Milwaukee, WI
Botanical Battle Royale
Embark on a Cocktail Adventure at the Second Annual Botanical Battle Royale!
Sunday, June 1st – 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Join us at Milwaukee’s charming Ivy House for a spectacular day of craft cocktails, gourmet bites, and vibrant competition. Hosted by Bittercube Bitters and Heirloom Liqueurs, in collaboration with the Two Birds Group, this event promises an unmatched showcase of Wisconsin’s finest bartenders.
Tantalize Your Taste Buds: A Seasonal Sensation
Dive into a sensory journey at each booth as top bartenders from around Wisconsin compete, each bringing their unique style to the forefront with concoctions that highlight the unique botanicals in Bittercube and Heirloom, paired with a selection of exceptional spirits.
Be Part of the Action
Your palate, your vote! Engage directly in the competition by voting for your favorite cocktail, and collect exquisite recipe cards photographed professionally, capturing the essence of each creation.
A Feast for the Senses
Experience the thrill as all bartenders present their signature cocktails on stage, each vying for the judges’ favor. Complement your tastings with delectable offerings from premier local food trucks, and don’t miss out on sampling the spirits, liqueurs, and bitters that inspired their creations.
An Art Exhibit to Inspire
Join us for a special exhibition featuring the talented artist and Heirloom collaborator, Josh Stover. As a guest judge at this year’s event, Josh will premiere the five unique posters he designed for each of the Heirloom liqueurs. Attendees will not only get a chance to view these captivating pieces but also purchase signed copies. In addition, Josh will showcase a variety of other artworks, adding an artistic flair to the cocktail experience.
An Unforgettable Experience Awaits
Whether you’re a cocktail enthusiast, a food lover, or simply in search of a remarkable day out, the Botanical Battle Royale is set to dazzle. Celebrate the artistry of cocktails, the beauty of botanicals, inspiration art, and the spirit of community at this one-of-a-kind event.
Secure your spot now for a day where botanical magic comes to life at the grand Botanical Battle Royale!
Participant List
- Agency – Milwaukee
- Bavette La Boucherie – Milwaukee
- Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge – Milwaukee
- Explorium Brewing – Wauwatosa
- Hill Valley Dairy – Milwaukee
- Lost Whale – Milwaukee
- Lowlands Group – Milwaukee
- Public Parking – Madison
- Pufferfish – Milwaukee
- Screaming Tuna – Milwaukee
- Station No. 6 – West Allis
- Wiscocktail – Baraboo
Judges
Robert Simonson
Robert writes about cocktails, spirits, bars, and bartenders for the New York Times. He has authored a number of award-winning cocktail books and has been nominated for multiple James Beard Awards. His work has also been featured in Vinepair, Punch, Imbibe, Saveur, Bon Appetit, Food & Wine, New York magazine, and Lucky Peach.
Toby Maloney
Toby was Sasha Petraske’s first hire at the legendary Milk & Honey in 1999. After years behind the stick at Milk & Honey and other New York cocktail emporiums, Toby opened The Violet Hour in Chicago, and is Bittercube founder Ira Koplowitz’s first mentor in the industry. Toby has won multiple James Beard awards for his cocktail programs, and continues to innovate in the industry. He recently authored his first cocktail book, The Bartender’s Manifesto.
Immortal Girlfriend
Immortal Girlfriend is an alternative electronic retrofuture band and production duo made up of brothers Kevin and William Bush. Their music, a captivating mix of synthesizers and cinematic influences, defines a genre all its own. As accomplished composers and producers, their work has graced some of the most popular TV shows and video games around the globe. As self-proclaimed foodies and cocktail aficionados, they bring a unique skill set and aesthetic to the judging table.
Mikel McGee
Mikel is a chai tea connoisseur and the proud owner of 414loral, a renowned Milwaukee florist specializing in seasonal floral designs. She is inspired by interesting color palettes, seasonal-locally sourced materials and the community connections that are created through floral design. She was awarded a 40 under 40 award by the Business Journal and has been featured in various publications in Milwaukee. Her love of all things botanical brings an interesting dynamic to the judging table.
