukee County is a monthly column celebrating the 11 cities, towns, and villages that have achieved Bird City status within Milwaukee County. Citizens of these locations have made bird conservation a priority, protecting land, writing ordinances, and educating the public on issues concerning our avian neighbors. [Kyle Arpke]

MARCH

South side restaurant Carnitas de Rafa is open on weekends only (and sells out fast)
“Food just seems to taste better on the weekends. Weeknight restaurant outings just always seemed bland to me. This way people can think about the carnitas all week and then come in on the weekend and really savor them.” It is something that has worked out well for Rafa and Modesto, as they’re usually sold out of carnitas by noon every day the restaurant is open. [Juan Miguel Martinez]

All things Milwaukee in Top Chef, Episodes 1-14
If you haven’t heard the news, Top Chef Season 21 was filmed in Wisconsin. Each season, the popular Bravo cooking show goes to a different city or state to film the competition and learn about local cuisine and food culture. It’s been a good few years for Milwaukee’s dining scene—and the news is getting out. [Carmella D’Acquisto]

APRIL

Mandatory Milwaukee: Milwaukee Record has been around for 10 years. Here’s to MORE
Speaking for Tyler and myself, THANK YOU. Whether you’ve advertised with us over the past 10 years, wrote for us, read us, left irate comments for us, attended our events, bought our merch, supported us on Patreon, or tossed us some cash during the early days of the pandemic (remember those days?), all we can say is THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. And THANK YOU. [Matt Wild]

MAY

We went to Kwik Trip’s “secret” diner in Bonduel, Wisconsin
There’s a 24-hour diner in a small Shawano County village that’s not only located inside a Kwik Trip store. The sit-down restaurant also serves up elevated versions of Kwik Trip takeout standbys and is even staffed by Kwik Trip employees. Upon learning this, we made a bee line to Bonduel, Wisconsin to experience it firsthand. [Tyler Maas]

A belated farewell to 50/50, a Milwaukee-born citrus soda that was too good for this world
We waited as long as we could, hoping to be surprised by spotting a dusty bottle or a wayward case on the shelves of a grocery store or liquor retailer. We scoured the internet, asked like-minded friends to keep an eye peeled, and held out hope nostalgia might bring about a resurgence before it was too late. But we’re calling it: 50/50 is gone. [Tyler Maas]

Enjoy Every Fish Fry: I had a Friday fish fry with U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin
The senator asked how I like my Old Fashioneds made, and then ordered a Brandy Old Fashioned Sour. She joked that this was going to be our only disagreement of the evening. We raised our glasses despite the sweet vs. sour split. Finding common ground and building bridges is what we Wisconsinites do. [Caleb Westphal]

SteveDaStoner may be coming to a Walmart, Culver’s, or Chuck E. Cheese near you
In late 2022 and into 2023, SteveDaStoner had another song of his spawn a viral dance trend: “Barkin’,” complete with the #barkingchallenge. Not willing to let another chance to go viral slip away, Steve made his own Barking tutorial video, and saw people from all over the country doing his dance. The trend got so hot that even David Gruber got in the mix. [Vince Morales]

We drank the “Milwaukee River” (all 30 taps at City Fountain in a mug)
Though these draft beverages are good-to-great on their own, the blend of all 30 in one glass was indescribably bad. Check out our video of the experience to see just how terrible the “Milwaukee River” actually is. Cheers! [Tyler Maas]

JUNE

I’m on a goth boat: All aboard Milwaukee’s Goth Barge
Welcoming does seem to be the tone on the boat, as the goths mingle on deck, enjoying the view cruising down the Milwaukee River, occasional bridges clanging open overhead. The music is appropriate for the landscape as the boat chugs along on the brown river, surrounded by gnarled steel beams, concrete silos, old warehouses, smokestacks, and flotsam and jetsam junk. My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult is a more appropriate soundtrack than the Beach Boys for this industrial setting. [Tea Krulos]

A case against patios: Eating sandwiches in parks
The assignment was simple: get a handheld—which I defined as anything consumable and meant to be gripped in your paws—and take it to the nearest park, chew it over in a philosophical manner, and report back. Here’s what I ate and where. [Annie Raab]

Milwaukee rap stars 414BigFrank and J.P. are on a charm offensive. We are all powerless to resist.
Just watch them horse around in the video for “Locked In.” Within 20 seconds, their comedic personas are so defined you can almost imagine them in a buddy comedy where they inherit a cattle ranch or accidentally start a cult or something. [Evan Rytlewski]

