Milwaukee, WI
‘Bring the people’: Milwaukee bars looking forward to a busy summer after years of challenges
This summer, particularly July, is shaping up to be one of the busiest in recent Milwaukee history.
The Republican National Convention is coming to town. Harley-Davidson is hosting another anniversary festival. The Bucks are headed to the playoffs again and could play into late June. All that plus the usual street and ethnic festivals, Milwaukee Air and Water show, and of course, Summerfest.
In recent years issues like staffing and food shortages have plagued Milwaukee’s service industry, sometimes making it difficult to maintain a level of service when things got busy. But now most bar and restaurant owners say they have rebounded and are ready for a jam-packed three months.
“Bring the people. We can handle it,” said Jeno Cataldo, owner of of Jo-Cat’s, Dorsia and St. Bibiana, all on East Brady Street.
“I think staffing, it was an issue, but now we’re stocked and locked and loaded with an amazing staff,” he said “Coming out of COVID, it was hard, but that’s in the past.”
While many bars and restaurants are looking forward to the RNC, Cataldo expects the last weekend in July, when the Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival takes place, to be their busiest. Another big day will be Brady Street Fest, which was moved one week earlier from its usual last Saturday in July in order to not interfere with the motorcycle festival.
Cataldo said that Harley weekend has become similar to Sturgis, one of the largest motorcycle rallies in the country.
“There are so many memories that are made with these Harley events. We love the idea of having it every year,” he said.
Milwaukee becoming a top summer getaway
With so much going on, Cataldo said Milwaukee is one of the top summer destinations in the country.
“I grew up on Brady Street and I love Milwaukee becoming a party destination, almost the same way Nashville has done it. People plan around coming to Milwaukee in the summer,” he said. “Milwaukee in general is set up for summers like this. We have a huge festival grounds on the lakefront just used for celebrating, and the parks used for hosting. We have plenty of places for people to hang out all over the city.”
Michael Eitel, who owns Nomad World Pub, 1401 E. Brady St., said that not only does he expect his bar to be busy for Milwaukee events, but also for soccer games, which the bar is known for showing.
The Euro Cup and Copa America are both taking place this summer, and both have championship games on July 14.
“We’ll be showing a ton of soccer for six weeks,” Eitel said. “It’s going to be an interesting six or seven weeks from mid-June to the end of July.”
Eitel also owns three food and drink spots in the Cathedral Square neighborhood: Sport Club, Barrel Burrito Co., and Experts Only.
He said the usual summer programming from the East Town Neighborhood Association, including Jazz in the Park on Thursday nights and Bastille Days July 11-14, will provide a boost to the area this summer.
“Cathedral Square is really starting to pick up again post-COVID. I’m excited to see that,” Eitel said. “Brady is always really busy in the summer, but I think this one is going to be much busier.
“There’s so much coming into town; we want to take advantage of those opportunities. We don’t get summers like this,” he said.
Eitel hopes that it makes up for losing the in-person Democratic National Convention in 2020, which was largely virtual because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Other things have changed since the pandemic to make the summer busier, including Summerfest’s layout. Instead of being a 10-day run from the last week of June to the first week of July, it now takes place over three weekends, overlapping with more summer events and making for an even busier July.
“There’s so much competition, with small events and Summerfest being three weekends now. There’s only so many weekends that we have. There’s so much nonstop,” Eitel said. “It’s awesome. There’s no better place to be in the summer than Milwaukee.”
With so much going on, Eitel said that having enough staff is something that he has to prepare for now.
“For Nomad, we’re used to that. We’ve been doing large soccer events for decades,” he said. “This year, with these other things coming to town, the seasonal staffing is going to be critical, so you have to prepare for that now while it’s still preseason, and get everything ready for the summer.
“It’s been a long winter for a lot of people in this industry, and I hope that we’re ready for it,” Eitel said.
RNC will add to an already busy summer
While the RNC is going to be a boost for the service industry, there are a lot of other things contributing to the busy summer, too.
“Even without RNC it would be a much busier summer than normal, with Summerfest, Harley Fest, which rolls into the Northwestern Mutual conference. People are itching to get out,” said Evan Hughes, co-owner of Central Standard Craft Distillery, which has the Crafthouse and Kitchen at 320 E. Clybourn St.
He said they make sure to be ready to be involved with events that are happening around them, whether it’s for people parking downtown to head to the Summerfest grounds or events a little farther away on the lakefront.
