When it comes to elaborate and inventive bar pop-ups in Milwaukee, nobody does it quite like The Sugar Maple (441 E. Lincoln Ave.). Since 2023, the Bay View craft beer bar has temporarily transformed into a Wes Anderson wonderland, an I Think You Should Leave spot, a Nintendo gaming paradise, an “immersive experience” related to Studio Ghibli, and an “It’s Always Sunny In Milwaudelphia” take on It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia.
Next month, The Sugar Maple—in partnership with your friends at Milwaukee Record—will pay tribute to Joe Pera Talks With You with a multifaceted pop-up experience related to the Adult Swim series that was predominately filmed in and around Milwaukee. “Warm Apple Nights: A ‘Joe Pera Talks With You’ Pop-Up” will run from Thursday, June 13 through Sunday, June 16. The weekend-long event coincides with Joe Pera’s June 15 performance at Pabst Theater. (And yes, Pera gave us his blessing to do the pop-up!)
So what can you expect from Warm Apple Nights? A lot! The multi-day event will kick off with a June 13 artists’ reception, featuring work from local artists that is inspired by Joe Pera Talks With You. The art will be on display all weekend long. The following night, we’ve put together a “Bean Arch Comedy” showcase featuring Dana Ehrmann, Matty Field, Luisa Noé, and Greg Bach that will take place from 8-10 p.m. in The Sugar Maple’s back room.
Saturday, as Pera prepares for his Pabst Theater show, The Sugar Maple will be hosting a themed vendor fair from 1-6 p.m., a pancake brunch from 12-4 p.m. (with proceeds benefiting Savage Support), and its usual monthly “Hotties Only” comedy show with headliner Chastity Washington from 8-10 p.m. On June 16, Warm Apple Nights will end in grand fashion with Margaret Muza Tintype Father’s Day Portraits from 1-4 p.m., a photo op with Wesley Patrick—the brother of the dearly departed William Fitzgerald, the dog who played “Gus” on the show—from 2-4 p.m. (with donations from photos benefiting Girls Rock MKE), a Joe Pera Lookalike Contest from 2-3 p.m., and music from Frogwater running 4-6 p.m.
Beyond the scheduled events, there will be food available for purchase from Ready To Roll (Thursday and Saturday) and Sweet Smoke BBQ (Friday). Sugar Maple will redecorate the bar to suit the Talks With You theme, and they’ll also serve up some specialty cocktails and mocktails they’ve created specifically for the occasion. Component Brewing Company also brewed a limited release Pera-themed beer that will be available exclusively at The Sugar Maple and Component’s nearby taproom. Oh, and you know “Baba O’Riley” will be played a few times!
“Warm Apple Nights: A ‘Joe Pera Talks With You’ Pop-Up” takes place at The Sugar Maple from Thursday June 13 through Sunday, June 16. It’s free to attend (excluding the comedy shows). If you’re planning to go to Pera’s show at Pabst Theater, make sure to stop by before or after!