The Newport (939 E. Conway St., 414-486-1768) is a Milwaukee drinking institution. The Bay View bar is a wonderful place to enjoy a drink alongside a great cast of regulars and exceptional bartenders, get free hot dogs on select days, catch a game on one of the watering hole’s many TVs, partake in the occasional meat raffle, and board a shuttle to Summerfest. It’s awesome, classic, and quietly iconic.
The property has been home to a variety of taverns since 1934, but Franky Creed has owned and—along with the help of his sons—operated The Newport since 2005. In honor of the Creed family’s 20th anniversary of taking over The Newport, they’re planning to put on a day-long springtime celebration. On Saturday, May 17, a stretch of Conway St. between Logan Ave. and Lenox St. in front of the bar will be closed down in order to host The Newport’s 20th Anniversary Block Party.
From 12-9 p.m., the one-block stretch of pavement will host a winning blend of live music, drinks, local vendors, cookout food favorites, and philanthropy. The event will help raise funds for the Bay View Community Center, WMSE, and Bay View Lions Club. The latter will be selling burgers, brats, and hot dogs on-site. Retail vendors will be Scout Gallery, LuvPrints, and possibly more TBA as the event nears. Beyond having “multiple beer tents” and a full bar inside, The Newport will also be selling their ever-popular merchandise, including their beloved hats, hoodies, T-shirts, and stickers.
The live music will come courtesy of these local projects (listed in order of opener to headliner, times TBD):
• Peshtigo
• Dark Psychic
• as Oak
• HOSTS
• Clove
“Bay View has been very good to us over the last 20 years,” says The Newport bar manager Brendan Creed. “We thought we should throw a party to celebrate our love for this incredible neighborhood, and raise some money for important neighborhood organizations.”
Save the date and come celebrate The Newport on Saturday, May 17. We’ll see you there!