“We do some fun stuff on the aviary for the Air and Water show. It’s all about being able to be nimble to best serve and add value to these events,” he said.
Hughes said he is looking forward to the busy summer.
“For everyone — whether it’s Central Standard or a restaurant downtown — it’s been a challenge, with food costs and building the right team,” he said. “Having a celebratory summer where everything is busy, and getting back to doing what we can do best, is definitely needed and is welcome.”
The busy summer can make for a tiring but lucrative season for those in the industry.
“Were going to need every staff member, and they’ll have to work long days, but it’s going to be worth it,” said Mike Vituccci, who owns Uncle Buck’s, 1125 N. King Drive, near Fiserv Forum, where the RNC will be held.
“Milwaukee is becoming a destination, and that is fabulous. We’re looking forward to the RNC because of my location. I’m right in the (security) perimeter,” he said.
Vitucci also owns The Belmont Tavern, 784 N. Jefferson St., and Izzy Hops, 2311 N. Murray Ave.
“We’re connected to the hotel business. If those are busy, we’re going to be busy, too,” he said. “Especially at Belmont on Jefferson, because that is really hotel-driven. We’re just crazy busy there in summer.”
‘Top Chef: Wisconsin,’ Bucks success also give the city a boost
Not only will the RNC increase tourism, but Vitucci said that Wisconsin (and mostly Milwaukee) hosting this season of Bravo’s “Top Chef” will help the city as well.
“Milwaukee has a lot of spotlight nationwide. It’s a really nice place to visit,” he said. “‘Top Chef’ makes Milwaukee look like a gorgeous city, which it is. It’s nice for the city.”
Vitucci said Milwaukee has a strong dining scene, and that it has only improved in recent years.
“I think that 2020 kicked the legs off most operators where they said, ‘Hey, I have to survive,’ and those who survived are skilled, experienced and have money to back them,” he said.
Tino Bates welcomes a busy summer for his bars Truth Lounge, 1111 N. King. Dr., and Allure, 789 N. Jefferson St. He said his bars always do better when the Bucks play well, so last year was a disappointment when the team was upset in the first round of the playoffs.
“The Bucks came up kind of short last year,” Bates said. “Hopefully they can go to the final rounds this year. The further they go, the better we do.”
He said that the city bringing in the RNC after losing the DNC should also be a good way to make up business.
“I think the city is doing a great job at bringing in the RNC after losing the DNC with COVID. That was a damper,” he said. “Getting the RNC is a great step. The city is doing a great job and keeping these festivals here, and heading those to make sure they go well and are safe.
“All of those things, Summerfest, getting people out in the summer, you get to see people coming out getting a cocktail or two afterwards,” Bates said. “As long as the city keeps doing a great job at getting people out, we’ll be in a great space.”
While downtown bars plan to benefit from big events like the RNC and Summerfest, neighborhood bars are hoping for a boost, too, but owners said they rely more on local street festivals to bring in customers in the summer.
“I’m hoping to be more busy with the RNC,” said Valerie Wingo, who owns Club Manhattan, 2573 N. Phillips Ave. “I definitely need a busy summer. Business, it could be better, so anything can help.”
While she wasn’t sure how much business she would get from the RNC (the bar is about 1.5 miles north of Fiserv Forum), she is looking forward to other neighborhood events.
“There’s a couple street festivals that come near my bar like Juneteenth, Garfield Days, Bronzeville — those are always busy,” Wingo said. “I’m looking forward to this summer. Let’s get rid of all this snow and hopefully get some more business as well.”
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Travel to Ireland, learn how to catch a fish, visit wildlife at the zoo, and see costumed characters this weekend in Milwaukee.
Anime Milwaukee
The 2026 “Magical Academy” themed animation convention comes to the Baird Center, 400 W. Wisconsin Ave., and Hilton Milwaukee City Center March 6-8. The weekend features Japanese industry guests and cultural experts, artists and official merchandise, gaming, music, dance, manga, cosplay, anime and Asian fashion. New this year is the Nocturna Anime Bar with a lounge and specialty drinks, including nonalcoholic beverages. Exhibit hall hours are 1 to 8 p.m. March 6, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 7 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 8. Full weekend access is $100; single day access is $50-$75. animemilwaukee.org
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Sports Show
The 85th year of the Sports Show is at State Fair Park’s Wisconsin Exposition Center, 8200 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis, from noon to 7 p.m. March 6, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 7 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 8. Along with outdoor exhibitors, see what’s swimming in the trout pond, watch the lumberjack show and the fastest retriever race, or catch the archery and air rifle tournaments. General admission tickets at the door are $15; youth tickets (ages 6-14) are $6. In honor of Women’s Day on March 8, all women receive $10 admission at the door. Check out the full schedule at jssportsshow.com.
