Milwaukee Record launched on April 7, 2014. Since then, we’ve published nearly 13,000 stories and reached millions upon millions (upon millions upon millions upon millions) of internet-weary eyeballs. Here are 25 of our favorite stories we published in 2025.

(This article is dedicated to the memory of one of our longtime writers, Rob Wieland. Rob passed away in October at the age of 47. His final piece for Milwaukee Record ran in August. You are missed, sir.)

JANUARY

How a curbside dollhouse renovation helped subside holiday loneliness
Looking back now, I reflect on how tender the conversations around the renovation were. It’s as if the dollhouse became a buffer and provided a window to talk about fear, heartbreak, and how emotionally taxing and even lonely the holidays can be. There’s something about the combination of the holidays and tedious tasks that steer you to revisit the status of your own heart. [Emmy Yates]

Mandatory Milwaukee: Remembering Bob Uecker (and everything else)
It’s strange when the death of a public figure affects us, isn’t it? But the loss of Uecker felt—and continues to feel—different. It feels foundational. Not only to me and my sense of self, but to the city of Milwaukee, the state of Wisconsin, and to baseball fans everywhere. I’m still crushed. I’m obviously not alone. [Matt Wild]

FEBRUARY

Music streaming injustices: A call for indie musicians to stick up for themselves
It’s easy to grasp onto doomsday scenarios. As Americans, we do that well. But I believe there is A LOT we can do to make the art world more appreciated, and thus more valuable. Get pumped. [Brett Newski]

Travel back to early 2000s Milwaukee with these episodes of ‘ElimiDATE’
If you so dare, take a trip back to early 2000s Milwaukee and marvel at the nightlife, the fashion, the poorly-aged trash talk, the varying thickness of Wisconsin accents, and the alcohol/testosterone-fueled competition that took place in these seven salacious and downright crazy ElimiDATE episodes. [Tyler Maas]

MARCH

Drinking a beer in the Domes: The Milwaukee Record Review
We sipped and strolled through the Tropical Dome. We felt self-conscious at first, wondering if the selfie-snapping 20-somethings and moseying retirees would give us and our glaringly obvious can of beer the stink eye. But this is Milwaukee, Wisconsin, folks. It was strange that we were the only ones drinking at 2:30 p.m. [Matt Wild]

APRIL

A sailor’s response to the Milwaukee Boat origin story / “review”
But in the mystery of the Minnow, it is not a tale of the strange as much as it is a tale of plain ol’ foolishness. We’re grateful nobody was seriously injured. Nevertheless, I urge Milwaukeeans not to elevate this incident to lore-like levels without understanding that it was caused by extreme and dangerous negligence that led to even more extreme and expensive negligence. [Annie Raab]

MAY

Long live American Science & Surplus (which needs your help)
As I wandered the aisles, I noticed a guy maybe eight years my junior exploring with two kids that looked to be around 7 or 8. I kept hearing them exclaim “that’s so cool!” every time some new curiosity caught their eyes. I trust those kids and I are going to continue to be wowed by cool, wacky shit from the Cool Wacky Shit Store for years to come. [DJ Hostettler]

Two days at Milwaukee Metal Fest: metalcore, moshing, Milwaukee as metal mecca
The thrash continued in the Rave Bar with Evildead, another reformed ’90s band, and they seemed a bit taken aback by how well the packed crowd knew their songs. After a delayed start that had fans tossing an inner tube around as a game to try and ring unsuspecting attendees, the atmosphere was unexpectedly frolick-y when Evildead started playing, and the stage-diving never ceased throughout their set, one of the best of the day. [Cal Roach]

Rock solid pasties: A visit to Tigerton, Wisconsin’s weird, wonderful Rocks For Fun Pasty Shop
So when I heard about a quirky little spot called Rocks For Fun Pasty Shop in Tigerton, Wisconsin—a good stretch south of the traditional pasty belt at N4410 US-45—I was intrigued. Not only does the shop serve pasties, but it doubles as a gallery for 558 different rock creations. These aren’t just boulders; they’re spontaneous, one-of-a-kind folk art pieces best appreciated in person, where the caption cards and oddball humor really shine. [Mitch DeSantis]

Relive the inaugural Morgan Park Picnic with these photos
On Saturday, May 24, Milwaukee Record and Busby’s took over Morgan Park and brought a brand new spring festival to the one-acre triangle at the edge of the Bay View and Fernwood neighborhoods. From 12-6 p.m., the inaugural Morgan Park Picnic featured live music and yoga classes, area retailers, local beer and food purveyors, and fun for the whole family. We’re pleased to report the first-year festival far exceeded our expectations. [Tyler Maas]

Photo: Samer Ghani

JUNE

“All the smut!” In line at the grand opening of romance bookstore The Well Red Damsel
“We love books. We’re always out buying books, and now we’re supporting a woman-owned, queer-owned business. And, you know, there should be more things for the girlies.” [Annie Raab]

Dispatches from the bean line: My 28-minute wait for a Bush’s bucket hat
There were still 24 people ahead of me in line at 1:41 p.m. when In The Know eased into a cover of “Creep” by Radiohead. Once they reach the song’s chorus, its lyrics suddenly had new meaning to me…the sweaty 40-year-old guy willingly getting sunburned so I could obtain a hat with a baked bean pattern on it. “I’m a creep. I’m a weirdo. What the hell am I doing here? I don’t belong here.” [Tyler Maas]

