Our fat-free, dolphin-safe Milwaukee events calendar is chock-full of things to do, but only a handful of events are worthy of the lofty honor of “Record Recommended” (patent pending). Here are our recommendations for February 7-13, 2022.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8
Movie Night: The Princess Bride @ Lakefront Brewery
The Princess Bride is one of those movies that isn’t just beloved by countless fans, it’s internalized. The absurdist quotes (“My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die,”) the plethora of left-field 1987-era cameos (Billy Crystal!), the absurdist quotes (“My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die,”) and the absurdist quotes (“STOP SAYING THAT!”) have all become a shared pop-culture touchstone and shorthand for an entire generation. Plus, Andre the Giant is in it. Tonight, Lakefront will pair the movie with its Bumble Bear Honey Brown Ale, offering $1 off full pours.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9
Milwaukee Mayoral Forum 2022 @ Turner Hall Ballroom
On Tuesday, February 15, Milwaukee will take one step closer to electing a new mayor when the city votes in the 2022 Spring Primary. Seven candidates are vying to fill the remaining two years of Tom Barrett’s mayoral term. (Barrett resigned early to become the U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg, as one does.) The mayoral race is nonpartisan, so the top two vote-getters will square off in the general election on Tuesday, April 5. Before that, hear from all seven primary nominees—Marina Dimitrijevic, Bob Donovan, Ieshuh Griffin, Cavalier Johnson, Earnell Lucas, Michael Sampson, and Lena Taylor—at this free election forum. Registration is required.
Clem Snide @ Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery
Eef Barzelay—the veteran singer-songwriter who releases music under the Clem Snide moniker—makes his way to Anodyne’s Walker’s Point Roastery for a show in belated support of 2021’s Forever Just Beyond, his first studio album in five years.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10
Falcon Bowl Building Update And Community Discussion @ Falcon Bowl
In case you missed it, Riverwest’s beloved Falcon Bowl was recently purchased by a neighborhood group known as the Riverwest Investment Cooperative. (Previous Falcon Bowl owner Lynn Okopinski plans to retire this year.) What does the RIC have in store for the iconic dive? “Come help RIC prioritize as we develop a request for proposals that will be issued to seek a new operator for the classic bar, bowling alley, and event space we all know as Falcon Bowl,” reads an event description. The in-person meeting will be livestreamed, too.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11
Anime Milwaukee 2022 @ Wisconsin Center (through February 13)
Anime Milwaukee began 13 years ago as a small event at UW-Milwaukee. These days, the three-day anime convention attracts over 10,000 people to the Wisconsin Center and Hyatt Regency Milwaukee downtown. It’s the biggest fandom-based convention Milwaukee currently has to offer. “It’s really the Goldilocks of cons,” a con-goer told us a few years ago, “because there’s lots going on, but the crowds aren’t overwhelming.” Also, can you believe Netflix canceled their not-really-that-bad live-action Cowboy Bebop series after one lousy season?
Advance Base + Karima Walker, Dan Wriggins @ Cactus Club
Using the Advance Base moniker, Chicago musician Owen Ashworth crafts lo-fi story-driven output that manages to range from humorous and off-kilter to downright emotionally devastating (in the best way). The multi-instrumentalist will be preceded on this Cactus Club bill by Arizona artist Karima Walker and Philly-based singer/songwriter Dan Wriggins.
Brent Terhune @ The Laughing Tap (also February 12)
On top of releasing two well-received and widely streamed albums, comedian Brent Terhune has racked up tens of millions of views across a variety of social media platforms with his satirical MAGA persona. His unconventional “blue collar Colbert Report” style has earned Terhune praise from Variety, regular spots on the Bob & Tom Show, and headlining spots at comedy clubs all over the country.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12
Mitten Fest 2022 @ Burnhearts
After taking 2021 off on account of, well, everything, Burnhearts is bringing its outdoor Mitten Fest back, baby! Beginning at 1 p.m., music will be provided by NilexNile, No Seatbelts, Telethon, Guerrilla Ghost, and Gego Y Nony. DJ Chris Schulist will spin records between acts. And as if the stacked cast of musicians isn’t enticing enough, Burnhearts will serve rare and limited beers from Central Waters Brewery and Bell’s Brewery, its famous Brandyland old fashioneds (with Bittercube Bitters), Tito’s Milk Punch, and Valentine coffee. An array of local vendors will sell food and non-alcoholic beverages. Cortney Heimerl (of Hover Craft) will enlist a varied grouping of local vendors for an art, craft, and maker fair. And as always, Burnhearts will also accept cash and non-perishables for Hunger Task Force along with clothing donations.
The War On Drugs @ The Riverside Theater (also February 13)
What’s better than one night of The War On Drugs? Two nights, of course. Adam Granduciel and company bring their long-running, increasingly popular soft-heartland-rock act to Milwaukee’s Riverside Theater for a two-night stint. The group’s excellent new album, I Don’t Live Here Anymore, is both a pandemic record and a coming-of-age record. Recorded remotely, the album is colored by, among other things, Granduciel becoming a first-time father.
Club Noir Book Release Party @ Between Two Galleries
Back in 2016, Milwaukee poet Kavon Cortez Jones released a 52-page book of poetry called Club Noir. Described as a “poetry novella,” the book was steeped in Milwaukee references (the old Fuel Cafe got its own poem) and spanned approximately four years of Cortez Jones’ work. Now, more than five years later, Cortez Jones is celebrating both the book itself and a recent reprint. “Dress up, bring a friend, a STORE BOUGHT treat, a donation to enjoy a memorable night of dance, comedy, and poetry,” Cortez Jones says.
Anime Milwaukee 2022 @ Wisconsin Center (through February 13)
Brent Terhune @ The Laughing Tap
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 13
Minnie VanGawker + GrossLoad, Privilege, Taco Tuesday @ Quarters Rock ‘n’ Roll Palace
Looking for a “night of punk and noise from Milwaukee’s sickest freaks”? Of course you are. Then come out for this local bill featuring experimental music from new group Minnie VanGawker, the “brutal death grind” of GrossLoad, and more. Happy Valentine’s Day Eve!