By OnMilwaukee Staff Writers   Published Oct 06, 2024 at 6:45 AM

There are a lot of "old school Milwaukee memories" lists out there. But many of them are repeats of the same ol' landmarks and happenings from many years ago, like "Ice skating at Mayfair Mall," "Dick Bacon sunbathing in winter" and "County Stadium."

These are all wonderful pieces of Milwaukee's past, but we decided to extend the memories to more recent time, redefine "old school" and post 100 Milwaukee people, places and events from 2000-2020. How many do you remember? Which strike you the most?

  1. Milwaukee Art Museum's Burke Brise Soleil spread wings for first time.
  2. Judges Pub on North Avenue.
  3. Imagine Dragons fans overcrowded Summerfest.
  4. “The Dave & Carole Morning Show."
  5. Video Visions in the Prospect Mall.
  6. The Pizza Man fire
    pizzaman fire
  7. The headless woman mural in the Third Ward posed controversy.
  8. Mayor Barrett attacked outside State Fair.
  9. Smoking ban activated in Milwaukee bars and restaurants and most owners were concerned about losing business.
  10.  News reporter Duane Gay passed away.
  11. Danny Gokey appeared on “American Idol.” 
  12. The gigantic sinkhole on Oakland and North Avenue.
  13. FM 102/1 hosted first "Big Snow Show" featuring My Chemical Romance, Rise Against and Red Jumpsuit Apparatus at the Riverside Theater.
  14. Will Ferrell starred in commercials for Old Milwaukee and came to Milwaukee for filming.
  15. Summerfest hosted Rock ‘n Sole Run.
  16. Great Lakes Distillery opened as the first distillery in Wisconsin since prohibition.
  17. Milwaukee IndyFest.
  18. Prince gigged at Summerfest.
  19. Court legalized same-sex marriage in Wisconsin.
  20. Foxconn announced plans to open a large manufacturing facility.
  21. Fiserv Forum construction began.
  22. Pepperoni-Cannoli Frank owned late-night Brady Street.
  23. La Fuente Mexican Restaurant on Fifth Street expanded and expanded and expanded again.
  24. Third “Transformers” movie filmed in Milwaukee
  25. The massive blizzard of 2011 brought two-feet of snow.
  26. Front Row Amy.
  27.  Alterra Coffee changed name to Colectivo Coffee.
  28. The Milwaukee Lion
    milw lion
  29. The MLB All-Star game was held in Milwaukee and Nickelback played in the parking lot.
  30. The first Whole Foods opened in Milwaukee.
  31. “Making A Murderer” documentary aired on Netflix and put Manitowoc on the world map.
  32. Packers and Seattle Seahawks game ended in a "Fail Mary." 
  33. IKEA opened its first (and only) Wisconsin location. 
    ikea
  34. East Side homeowners miffed about mass of “Pokemon Go” players in neighborhood.
  35. Sheriff David Clarke tweeted that people should take up "pitchforks and torches" to fight a battle for "conservative justice."
  36. Milwaukee Film took over operations of the Oriental Theatre, keeping the historic theater in business and open to the public.
  37. Bon Jovi performed last concert at BMO Harris Bradley Center.
  38. Jason Momoa stopped by the Harley Davidson Museum.
  39. Iconic Sydney Hih building was demolished. 
    sydney hih
  40. Potawatomi Hotel & Casino changed name to Potawatomi Casino Hotel.
  41. Brett Favre retired.
  42. Longtime, lake-side Pieces of Eight restaurant closed.
  43. Henry Winkler and other “Happy Days” stars came to Milwaukee for unveiling of Bronze Fonz
    bronze fonz
  44. Ryan Braun suspended for PED use.
  45. Intermodal Station opened.
  46. Bayshore Mall transformed into Bayshore Town Center and eventually to "Bayshore."
  47. Light the Hoan illuminated for the first time.
  48. Former governor of Wisconsin Scott Walker received an unsavory message written in the snow in front of his condo. 
  49. Safe House opened a second location in Chicago.
