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The Deer District’s newest venue, The New Fashioned, softly opened its doors to the public at 1122 Vel R. Phillips Ave. last weekend, giving guests a first taste of a concept that aims to capture the quirks, traditions and flavor of Milwaukee in a singular venue.
But the fun has just begun.
Bars & Recreation will be hosting a weekend of grand opening festivities on April 6-7 including an Official Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting Party, a Sunday Funday Curling Party and a Midwest Nice Party with Charlie Berens. Tickets for all festivities are available online.
Ribbon Cutting Party
On Saturday, April 6 from 2 to 5 p.m., guests are invited to commemorate the official grand opening of The New Fashioned with a ribbon cutting extravaganza.
2 p.m.: The Bucks Beats will get the party started. Even better, the first 150 people in line will receive a complimentary pull tab.
2:15 p.m.: Community leaders along with beloved local mascots Bango, Roscoe, and Bernie Brewer will host the official ribbon cutting on The New Fashioned’s balcony.
Throughout the event, guests are invited to explore The New Fashioned with a scavenger hunt sure to reveal hidden treasures along the way. Guests will be entered into a grand prize drawing with prizes like two lower-level tickets to the April 10 Bucks vs. Magic game at 7 p.m. and an exclusive Bucks merchandise bag.
Live muralists, mascot photo opportunities, complimentary frozen custard, and Sprecher soda samples will be available throughout the event.
Tickets are required, but can be purchased online for just $4.14. A portion of ticket sales will benefit The Bucks Foundation. All ages are welcome.
Sunday Funday Curling Party
On Sunday, April 7 from noon to 2 p.m., guests can join Becca Hamilton and Team USA for a rousing celebration focused on curling.
During the event, members of Team USA Curling* – including Olympians Becca Hamilton, Tom Howell, Debbie McCormick, and 2018 Olympic Gold Medalist Tyler George (along with his Olympic medal) – will provide an opportunity for guests to learn about the game and the Olympic experience.
All ticket holders will receive a complimentary hot ham and cheese sandwich from Benson’s Restaurant Group, and all children who try curling will receive a medal. The event will also feature Pop-a-shot games and prizes, hands-on retail demonstrations, and autographed memorabilia from Team USA.
Adult tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased online. Kids 12 and under are free, but tickets are required for entry, so be sure to order those as well. All ticket sales will be donated to USA Junior Curling Association, which provides learning opportunities for youth curlers and youth curling instructors throughout the USA.
Midwest Nice Party
On Sunday, April 7 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., guests are invited to yet another celebration. This time it’s an afternoon of Midwestern charm with comedian-turned-celebrity bartender Charlie Berens.
Berens will be serving up a complimentary Berens Old Fashioned for each ticketed guest. Meanwhile, Milwaukee honky tonk band Wire and Nail will perform live. Berens will also autograph bottles of Berens Old Fashioned Brandy (must be purchased onsite).
Tickets are available online for $30 each and limited to guests 21 and over only. Ticket proceeds benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Milwaukee, making every sip count towards creating brighter futures for local youth.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
