Two major events are starting within the next week around here, the Wisconsin State Fair an the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits in Kohler.
Hopefully you're in the mood for cream puffs, corndogs, porkchop sandwiches and grilled cheese, because the fair starts Thursday August 6 and runs until the 16th. I know I'll be there on Thursday, trying a bunch of foods on a stick (look for that article this weekend!).
As always, there's a bunch of new foods vying for the coveted Sporkies award of best newcomer. New this year though, the winner will not be picked until August 12, giving the public a chance to vote for their favorite dish. It's an eclectic bunch in the running: bacon bottom porker pizza, beer battered pretzel coated deep fried cheese curds, smoked gouda sidewinder fries, churro sundaes, deep fried pretzel crusted brownies on a stick, gyro meatballs, a flight of desserts using Sprecher hard sodas, and the Wis-Cone-Sin that made its debut at Summerfest this year. As usual, deep fried things are myriad, though it's interested to see two pretzel-coated items as well.
You would be wise to stop in at The Micro after all that fried food, the fair's largest and likely most popular beer pavilion. This year they are selling only Wisconsin beers, with 16 breweries on tap. You can buy 20-ounce pours for $7.50, or you can even buy a flight of three 7-ouncers for the same price. The Micro is very active on Facebook and Twitter, plus this year they have a new app that lets customers see exactly what's on tap. Use it at the pavilion's free wi-fi, a very nice feature for long days at the fair.
Elsewhere in the state, the PGA Championship comes to Kohler on Monday, August 10. The 2010 event was also held at Whistling Straits, and it turns Kohler, MKE and surrounding areas into hotbeds of activity. Tickets for individual rounds are still available, with prices from $30-$95 per day, depending on the round. Something important to note about your tickets: children under the age of 17 are admitted free with a ticketed adult, up to four children per adult. It's a great way to get kids interested in golf. (All active duty military, retirees, Reserve, National Guard, Department of Defense Civilians and their spouses also get in for free by going to the will call office.)
If you're looking for something to do after a day on the course, there will be events all week long at the various restaurants and lounges of The American Club. The Major After Party, as it's being called, includes fireworks, concerts, food trucks, pour takeovers (that's like a tap takeover but with wine), and special pairing dinners. A Great Lakes Distillery pairing dinner on Tuesday August 11 at the Horse & Plow will be hosted by GLD founder Guy Rehorst. It will include five courses plus cocktail pairings. The menu features county style pate, smoked trout salad, corn and lobster bisque, braised veal cheeks and a pink squirrel cheesecake for dessert. Tickets to that event are $60.
Upcoming Events
Aug 6: Great Tasting Friends of the Midwest event at Sugar Maple in Bay View. Try rare and unusual beers from Surly, New Holland, Half Acre, Central Waters, Boulevard and Bent Paddle.
Aug 6-9: Milwaukee Comedy Festival at the Next Act Theater and Turner Hall. Brian Posehn headlines on Sunday night at Turner Hall.
Aug 8: Great Taste of the Midwest in Madison.
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