Gardens & Gears: Steampunk Faire
Celebrate the industrial age at the Gardens & Gears art fair from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 7 at the Mitchell Park Domes, 524 S. Layton Blvd. The immersive garden event features creators, costumes and live entertainment, with gears, goggles and handcrafted mechanical curiosities on display in the gardens. Domes admission required. mitchellparkdomes.com
Milwaukee County Zoo Family Free Day
Everyone receives free admission at the Milwaukee County Zoo, 10001 W. Blue Mound Road, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. March 7. See the red pandas in their outdoor habitat, lions, penguins and more. Parking and regular attraction fees still apply. milwaukeezoo.org
Irish Family Day
Travel to the Irish countryside during “Passport to Ireland” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 8 at the CelticMKE Center, 1532 N. Wauwatosa Ave., Wauwatosa. With Irish dance, arts, crafts and storytelling, each county will be featured with an activity that celebrates Irish culture, history and traditions. Buy one, get one free Irish Fest tickets will be available to purchase, with lunch, beverages and snacks served in the Celtic Café. Admission is $10 at the door. celticmke.com
What’s new in Milwaukee-area theaters this weekend
Marcus Theatres: See a marathon of the 2026 Best Picture nominees at select theater locations. Day one of the marathon is March 7 and features “Sentimental Value,” “F1: The Movie,” “The Secret Agent,” “Bugonia,” and “Sinners.” The marathon resumes March 14 with a new set of films. Visit marcustheatres.com.
Milwaukee Film: Women’s History Month programming features the action films of Michelle Yeoh. See her Oscar-winning performance in “Everything Everywhere All At Once” screening at 6 p.m. March 6 at the Oriental Theatre.
“Hoppers”: A robotic animal with a human mind helps real animals thwart a plot to destroy their habitat in this Disney and Pixar feature film. See it at AMC Mayfair Mall; Avalon Theater; Marcus Theatres’ BistroPlex Southridge, Hillside, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, Movie Tavern Brookfield Square, North Shore, Ridge, South Shore cinemas; Rosebud Cinema.
“The Bride!”: A lonely Frankenstein (Christian Bale) travels to 1930s Chicago to ask a scientist (Annette Bening) to create a companion. See it at AMC Mayfair Mall; Marcus Theatres’ BistroPlex Southridge, Hillside, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, Movie Tavern Brookfield Square, North Shore, Ridge, South Shore cinemas.
“Protector”: A veteran war hero (Milla Jovovich) must use the violent skills she thought she left behind to save her daughter. See it at Marcus Theatres’ BistroPlex Southridge, Hillside, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, Movie Tavern Brookfield Square, North Shore, Ridge, South Shore cinemas.
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Josue Ayala has resigned from the Milwaukee Police Department days after he was charged with a crime over his alleged misuse of license plate-reading Flock technology.
Ayala, 33, pleaded not guilty to one count of attempted misconduct in public office during his initial court appearance on March 4.
The charge is a misdemeanor that carries a potential maximum penalty of nine months in jail and $10,000 fine.
Milwaukee is one in a growing number of communities nationally that have started using Flock cameras to help locate stolen vehicles, identify vehicles used in violent crimes, and track vehicles associated with missing persons. The technology is controversial and been criticized by civil rights and privacy advocates.
Conducting searches for personal reasons is a violation of department policies.
Prosecutors say Ayala used the Flock camera system while on duty more than 120 times to look up the license plate of someone he was dating. They believe Flock technology also was used on a second license plate, one belonging to that person’s ex, 55 times, according to a criminal complaint, filed Feb. 24 in Milwaukee County Circuit Court.
Ayala joined the Milwaukee Police Department in 2017, and his total gross pay was about $120,000 in 2024, according to the most recent city salary data available.
Milwaukee police confirmed in a March 4 email to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Ayala has resigned from the department.