Josh Stover
Josh is an artist and sign painter based in Richmond, VA. His work depicts part imagined – part seen environments and still life scenes. In his paintings and drawings, curvy rounded shapes and repetition are a nod to art deco design and the shapes of vintage signs. Josh has exhibited art in Portland, San Francisco, Tokyo, and many other cities. Commissioned by Heirloom Liqueurs in 2024, Josh created posters for each of the five Heirloom liqueurs, utilizing the stories, flavors, and botanicals from each product to develop the artwork.
Spirit Sponsors
- Great Lakes Distillery
- Great Northern Distillery
- Hatch Distilling Co.
- J. Henry & Sons Bourbon
- Knowlton House Distillery
- Ten to One Rum
- Rooster Rojo Tequila
- Wollersheim Distillery
Suspected Milwaukee drunken driver drives into sheriff deputy, footage shows
A 21-year-old, accused of drunken driving the wrong way on Interstate 43 and crashing into a Milwaukee sheriff’s deputy on January 1, was charged with second-degree reckless endangering safety and a driving while under the influence, second offense.
Provided by Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office
A 22-year-old pregnant Milwaukee woman was found dead in a house fire that was intentionally set, leaving behind a 3-year-old daughter.
The family of Gladys Johnson is heartbroken at their loss. Her death occurred 33 years almost to the day that her brothers died in a fire.
Gladys Johnson was discovered by her mother, Michelle Johnson, following a fire at their residence in the 2800 block of North 26th Street on Jan. 5.
The Milwaukee Police Department said a 21-year-old man has been arrested for arson. Police said the man intentionally brandished a firearm and then started a house on fire.
The man who was arrested is the father of Johnson’s daughter and unborn child, according to Josie Johnson-Smith, Gladys Johnson’s aunt.
Police said Gladys Johnson’s cause of death is officially undetermined and under investigation, but the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death a homicide.
“He took my niece’s life,” Johnson-Smith said. “He threatened to kill her before. That’s why she ended up back with her mom.”
The Journal Sentinel does not typically name suspects unless they’ve been formally charged with a crime.
Gladys Johnson was five months pregnant with a baby boy, according to Johnson-Smith. “She was so happy, teaching her daughter that she was going to be a big sister,” Johnson-Smith said.
Fire-related death reopens old wounds
Gladys Johnson’s death reopens old wounds for her mother, who lost two sons in a bar fire in Milwaukee in 1992.
Milwaukee Journal reporting from the time recalls Terrance Bizzle-Johnson, 4, and Antonio Bizzle-Johnson, 2, being found dead on New Year’s Eve 1992 from smoke inhalation after a fire broke out at a family tavern on the north side of the city.
The Journal’s article details a harrowing rescue attempt by family members, including by Josie Johnson-Smith and Michelle Johnson.
Gladys Johnson was the ‘light in our family’
Gladys Johnson was named after her late grandmother.
“She was the most loving person you ever wanted to meet,” Johnson-Smith said. “Her spirit was a light. If you were in a bad mood, she would cheer you up. She was the light in our family.
“Her daughter is 3 years old and can talk, spell, and say her ABCs. She was a good mom.
“We’re just so devastated right now. He’s seemed like a nice man. So many young women have passed away with domestic situations and it’s just overwhelming.
“The only thing I’d ask the community, to the young women out there that are going through situations similar to my niece, speak out. Don’t be ashamed. You have to tell somebody.”
Gladys’ Johnson’s family started a GoFundMe fundraiser to help cover funeral expenses.
Where to find help for domestic violence
Victim advocates can help with safety planning. Calls to advocates are confidential and do not involve law enforcement.
- The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 800-799-7233.
- The National Sexual Assault Hotline is 800-656-4673.
- End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin has a statewide directory of resources at endabusewi.org/get-help.
- Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault has a statewide directory of resources at wcasa.org/survivors/service-providers.
- The Sojourner Family Peace Center in Milwaukee operates a 24-hour confidential hotline at 414-933-2722.
- The Milwaukee Women’s Center offers a 24-hour crisis line at 414-671-6140.
- We Are Here Milwaukee provides information on culturally specific organizations at weareheremke.org.
