Bay View

Mom: «wherever we are right now, this area. This is where I’d move if I lived in Milwaukee.»
Me: «we’re in Bayview».
Me: «L was asking me to describe someplace in Milwaukee that’s like the LES but I couldn’t really think of any place.»
M: «yeah, there’s really no neighborhoods back home like it out here.» Pause «Except… You know, that neighborhood to the south?»
Me:“Bay view“
M:“yeah, that reminds me of Brooklyn. «
Me:“Ha! Yeah, I’ve thought that too.»
Sometime in 1997 (or 98) driving back from Cudahy down KK with an old boyfriend: «wow, its kind of cute over here… It almost reminds me of the east side.»
I actually only remember seeing a record store and the HiFi café back on that long ago car trip (or maybe only the HiFi café and I thought of records… or vice versa … Anyhow…)
Bay view, I do love you, with your lovely lake access, with all those parks and the oak leaf trail along Lake Michigan. Your restaurants, bars and coffee shops. Even your library! Every book I want to check out seems to be at your branch.
Now if only… you were somehow closer to downtown and the western suburbs and center of the city. **le sigh**

I originally moved to Bay View because I found a cheap studio apartment (next to Dom & Phil’s pizza) because my ex– roommate had crazy 2 am escapades that kept me up for hours.
But after exploring the area and marrying a guy who was born & raised in Bay View, I have come to really like the neighborhood.
There are a lot of cute shops and I absolutely adore the restaurants, both that have been around for a while and the new ones that seem to be popping up left & right.
I have enjoyed the Bay View Gallery Night and the farmer’s market. Of course you can’t forget the Bay View Bash and Water Frolics! I like that it is very easy to walk to various places/​stores/​restaurants. I also enjoy the fact that it’s close to downtown Milwaukee :-)
Once you come to Bay View, you don’t want to leave.

Bay View, Milwaukee’s first suburb, may want to consider reclaiming their autonomy. This charming area is not served well by the obtuse governance of Milwaukee. Residents pay handsomely in taxes and receive little in return. Residents can’t use the high school in their neighborhood because of quality concerns, police patrols are scant, roads neglected, parks overrun… There are so many great things about Bay View that need more nurturing than the city of Milwaukee seems capable of providing.

The center of the universe. By far the coolest place to be in Milwaukee. Always something going on, great restaurants, fun people, and cool bars.

Great neighborhood that just keeps getting better and better.
When I first moved to the KK and Lincoln/​Howell area, Highbury was place to be, Café Lulu had just opened. Café Centraal was a dental office and the Sugar Maple was a religious temple.
Now the Highbury is still the place to be for soccer and early morning hijinks. Café Lulu is quinessential Bayview. Café Centraal anchors the cross corners and Sugar Maple is still of house of worship if you really, really love microbrews.
There’s coffee and bakery everywhere, and Boone and Crockett and Studio Lounge are welcome additions to the bar scene, as well as Tonic.
The Mexican food selections are even better than the 5^th/​6^th and National area and there’s lots of comfort food at the Soup Market and Honeypie Café.
But what really makes Bayview a great place to be, and to live it the people. It’s a small town surrounded by a big city. The people are friendly and look out for each other. They are passionate about what Bayview has to offer and can talk hours about Chill on the Hill, the BV (and the insiders call it) Neighborhood Association, and all the other awesome neighborly offerings.
All in all there’s no better place to be in Milwaukee!

Bay view is a very sentimental place for me as I grew up here, partially, when it was my dad’s turn for weekend visits and later moved here after high school. My first real job was at Kohl’s food store, which is now Outpost. I worked the bakery ;)
There always were lots of hair shops here. And now those have mushroomed even more. As well, of course, as the multitude of bars and restaurants.
Kinnickinnic ave is the main strip and most all things access through this street.
Kinnickinnic turns into 1^st St then Water St – the main gateway to downtown.
South Shore beach is home of the Frolics, a summer parade and party, a lovey farmers market and areas to take strolls, have picnics or dock your boat.
The neighborhood has it’s challenges at times (how many don’t?) but I hope this can get corrected over time. Bay View truly is a beautiful, fun, pretty, eclectic, trendy, hipster, accepting place to be. Anything you need you’ll get it here.