Ayala and his attorney Michael J. Steinle, of Milwaukee, would not speak to reporters as they left the courtroom.
Prosecutors say the department became aware of the allegations against Ayala after a driver saw that they were the subject of searches through the website, www.haveibeenflocked.com, which collects and publishes “audit logs” of searches of the Flock system by police agencies.
The driver saw that Ayala had searched the plate numerous times, which prompted the driver to file a complaint with the Milwaukee Police Department.
Detectives then audited Ayala’s searches in the Flock system from March 26, 2025, through May 26, 2025.
Ayala is at least the second Wisconsin officer to face criminal charges for misuse of the Flock system. A Menasha police officer was charged in January for tracking an ex-girlfriend’s car.
Milwaukee police began using Flock cameras in 2022. MPD has a $182,900 contract with Flock for the use of the technology. That contract is active through January 2027.
Court Commissioner Dewey B. Martin released Ayala on a $2,500 signature bond March 4.
Signature bonds, sometimes referred to as a personal recognizance bond, allow a defendant to leave custody without paying cash as long as they sign a promise to appear for their upcoming court dates.
Martin also ordered Ayala not to contact the two victims in the case.
Ayala also must report to the Milwaukee County Jail to be booked on March 9. If he doesn’t show up, a bench warrant will be issued for his arrest.
Ayala is scheduled to appear for a pre-trial conference on April 17.
David Clarey of the Journal Sentinel contributed to this story.
Chris Ramirez covers courts for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at caramirez@usatodayco.com.
Ever since the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both by federal agents in Minneapolis in January, there have been numerous student protests by high school students across the country – including several in Wisconsin and the Milwaukee area.
Students at Milwaukee Public Schools’ high schools including Milwaukee King, Ronald Reagan, and others; Wauwatosa East High School, Shorewood High School, Menomonee Falls High School, Nicolet High School, Whitefish Bay High School – even one student at Marquette University High School – have all walked out of school to protest Immigrations and Customs’ Enforcement actions in Minneapolis and nationwide.
What is it about ICE’s actions that have students walking out? How are school districts handling it, and what do students and parents think?
UW-Madison political science professor shares thoughts on what’s behind student walkouts
Political science professor emeritus Howard Schweber of the University of Wisconsin-Madison said several factors play into why students are protesting.
One of those factors is that ICE raids have taken place near schools. In some school districts, teachers have been arrested and students have disappeared. In some areas of Minneapolis, schools have had to switch to remote learning because students feared ICE raids, Schweber said.
Second, Schweber said the walkouts tie in to past student protests over guns in schools; high school students are feeling unsafe in their schools.
“They’re feeling threatened by forces, you know, far beyond their control, and feeling like first, it was their government wouldn’t protect them. This time it’s their government that’s doing it to them. Of course I’m only speaking from the perspective of the students who are protesting. I don’t mean to suggest that all students feel this way, but the ones who are protesting, this is, I think, what is driving them,” he said.
“Unlike some other issues, I think this one – like the guns in schools issues – hits very close to home, and makes them feel personally involved and threatened by the situation,” he said.
Schweber also talked about where the First Amendment applies during these situations.
He said students, particularly high school students, do have First Amendment rights. He said that schools may not punish students for expressing one viewpoint as opposed to another, and that any policy must be neutral. However, he said, students who walk out, and especially students who engage in conduct that disrupts school activities, can be disciplined.
“The legal background to this is students have a right to express themselves, but while they’re in school or while they’re supposed to be in school, that right is quite curtailed,” he said. “I noticed that in Madison, for example, there were some protests that were held after school ended in order to avoid this problem, which is certainly one way to avoid the issue, but then it’s not a walkout.”
How school districts deal with the walkouts
When it comes to walkouts, school districts typically approach them from several perspectives: attendance, neutrality, recognizing freedom of speech and safety.
In general, school districts will mark students who participate in walkouts as absent and unexcused unless their parents call in to excuse them. Most districts surveyed by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel also stressed that walkouts are student-sponsored and not organized or sanctioned by the districts.
For example, Pewaukee High School principal Brian Sniff said in a letter to parents that a Feb. 4 walkout at that school was student-initiated and student-led. He said that while students planning the walkout consulted with administration for clarity on the school’s expectations and potential consequences so they could make an informed decision about their plans, the district did not endorse or encourage the activity.
