People's Park Roof Top Dining

People's Park has been a staple in downtown Waukesha for over 7 years, and I really enjoy the atmosphere and quality of food. After a fire in February of 2011, the restaurant expanded to include a second floor bar and eating area and rooftop dining. I have been on the roof a few times and the views of downtown are really cool. In addition to tables with umbrellas, they have heaters for cooler summer nights and a full bar with stool seating.

Last week, my coworker and I decided to grab lunch outside because the temps would be in the high 70s. We knew that People's was going to be a great destination because they have the rooftop tables, sidewalk tables and they open the windows throughout the restaurant for fresh air. It was a rather windy day, but as we walked to lunch, we saw customers already on the roof and hoped one table for two would be left for us.

We were in luck and got the last table on the roof in the corner. It was pretty windy but the temps were perfect for us to enjoy our lunch and get out of the office for an hour. There were two servers managing both the diners and the bar. One had a radio walkie-talkie to let the hostess know if tables were available or if they needed anything - very smart!

Our server was really friendly and brought our lemonades over to us right away. Lunchtime can always be a little hectic for restaurants because everyone comes at the same time and needs to get in and out quickly. My coworker and I just ordered salads so we know our food wouldn't take too long.

We sat back and enjoyed the atmosphere while chatting about work and non-work things. Our salads arrived pretty quickly and they looked excellent. I ordered Frankie's Garden because of the goat cheese that I love so much. My coworker ordered the Caesar salad and it looked amazing. The only problem I was having was that the wind was launching my lettuce at the patrons at the table next to us. Whoops! They didn't notice luckily.

I did my best to tame the salad and block it from the wind but a few did still manage to take flight. The breeze felt amazing and the sun was out our entire lunch. I got a little tan (OK more like a burn as I barely ever tan) on the back of my neck -- my first color of the season! It was absolutely gorgeous and I didn't want to go back to work.


We really enjoyed our quick lunch break from the office and definitely will make this a regular stop with the warmer weather. (Hey Wisconsin, bring back that warmer weather please!). The salads were nice and refreshing and just the perfect size. We were both able to finish them and didn't feel overly full.

My coworker told me she was recently at People's for brunch and it was really good. I told her of a few other spots to check out for brunch but I too agree that People's is really good.

Summertime in Waukesha

So, so, so much to do in Waukesha this (and every) summer. I can't wait to take it all in.

Here is just a sprinkling of events that I can think of to kick off your summer.

Waukesha Friday Night Live - Every Friday from June thru October the streets of downtown Waukesha becomes a festival of fun with the streets closed down and many stages of music set up. See great local acts, check out the shops and enjoy yourself while meeting up with thousands of other Waukesha friends.

Waukesha Farmer's Market - Since 2008, I have seen this steadily grow in size and variety of vendors. It is now over 100 vendors with all sorts of things - plants, veggies, candles, woodwork, jewelry, meat, popcorn, flowers and much, much more. Every Saturday morning from May - October you can find Riverfront Plaza shut down between Broadway & Barstow and full of lively vendors.

Carl Zach Cycling Classic - Watched this for the first time last year and it was exciting. How these folks can stay on those skinny tires around the tight turns of downtown Waukesha at the speed they are going, completely boggles my mind and gives more props to them from me!

Gibson Guitar Town & Murals - Walk through the historic downtown area and you can't help but see murals everywhere! Many of them relate to music and Les Paul (The Wizard of Waukesha) that started three years ago as part of Waukesha being designated a Gibson Guitar Town. But a few other businesses have other murals as well - Waukesha Tattoo Company, Bernie's Tap Room (inside), Couri Insurance and Discount Liquor. 

Outdoor Dining -
     People's Park roof is a popular stop with great views of the city.

     Sprizzo's artistic outdoor area is a nice place to take in the sites of the streets.

     Magellan's retracting windows to open up the whole bar to the outdoors is awesome.

     Bosco's back patio is covered from the elements, has lawn games and big TVs to take in the games.

     Sloppy Joe's offers outdoor games like hula hoop and bean bag toss to those walking by.

     Divino Gelato has nice benches and a few tables to enjoy the downtown with a sweet treat.

     Jackson's & Bernie's have a few tables available to enjoy dinner at on the sidewalk.

     The Steaming Cup has a lot of tables to take in your morning or afternoon coffee.

     Just outside of downtown on Grand is La Estacion with excellent Mexican cuisine and a gorgeous stone patio.

If I missed any more, I apologize!

There is plenty more planned for downtown this summer, including more live music throughout the week and weekends, parades, events, charity run/walks....you name it....Waukesha has it going on. Hope you can come down and check it out soon!