  50. Elton John was an unpopular surprise performer at Harley's 100th bash. 
  51. Hurricane ravaged Florida so Brewers invited Marlins to be the home team in Milwaukee.
  52. Summerfest turned 50 years old.
  53. The north-end of Walker's Point was unofficially renamed The Fifth Ward.
  54. Ald. Tony Zielinski irked neighbors by replacing classic home with massive, modern mansion
  55. Stacey Williams-Ng launched Black Cat Alley.
  56.  Atlanta-based AirTran tried to buy Midwest Airlines. 
  57. Milwaukee Public Market opened in Third Ward.
  58. Ald. Michael McGee sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison.
  59. Shorewood sculpture mistakingly accused of having anti-semitic messages. 
    shorewood sculpture
  60. The Soup Market appeared on "The Profit.” Spoiler alert: it didn't go well.
  61. First Trader Joe's opened in Metro Milwaukee.
  62. PM Gallery changed name to “Penny Mustard Furnishings.”
  63. First BelAir Cantina opened on Water Street.
  64. The rebuilding of the Marquette Interchange, I-794 and other related routes is finally finished.
  65. “Couples are boring and everyone knows it” mural painted on Fink’s lounge.
  66. City Hall reconstruction of fascade completed after three years.
  67. Sue Black owned the Milwaukee Wave for a minute.
  68. Milwaukee Public Museum unveiled a life-size taxidermy replica of beloved Milwaukee Zoo gorilla, Sampson.
  69. President-at-the-time George W. Bush visits OnMilwaukee.
  70. Brewer Trevor Hoffman became the first to record 600 saves.
  71. Packers fired coach Mike Sherman.
  72. Faux hotel bars gained popularity, i.e. Hotel Foster.
  73. Paul McCartney played Miller Park. 
    paul mc
  74. Falk Corporation experienced deadly explosion.
  75. Nomad World Pub received criticism for construction of a fake "favela" for World Cup watch parties.
  76. Brewers added Chorizo to racing sausages lineup.
  77. The Deer District opened to the public.
  78. The Domes closed indefinitely after debris fell from the ceiling.
  79. "Bar Rescue” remodeled Y-Not3 into Nick’s House.
  80. The Hop streetcars hit the rails for the first time.
  81. Single engine plane nosedived into Riverwest neighborhood, got tangled in power lines and nobody was injured.
  82. Los Angeles Angels first baseman Ji-Man Choi claimed to see a ghost in his room at the Pfister Hotel.
  83. Culver's owner used french fry oil to power VW.
  84. Milwaukee became the first city in Wisconsin to protect LGBTQ youth from conversion therapy.
  85. Bob Uecker inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame.
  86. "Rockesha" concert featuring Warrant, Quiet Riot, Lita Ford and Firehouse cancelled in the middle (!) of the show.
  87. Grand Avenue Mall's robotic Christmas bears
    bears
  88. Verge Music Festival, an alternative music festival held at the Henry Maier Festival Park, debuted – and never returned.
  89. Set-in-Milwaukee "That 70s Show" aired last episode.
  90. State Fair offered “deep fried butter on a stick.”
  91. George Webb restaurants rewarded Brewers fans with free hamburgers when Brewers won 12 in a row.
  92. Milwaukee welcomed its first and only ping-pong bar, Spin.
  93. Jim Stingl wrote final column in the Journal Sentinel.
  94. Priceless Lipinski Stradivarius violin owned by Frank Almond of Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra was stolen.
  95. The Milverine disappeared from the streets for months and people worried.
  96. Old World Third Street changed to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
  97. Milwaukee became first city to host a 24-hour bike race. 
    rw24
  98. Milwaukee Public Library received a Peabody Award nomination.
  99. South Shore Frolics discontinued after 68 years.
  100. John Gurda's television series “The Making of Milwaukee” aired for the first time.