At the same time, some districts have acknowledged that students have free speech rights, as guaranteed by the First Amendment.
While reiterating that students who walk out are unexcused unless a parent excuses them, the Wauwatosa School District said in a letter to parents in advance of a Jan. 12 walkout that it values and encourages student self-expression and recognizes the “importance of civic engagement as part of a well-rounded education.”
“We view moments like this as opportunities for young people to explore their voices, deepen their understanding of social issues, and learn about the power of collective action in a safe and constructive way,” the letter said.
Safety is also another factor that districts consider.
South Milwaukee School District Superintendent Deidre Roemer, Shorewood High School principal Tim Kenney and Franklin High School principal Michael Vuolo said in their letters to parents before planned walkouts that staff would not supervise students who left school grounds.
Sniff said that if students walked out, administrators and security would monitor the situation, ensure they remained in designated safe areas on campus and prevent conflict. But he added that supervision means ensuring safety, and does not equal support.
Parent, student perspective
Jamie Esser, a parent of a child attending Pewaukee High School, said she supported the walkout there. She said teens getting involved with politics and social issues was “heartwarming” to her.
“I think our children, ever since lockdown, have been isolated and stuck in their cell phones and stuck on social media and not really interacting with each other or looking at the world at large. So I think – especially with all the controversy around ICE and around the treatment of their fellow Americans or even fellow human beings – I think it’s great that kids are taking up concerns, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s very promising for the future that today’s generation sees the injustice and just wants to be heard that they don’t agree with it,” Esser said.
Conversely, Joe Rivera, a parent and school board candidate for the Wisconsin Hudson School District in northwestern Wisconsin, said he was concerned about inconsistencies in how that district told parents it would handle a walkout v. what actually happened.
The walkout took place, even though the district told parents that students would not be allowed to leave campus and that classes would continue as scheduled, a Feb. 14 post on his campaign Facebook page said.
“Allowing a large, pre-planned demonstration during the school day – after communicating it would not be allowed – created confusion, undermined trust, and placed students in unnecessary danger, the post said. “We do not have to look far to see how similar situations, even nearby, have escalated quickly and turned tragic.”
“As a parent in this district, I find it unacceptable that families were told one thing and experienced another – especially when it involves student supervision and safety during the school day,” the post said.
Thomas Stilp, a Marquette University High School student, said he was among several students who were organizing a walkout at his school in February. Things looked ready to go until the night before the walkout. That’s when organizers heard concerns that the walkout might draw unwanted attention from ICE; those concerns led them to cancel the event.
Stilp said he thinks students fear that what’s happening in Minnesota will eventually happen in Milwaukee.
“What we really want is the whole country to be doing this, and if people are leaving schools and people are shutting down their offices and are not showing up to work, like businesses are closed; if you can’t get your coffee in the morning because of these ICE raids that are happening and businesses are calling for that to be stopped, that’s when you’re going to notice,” he said.
However, not all students support the walkouts.
One of those students is Turner Dittrich, a senior at Arrowhead High School and a founder, former president and current member of the school’s chapter of the conservative organization Turning Point. He is also the son of Terry Dittrich, the Waukesha County Republican Party chairman.
Turner Dittrich said that while people have the right to protest, they should not interfere with ICE, which is investigating criminal behavior.
“My whole take on it is, is why should undocumented illegal citizens get the same immunity as the ones who sacrifice to follow the law? We are America. We are a country of laws,” he said.
Dittrich said anti-ICE protests have been boosted by students who simply do not want to be in school. He also said he does not think it’s right for students to miss school for protests, out of respect for teachers.
“At Arrowhead especially, I’ve met some phenomenal teachers, some phenomenal individuals. They wake up tired and they’re really pouring out their energy into what they’re teaching students. For the ICE protests to not be done at 3:30 or 4 [after school] is just shocking to me because it’s like, what are these teachers possibly doing? Now, I understand freedom of speech. They can’t control kids necessarily, but at the end of the day, when teachers are getting paid to show up and work hard, it just unfortunately saddens me.
“It’s the same thing if there was a pro-ICE protest. I would think that during school hours, it’d be wrong, right? So I think on both sides of the aisle, the fact that we’re doing this during school hours, is wrong. It can’t be done that way,” Dittrich said.
Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or alec.johnson@jrn.com. Follow him on X (Twitter) at @AlecJohnson12.
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