A Night Out: Wine Maniacs

Wine Maniacs - Logo from WineManiacs.com

I have been doing a really good job lately of using up Groupons that I purchased months and months ago. It has given me the opportunity to try new places and if you haven’t set yourself up to receive Groupons, LivingSocial or Google offers, I suggest you do! Especially if you are planning a vacation! You can get deals for the city you are traveling to, in order to cut out some expenses.

My latest Groupon brought me to Wine Maniacs in Oconomowoc. I was ecstatic when this place went on Groupon because I had seen the construction process on Facebook and the wall mural made of corks is right up my alley. So I was curious to find out what the place was really all about. My friend Tory lives in Oconomowoc and with Wine Maniacs being right off of Hwy 16 and Brown St., I headed out there to have dinner with her. 

The restaurant is located in a new “strip mall” that also houses a gym, dentist and chiropractor I believe, but once you enter the wine bar, you wouldn’t even know it was near anything else. The inside is painted in warm cream/yellow tones with dark woodwork and stone tile floors. There are tables located by the front windows, bar area as well as seats at the bar. They have a few tables outside, but the wind was a bit too chilly for us to sit out there last night. The fountain also seemed to be leaking and I wouldn’t have wanted to get sprayed.

Outdoor Seating around the fountain at Wine Maniacs

The tables inside are decorated with wine labels collages and a piece of glass laid over them. Some tables had random patterns and some were all the same labels. A candle with a decorative cork holder sits on each table. From our table we had a view of the wine store, a private room and the bar.

Onto the food. We were greeted by a pleasant server who dropped off cucumber water to us. It was refreshing but after a while, I really wished it was lemon water instead. I don’t know if there is a connection between cucumbers and wine to clear the palette? We looked over the wine menu first. Right now they have a huge list of “blowout” wines on the menu that if ordered by the bottle are 50% off. I didn’t get tempted by anything on that menu and we went for a bottle of Rigal Malbec, a French wine that was $24, which means to buy a bottle at a store, it will be around $8.

Wine Maniacs collage tabletops

Wine Maniac's candle holders with corks.

While we waited on the wine, we looked over the menu. It had a list of their small plate entrees available after 4:30 pm on one side and at first we thought that was all they had.  Then we saw the flipside of the menu had sandwiches and salads and we both picked items from this menu. I ordered “The” Panini and Tory chose the Bistro Bomber. We both chose pasta salad on the side. Unfortunately the menu online doesn't parallel the one we received, but it is similar.

The server came back with our wine and two pretty glasses. I was the one that got to taste it and just smelling the nose, I knew that I was going to like the wine. I swirled, sniffed, swirled and sipped! The first taste was delicious and I knew that we would like how it paired with both our meals. This was the first French Malbec, as most are from Chile that I have tried. It is a smooth wine, similar to a Bordeaux and not as dry as a Cabernet. I tasted some earthiness to it as I do with all Malbecs, but that is what makes it unique.  

Rigal Malbec

Our sandwiches came a few minutes later and I was very please with my presentation of the food. Tory wasn’t expecting her bomber to literally be an Italian Sausage link on the huge baguette, but more of a patty-style sausage. Her sandwich was impossible to eat as a sandwich, no matter how we thought to smash it down or take it apart. She ended up ripping pieces of the bread off to eat and then cutting up the sausage and eating it with the fresh mozzarella and basil. She said it tasted great, but unfortunately wasn’t easy to eat and she wouldn’t get it again for that reason only. 

Bistro Bomber

My Panini had chopped up chicken, bacon, tomato and cheese on it. I think the atmosphere and wine gave it a little edge over other paninis that I have had at other restaurants. I would think a way to improve it would be to put some spinach or basil in it before pressing it. The Honey Mustard was a nice surprise in the sandwich and had a heavier honey taste which I really liked. 

"The" Panini

We both agreed that the pasta salad was nice and creamy, however, whatever peppers they used in it, were way too spicy. The kick didn’t hit until you swallowed your bite, but it was quite the kick. Thank goodness chips came on the side of the sandwich too – great palette cleansers after the pasta. 

Gigantic Wine Glass with corks

After we finished our meal, we paid and then wandered the wine shop briefly. They had many wines that I had never heard of before, which makes it a place that I would like to come back and try again or buy a bottle for someone and have a better chance of getting them something really unique. I didn’t really look at prices to see how they compared, but the selection was nice. 