Enjoy Every Fish Fry: I had a Big Mac and a fish fry with Don Gorske, who holds the record for most Big Macs eaten in a lifetime
Before Don and I parted ways, I asked him if he was going to eat his second Big Mac of the day for a snack later that night, and he said he planned on it. I drove back to Milwaukee full of perch, with a Big Mac carton in the back seat of my car, just like Don Gorske did on May 17, 1972. For any given day might be the first day of the biggest journey of your life, and it’s never too late to go for it and start down the path. Thanks, Don. Long may you run. [Caleb Westphal]

JULY

Biking 91 miles to 3 Chip’s Hamburgers: A Chip-errific day on two wheels
I recently came up with a challenge: bike to the last three remaining Chip’s Hamburgers in Wisconsin, all in one day. That’s 91 miles of biking fueled by beef, crinkle cut fries, and hubris. Consider it a dumb guy’s Ironman. The forecast? A perfect 73 degrees, partly cloudy and sunny. [Mitch DeSantis]

Touring the Yerkes Observatory, a shrine of architecture and astronomy in Williams Bay
The hour-long trip down I-43 to Williams Bay, right next to Lake Geneva, is a breeze. The town of about 3,000 people is almost deceptively ordinary; the eye-popping, breath-catching building almost seems out of place amongst the routine homes, bars, and gas stations leading up to Observatory Place. Did someone put this here as a prank? [DJ Hostettler]

AUGUST

Overheard in line for a free George Webb burger in downtown Milwaukee: A minute-by-minute report
Oon Wednesday, I dropped by the downtown Webb location, 812 N. MLK Jr. Dr. I found plenty of pleasant folks waiting in line, plenty of pleasant employees making sure the line kept moving, and, like a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, a free burger in a plastic bin. Here’s what I overheard during my 10-minute wait in line. [Matt Wild]

Some thoughts on Sunday’s Bob Uecker Celebration of Life (and official video of the whole thing)
The hour-long ceremony, expertly hosted on-field by Bob Costas, featured all the video clips and special guests you would expect. It was moving, funny, sad, sweet, and just about perfect. Did I cry several times during the ceremony? Of course I did. [Matt Wild]

A farewell to Art
Who was Art Guenther? Saloon owner, sure. But also: merch peddler, storyteller, neighborhood historian, dice roller. Pretty bad bartender. Pretty good cook. In photos, he is often leaning forward on the bar, engaging a beer-gripping audience in one of his many life stories. [Annie Raab]

Watch Bert Lauderdale report from The Great State Fair Flood of 2025
“It’s just a goddamn calamity out here!” [Bert Lauderdale]

SEPTEMBER

Plainfield: Wholesome, normal, totally fine. Promise.
Ever hear of Plainfield, Wisconsin? Oh, you have? Huh. For what reason? … Woof. Sounds like a story, but I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that. Let’s pay a visit to the quaint Wisconsin village (pop. 924 at the 2020 census) and stick with the real attractions, shall we? [Mitch DeSantis]

OCTOBER

Cracking a Miller High Life at Wisconsin’s highest point, Timm’s Hill
From the ground, the view is modest. But at the top of the tower is a sweeping panorama of Wisconsin’s green quilted landscape. That’s where I cracked the tallest tallboy of Miller High Life I could find. The can foamed over—was it the elevation? Or because I’d smuggled it in my wife’s “adventure purse” while it rattled all the way up? I’m blaming elevation and sticking to it. Either way, it tasted right. Never as good as from a bottle, but exactly the beer the moment deserved. [Mitch DeSantis]

NOVEMBER

I played in Milwaukee’s largest Tecmo Super Bowl tournament
In between games, I learn that my opponent is one of five players in the room who are not mere mortals: they could literally beat anyone in the world at Tecmo, with the possible exception of each other. Each has at least one national Tecmo Tournament championship in their recent past. [Tad Kriofske Mainella]

DECEMBER

Mandatory Milwaukee: Walking to the closest neighborhood bar on a snowy day
You’re bound to run into neighbors on days like this. Adult Snow Days are also an excuse to reach out to friends in the neighborhood to see if they’ll meet you somewhere in the middle. Or you can make new friends with the people sitting beside you. We have the perfect conversation starter: “How about this weather?” [Tyler Maas]

I floated down the Milwaukee River, luxury hot tub style
An individual walking over the Wells Street Lift Bridge shouted, “You’re crazy!” and laughed as we made our way down the windier end of the cruise. Unfortunately for them, the gusts of wind hitting the streets above were worse than they were for us in our warm bubble. [Lily Mihelich]

Hugh Jackman serving custard at the Greenfield Kopp’s: A minute-by-minute report
I’m hustled up next to actor—nay, MOVIE STAR Hugh Jackman. He hands me a cone. Or maybe the director does, I forget. “Howdy,” I say to MOVIE STAR Hugh Jackman. “Howdy!” he says back. We look at the photographer. The photographer snaps a photo. MOVIE STAR Hugh Jackman pats my back. I’m hustled away. It’s all over in seconds.

Hours later I download the photo. You know what? I’m pretty happy with it. [Matt Wild]

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