- Kids Matter Inc. provides free legal services and specialized assistance to individuals caring for children impacted by domestic violence and homicide. Kids Matter can be reached at 414-344-1220 and offers free online resources at kidsmatterinc.org.
Take flight over the Milwaukee area
Get a bird’s-eye view from a drone over downtown Milwaukee, American Family Field, the Mitchell Domes, and along the Lake Michigan shoreline.
Former Milwaukee Common Council member Don Richards died on Dec. 26 at age 89.
Richards served on the Milwaukee Common Council between 1988 and 2004, representing District 9 on the city’s north and northwest sides until his retirement due to health reasons, according to his obituary.
During his tenure at the city, Richards was a member of the Judiciary and Legislation Committee, Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee, as well as the Housing Authority and City Records Committee.
Although the two had a brief overlap in city government, former Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, who was first elected in 2004, recalled Richards as “always smiling and always caring.”
“He was a wonderful man. A very Christian man who cared deeply about the community and the people who live here,” Barrett told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Before becoming a city alderman, Richards participated in the citywide marches protesting a lack of open housing legislation in the city in the 1960s and was a priest in the Milwaukee Archdiocese for almost two decades, starting in 1963. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the St. Francis Seminary and Catholic University in Washington, D.C.
Following his time on the Common Council, Richards began to teach local government classes at Alverno College. He also worked as an economic development specialist with the Northwest Side Community Development Corporation, his obituary said.
Richards is survived by his brother, Bob (Joanne), and was preceded in death by his wife, Doloros; his parents, Gregor and Rose Richards; and his brothers, Jim Richards and Ed Richards, according to his obit.
A visitation is planned at 10 a.m. Jan 8 until his funeral Mass at 11 a.m. at Alvina of Milwaukee Chapel, 9301 N. 76th Street.
Milwaukee, WI
Teen passenger dies in fiery crash after fleeing driver crashes into Milwaukee roundabout
MILWAUKEE — A police chase that began in West Milwaukee on Sunday morning ended in a fiery crash on Milwaukee’s south side, killing 18-year-old Izack Zavala.
The Medical Examiner’s Office identified Zavala as the passenger who died in the one-car crash at 37th and Mitchell streets. His family said he was a 2025 Milwaukee Public Schools Alexander Hamilton High School graduate who loved soccer and would do anything to help his loved ones.
Provided by family
The West Milwaukee Police Department said officers attempted to pull over the driver for a traffic violation near Miller Park Way and Lincoln Avenue, but the driver fled and crossed into Milwaukee.
TMJ4
About a mile later, police say the fleeing driver hit a roundabout, lost control, and crashed into a tree, ejecting both the driver and passenger.
“If they were trying to avoid one of those, and with the weather being cold and slick, and you hit a patch of ice, and you’re gone. You’re done,” Barbie, who witnessed the aftermath, said.
The loud crash woke up neighbors like Barbie in the middle of the night.
Watch: Teen passenger dies in fiery crash after fleeing driver crashes into Milwaukee roundabout
Teen passenger dies in fiery crash after fleeing driver crashes into Milwaukee roundabout
“Like thunder struck the building. The entire building shook. It was insane,” Barbie said.
TMJ4
Looking out her kitchen window, Barbie saw the devastating scene unfold.
“The whole thing just lit up like a torch,” she said.
Steven Huppenbauer
A day after the flames were extinguished, crash debris still surrounded the tree and Barbie’s backyard.
“The car was right there in the center,” she said.
Zavala’s family said his cousin was driving the vehicle. The 19-year-old driver was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
Barbie, who has witnessed crashes before, said seeing this one up close was different.
“I’ve seen plenty of crashes, had people that I care about die in crashes, but to see it up close is something different. I feel bad for the kid’s family,” she said.
The witness hopes the tragedy serves as a warning to others who might consider fleeing police.
“I feel for their family, and I wish to God that that wouldn’t have happened, obviously, but there comes a point, ‘what were you doing’, you know?” Barbie said. “I just think that people need to think before they do, and that’s just not a thing anymore.”
TMJ4 asked the West Milwaukee Police Department if it plans to refer charges for the 19-year-old driver who remains seriously injured at the hospital. The department declined to comment, saying it’s still an active investigation.
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