Cold Wines in the Wine Shop

The Wine Shop

Our server met us in the private dining room while I went to find the cork mural. He turned on the lights so I could get a picture and then explained a painted mural on the back wall that was of the trees from a vineyard and how they are this particular vineyards’ label. Unfortunately I can’t remember what vineyard it was – but I’ll look at labels the next time I’m in a liquor store and hope to report to you my findings. This private room is used on busy nights (Fridays and Saturdays), but the rest of the time, its closed off and only used if there is a tasting or reserved. The tables against the walls in this room have bench seating on one side and chairs on the other. The benches collapse flat against the wall to help save space if more room was needed. I thought this was a very smart way of saving space. I received information on upcoming tastings that will be held in that room, but with price tags starting at $50 per person, these are out of my price range currently. 

Mural made of all wine corks

I definitely suggest checking this place out to buy a bottle of wine, try some different wine flights, get a meal or just split a bottle with friends. Or if you want to enjoy a nice night with a fancy tasting, they have multiple each month to go to. Check out their website or Facebook page for all the details.

Until my next post, Happy Eating!

Freeman Friday Night Live: Week 1

Sorry I'm a week behind on releasing this - Week 2 to follow in the next day or so!

Although I will not voice an opinion on the need to close the streets or not, I will comment on the wonderful event that makes Waukesha a fun place on Friday nights in downtown Waukesha. Two weeks ago Friday kicked off the start of  Freeman Friday Night Live and if you don't know what I'm talking about, I'll explain. This is an event in which music stages are set up throughout downtown with local talent performing to crowds. The stores also tend to stay open later on these evenings and give those of us that work 8 - 5 during the week, the opportunity to get to these stores.

The weather on that Friday was absolutely perfect and so my friend Tiffany and I took advantage and headed out to FFNL. We started walking in mid downtown and saw babies dancing away outside of Gen 5 and people mulling around the stores too. During the walk it was great to hear all kinds of music and see so many people out on the streets in downtown. As you know I'm a big rooter for keeping it local and loved seeing so many people out.
We made it to Bosco's after running into Mr. Barta who was also taking in the scene before heading to his bar, Nice Ash, for the evening. We decided to park it at Bosco's on a few chairs and take in their beautiful patio and the Brewers Game. The patio at Bosco's was pretty full but we still were able to grab a table and watch the game. The addition of the new flat screens on the patio made it that much sweeter. The vodka tonics were perfectly refreshing as well. People even pulled out bags and ladder golf on the grassy area and started some heated competition. I wanted to join in, but I'm a little rusty in the ladder golf and bags department. I believe Bosco's has even set up leagues and maybe I should have joined. 

We stayed at Bosco's until almost the end of the game and then decided to wander back to the West End and check out Bodway's (my new obsession!). Some of the stages had shut down by this point, but people were still every where in downtown. It was great to see. When we got near Magellan's we saw that they had acutally put up a tent over its stage area on the street and it made for a really nice looking stage. I like that the businesses in downtown are as amped for the music as the pedestrians and customers are.

We got to Bodway's and it was absolutely packed. A group of 5 walked in ahead of us and Tony politely told them he was probably going to be pretty full until the Brewer's game ended up invited the group to grab a cocktail or come back. I spotted a table for 2 near the back and asked Tony if it was up for grabs. He told me it was all mine. It was a bit warm in Bodway's but with an open-concept grill probably does that to a bar. We still grabbed a beer and checked out the menu. I informed Tiff into all the fun, yummy things on the menu and she immediately found many things she wanted.

One thing that I think is great about downtown is that the owners play an active roll in their restaurant/pub. I see Jeff and Joette and their family clan always at the Nice Ash, bartending, cleaning tables, helping people with cigars, engaging in small talk, whatever is necessary at the time to make sure everyone is having a pleasant experience. Tony is the same way at Bodway's and to me, this is what separates Waukesha from Milwaukee places. Sure I don't know that maybe I was served by an owner at a restaurant in Milwaukee, but with the size of Waukesha, I am able to find out who is working and their relation to the owner or that they are the owner. YAY for local businesses again.

As for the food, we started with deep fried pickle spears and the dipping sauce added a little kick to them. So yummy. Tiff got herself the Angus Filet sandwich and I got the Backyard BBQ sandwich with a chicken breast. The chicken was super moist and again, Tony rocked it with the food. Props to the chef! Sure I know that I need to get out to some of my other faves in downtown again, but I have a new go-to that I'm completely pleased with.

So what's on tap for me tomorrow night, FFNL with a few more friends this time. Hoping that the weather holds up and I get to enjoy a few more bands and a cocktail again. Probably in jeans and a jacket, but I'll still take it all in!