Even though the Green Bay Packers are getting a bye week a little later in the season than they have in recent seasons and, yeah, they could actually use the extra week of rest and recovery right now, it’s still a tough pill for fans to swallow. We’ve just gotten used to the weekend ritual of watching the green and gold playing and, frankly, many of us could use three hours of distraction this week to say the least.
While a 14-day stretch between games isn’t ideal, it’s going to be okay. There’s a lot to take your mind off this period of Packerslessness on Sunday. If you need help figuring out some activities to get you through the bye week, here are 25 ideas for things to do during Sunday’s Packers bye.
1. Make a dent in your holiday shopping
Damn, it’s November already?! Christmas is in less than 50 days. We should probably get cracking on that holiday shopping list. We recommend you buy one of our shirts.
2. Go to an arcade
When is the last time you went to the arcade? It’s probably been a while, so spend part of your Sunday smashing buttons at one of the region’s gaming emporiums.
3. See Cursive
Speaking of arcades, X-Ray Arcade will be hosting a Sunday night show by Cursive fresh off the release of the legendary Omaha emo outfit’s latest album, Devourer.
4. Go to another concert
If Cursive isn’t your thing, there are a few other live entertainment options in Milwaukee on Sunday night. Best among them seems to be Buffalo Galaxy and Soggy Prairie at Anodyne Walker’s Point Roastery.
5. Watch another NFL game
Looks like Milwaukee gets to watch Pittsburgh at Washington, Philadelphia at Dallas, New England at Chicago, and Detroit at Houston. If any of that sounds appealing to you, tune in. Go New England and Houston!
6. Buy our brandy
Did you miss the news? We have our own brandy! Great Lakes Distillery made us a small batch of “Milwaukee Record Brandy” featuring Wisconsin-grown grapes that have been aged for two years. It’s legitimately great. And it’s limited to just 300 bottles that will EVER be produced, many of which have been sold already. Bottles are only available at Great Lakes Distillery, so stock up while you can.
7. Celebrate Riverwest Co-op’s 23rd anniversary
Congratulate this Riverwest community institution on 23 years by celebrating its birthday on Sunday. From 12-4, there will be a potluck and free bowling across the street from the Co-op at Falcon Bowl. Be there!
8. Go check out that boat
Yep! It’s still there.
9. Get a bite somewhere
Revisit an old favorite, try a new place, or venture out to a neighborhood (or surrounding suburb) you don’t visit very often and grab a bite to eat.
10. Household projects
It’s not always fun, but it’s necessary. And when the Packers aren’t playing, you kind of don’t have an excuse to put some household projects off any longer. Our fridge just started making a weird clicking noise, so that should make for a fun weekend. Good luck with whatever your project(s) might be.
11. Go to a movie
Heretic is supposed to be good, and it’s playing at Avalon and the O.T. on Sunday. Avalon also has Venom: The Last Dance. Oriental Theatre is also showing The Matrix Ressurections. Downer has that Tom Hanks movie that de-ages him with the use of AI or whatever. Your area Marcus Theatre surely has a bunch of stuff.
12. Rake
‘Tis the season.
13. Play some of the other New York Times games
Wordle is cool and all, but Connections is arguably better. The Mini is usually pretty fun to speed through and Letterboxed gets the brain firing as well.
14. Get some hot ham and rolls
Take your time! With no game at noon (or at all), you can go to any bakery or grocery store you want to satisfy that hot ham craving.
15. Go to a museum
It’s pretty deep into autumn and it’ll be dark by like 4:30, so this seems to be one of the best family- or date-friendly options out there right now.
16. Stop and smell the coffee
Milwaukee is blessed to have an abundance of cafes and coffee roasters serving up top-notch java. Pay one of them a visit and, instead of working or taking a meeting, take some you time to read a book, do a crossword, or have a nice conversation with a friend as you sip. And if you go to Anodyne, consider picking up a bag of their Milwaukee Record Blend.
17. Hit up a local taproom
Milwaukee is blessed to have an abundance of breweries and taprooms serving up top-notch beer. Pay one of them a visit and, instead of working or taking a meeting, take some you time to read a book, do a crossword, or have a nice conversation with a friend as you sip.
18. Go record shopping
We can’t stress enough how therapeutic it can be to spend an afternoon at one of Milwaukee’s independent record retailers thumbing through albums—especially the used bins, which hold untold treasures at a fraction of the price. Even if you’re on a budget, it’s always nice to be out in the world and chatting with your fellow human.
19. Listen to records at home
If money is seriously tight and you don’t want the temptation of record shopping, stay home and put on your favorite albums. It’s relaxing and it helps to justify all the money you’ve spent on your record collection to that point. Others in your household might like it, too.
20. Bake something or try out a new recipe
You have the time, so maybe try out a new recipe or bake a treat. Once everything is in the oven, you can put on the Bears game to see how bad they’re losing.
21. Take a nice autumn stroll
The leaves are changing, the temps are dropping, daylight hours are shrinking, and winter is coming. Get a nice autumn stroll in which you still can.
22. Bugs Bunny At The Symphony
What’s up, Doc? Bugs Bunny At the Symphony is what’s up. Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra will provide a live score for Looney Tunes footage in this unique musical event. Sunday’s 2:30 p.m. performance is the final show of this one-weekend residency. Once that show is over, that’s all folks!
23. Pet care
Nobody likes to trim their cat’s claws, wash their dog, brush their critter, or deep clean the fish tank, but it’s necessary. Much like home projects, you gotta do it sometime. Maybe Sunday afternoon is that time.
24. Ride The Hop
Take The Hop somewhere if you’d like. Or don’t if that’s not something you’re into. Oh god, why did we include something about The Hop on this list?!?!?
25. Bucks vs. Celtics
Milwaukee finally ended its embarrassing early-season slide Thursday night. Next stop: CHAMPIONSHIP! That title run continues when the Bucks host the Celtics at Fiserv Forum at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.
