Haunted by ghosts, the past and ‘Happy Days’
Halloween isn’t until next Wednesday, but don’t tell Milwaukee that. Here are some of the places you’ll be celebrating All Hallows’ Eve early this weekend. (And don’t forget: Many communities have trick-or-treat hours this weekend.) A half-dozen Riverwest joints join forces again Saturday night for Nightmare on Center Street 4, the fourth annual Halloween party/pub crawl mashup curated by Voodoo Honey Records’ Jay Anderson. DJs, more than a dozen live acts, a dance party and more await at Jazz Gallery, 926 E. Center St.; Quarters Rock ‘n Roll Palace, 900 E. Center St.; Company Brewing, 735 E. Center St.; Club Timbuktu, 520 E. Center St.; Mad Planet, 533 E. Center St.; and High Dive, 701 E. Center St. Start times vary during the evening; check the venues or the Facebook event page for details. Allaccess passes are available for $15 at
brownpapertickets.com; tickets for individual venues are $10. Info: A Nightmare on Center Street 4 Facebook event page
… and on Brady Street, too
Halloween on Brady Street Saturday night includes 18 bars and restaurants along the east side corridor, each hosting its own costume contest, with the winners competing for a grand prize at midnight on Hosed on Brady, 1689 N. Franklin Place. Info: bradystreet.org The Friends of the Domes are hosting their first Dia de los Muertos celebration at the Mitchell Park Domes, 524 S. Layton Blvd., from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday. The Desert Dome will be decorated by candlelight, a mariachi band will play in the Show Dome, and ofrendas honoring those we’ve lost will be placed throughout the Domes. Kidfriendly crafts include painting sugar skulls and (for a $5 fee) building a skull garden. Food, dance and more are also on tap. Admission is $8, free for kids 2 and younger. Info: milwaukeedomes.org
A scary bike ride and a beer
Brew City MKE’s Historic Beer Bike
Ride this month takes riders to haunted spots on the Oak Leaf Trail and in Riverwest, as well as craft brewers Company Brewing, Black Husky Brewing and Gathering Place Brewing, in a ride from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The ride starts at Brew City MKE, 275 W. Wisconsin Ave.; you bring the bike and, if in the mood, the costume (best costume earns free admission to the beer museum). Registration fees start at $10; see Brew City MKE’s website for details. Info: brewcitymilwaukee.com
A ghost ship in the harbor
Milwaukee’s tall ship, the Denis Sullivan, gets a seasonal makeover as a haunted schooner for “Zombies: The
Docking Dead” from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Discovery World, 500 N. Harbor Drive. Reportedly, there’ll be tricks and treats aboard as well (the ship won’t be heading out to sea, though). Admission is $5, free for children 2 and younger. Info: discoveryworld.org
Undercover at Safe House …
That whole spy motif is perfect Halloween fodder for The Safe House, 779 N. Front St. The bar’s Halloween party’s theme this year is “Bond, Boos
& Booze.” It starts at 10 p.m. Saturday and includes specialty cocktails and a costume contest. Info: safe-house.com
… or a trip back to Arnold’s at Bryant’s
Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge, 1579 S. 9th St., is getting in costume itself Saturday night, when it turns the firstrate cocktail spot into Arnold’s, the drive-in from the set-in-Milwaukee sitcom “Happy Days.” There’s no cover; there’ll be themed cocktails, music and costume contests for those dressed as their favorite character from “Happy Days” or any of its spinoffs (that means Mork, Laverne, Squiggy and Chachi are all on the table). No word if the Fonz, bronze or otherwise, will be there. It starts at 8 p.m. Info: Happy Days Halloween at Bryant’s Facebook event page
New on stage
“Dracula”: The Milwaukee Ballet reprises Bram Stoker’s Gothic romance, choreographed by Michael Pink and brought full circle by dancer Luz San Miguel, who is retiring after her performance as Lucy, her role when she debuted with the ballet in 2005. The show runs through Sunday in Uihlein Hall at the Marcus Center for the Performing
Arts, 929 N. Water St. Info: milwaukeeballet.org.
“The Pillowman”: The Constructivists bring to life Martin McDonagh’s dark comedy starting Friday at the Underground Collaborative, 161 W. Wisconsin Ave. The production runs through Nov. 10. Info: theconstructivists.org.
Last call
This weekend is your last chance to catch these.
“China Lights”: The “Panda-Mania” show finally ends its popular run Sunday at Boerner Botanical Gardens, 9400 Boerner Drive, Hales Corners. The lights are lit, and performances are in motion, from 5:30 to 10 p.m. through Sunday; tickets are $20, $12 for seniors 60 and older and kids ages 5 to 17, and free for children younger than 5. Info: chinalights.org.
“In the Heights”: The Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s production of LinManuel Miranda’s musical concludes its run Sunday at Quadracci Powerhouse Theater, 108 E. Wells St. Info: milwaukeerep.com.
“Acts of Discovery”: Wild Space Dance Company’s program — designed specifically for its Art Moderne warehouse setting, at 1633 E. North Ave. — began Wednesday and runs through Saturday with performances at 7:30 p.m. nightly. Info: wildspacedance.org. “Against the Grain: The Life and Times of Levi Fisher Ames”: Danceworks Performance Company and Theatre MXT’s interdisciplinary show about the 19th-century folk artist winds up its run Sunday at Danceworks Studio Theatre, 1661 N. Water St. Info: danceworksmke.org.