Watch Bert Lauderdale report from the “Baby You Milwaukee” giant baby balloon art installation
On Friday, June 21, as Summerfest was in full swing at Henry Maier Festival Park, a group was gathered at nearby Veterans Park to witness a spectacle that was, well, a little tough to put into words. [Bert Lauderdale]

JULY

Some semi-deep final thoughts on Summerfest 2024
Despite being relatively cool on the lineup this year, I still had a blast. Hanging out with oodles of friends. Bumping into people I hadn’t seen in years. Watching the opening night fireworks. Laughing about that stolen Saz’s sampler platter. Biking home each night, the warm summer wind at my back, open to all the things the city has to offer. [Matt Wild]

On The Run From RNC: Dispatches from Route 66, Days 1-5
Things are getting weirder than weird as the Republican National Convention invades Milwaukee, so two forlorn Milwaukeeans are choosing to follow Route 66 to remember, to recharge, and to take pilgrimage at the Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan Centers in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Is this evasive action wise? Will the road lead them to something better than the RNC? They have five days to find out… [Tad Kriofske Mainella]

See inside super trashed Northridge Mall before it’s torn down
Milwaukee’s once great Northridge Mall closed in 2003. For the next 15 years or so, Northridge stood as a mostly intact ghost mall. In the past five or six years, however, thanks to near-constant break-ins, vandals, looters, arsonists, YouTubers, and even professional skateboarders, the former mall looks like it’s been bombed. [Matt Wild]

AUGUST

Relive Dana Ehrmann’s 2024 Wisconsin State Fair coverage with this video
If you missed her reports on social media, you can enjoy a compilation of them via this handy YouTube video. Thrill as Dana braves the Ejector Seat! Marvel as Dana infiltrates the strange and wonderful world of State Fair lawn parking! And swoon as Dana gives some adorable animals some proper adorable animal names. [Dana Ehrmann]

SEPTEMBER

On last meals (and saying goodbye)
When the dust settles, I’ll hold my remaining spots a little closer, I’ll try to visit a little more often when time and budget allows, and I’ll make sure to savor each bite a little bit longer because it could very well be the last meal at that specific establishment. And if it’s anything like it feels right now to lose Kim’s Thai, it’s going to hurt. [Tyler Maas]

Let’s take a close look at this 1988 cartoon map of Bay View and “Milwaukee’s fabulous southeast side”
Milwaukee is a place that’s constantly changing, and there’s arguably no Milwaukee neighborhood that’s changed more over the past 35-plus years than Bay View. Though change isn’t always a bad thing (and many of the neighborhood’s amenities actually remain to this day), it’s fun being able to look back at a time when Midwest Express planes were scattered about the skies, folks were getting drinks at Tuna’s Bar, and kids were killing time at Mr. Wilson’s Skateboards before heading to the South Shore Waterfrolics. [Tyler Maas]

I rappelled down the side of the 13-story Milwaukee Athletic Club for…reasons
“Can I get a smile?” asks a woman who’s snapping pictures. She does this as I’m busy getting hooked up to the final ropes, turning my back to the abyss, edging my heels over the edge, and ignoring every instinct in my body that tells me walking down the side of a 13-story building is a bad idea.

“NO!” I shout, probably way too harshly. I don’t want to do this. Why am I doing this? I am absolutely terrified out of my mind. [Matt Wild]

OCTOBER

Caley Conway navigates dreams, waking life on sublime ‘Partner’
There are moments in Caley Conway’s latest album, Partner, when the ever-busy Milwaukee singer-songwriter finds herself caught in the humdrum duties of daily life. There are things to do—or not—people to see—or not—and the ones and zeros of technology to attend to. And then, suddenly, she’s off and dreaming, belly laughing with a distant friend or considering taking up “the work of birds.” When she comes back down to Earth, more often than not, she finds bliss in a comforting middle ground. “There aren’t enough hours in the day, I’ve counted,” Conway sings early in the record, before slyly adding, “For loving you.” [Matt Wild]

NOVEMBER

Meet some Milwaukee-area shop dogs
Times are tough. Rents are skyrocketing, We Energies is finding yet another way to screw us over, and minimum wage hasn’t budged in 15 years. But if there’s one thing keeping the local economy booming, it’s the dogs who show up day in and day out and put in four elbows (knees?) worth of grease. After all, that bag of Fromm ain’t gonna pay for itself. Here’s a roundup of some of the local business mascots who keep us coming back to the shop. [Julie Whiting]

Want more Milwaukee Record? Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and/or support us on Patreon.