Archive for tag Family fun
December 21, 2011 at 12:24 AM · Posted under Area Attractions & Events, Pat Tasker
For the past 39 years, the downtown M&I Bank has had a great Christmas display which attracts both young and old. Each year, there is a new theme, but the main characters stay the same. The characters are the centerpiece of the display, and they are life-size stuffed animals, made by the world famous Steiff Company in Germany. The brand trademark is the button in the ear of each animal.
The display originally started when the marketing director for the bank went to New York City. He visited FAO Schwartz and bought a few animals for a holiday display at the bank, and it grew from there. Today there are almost 50 animals that get new clothes and new looks each year.
This year's "It's Toy Time," brings a life-size workshop to the bank lobby, with animals carving nutcrackers, stuffing teddy bears and making all kinds of toys.
In February each year, the bank president chooses the theme and the staff get to work designing the set, the costumes and carrying out the plan. The weekend of Thanksgiving, 50 or so employees work the entire weekend setting up the display.
This display has become a tradition for many. Grandparents and grandkids, teachers and students come to look, then years later come back with the next generation! Many families take their holiday photo here, or stop before a performance of the Nutcracker or Christmas Carol
When I heard that M&I Bank was bought by BMO Harris, I couldn't help but wonder what would happen to this display. So happy to hear that BMO Harris embraced the tradition and even sweetened the attraction by donating $5 for each visitor who strolls the lobby to view the animal fun. The Hunger Task Force will certainly welcome that donation this year! Will you have a chance to visit the bank and enjoy this holiday treat? I will be taking my grandkids on Christmas Eve! They have great holiday hours! December 1st through January 5th recurring daily. Hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends, Christmas, and New Year's Day. The display will be closed after 1 p.m. on Saturday, December 17th and Saturday, December 24th; and at 5 p.m. on Thursday, January 5th.
Posted by: 
Pat Tasker
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December 01, 2011 at 11:00 AM · Posted under Pat Tasker
I remember when I was little, our parents would bundle us up and go "for a ride" and look at Christmas lights. Certain neighborhoods would go all out and have some fantastic displays.
In Germantown's Windsong subdivision, and annual event coming up this Sunday evening is the Luminary Night. A good majority of neighbors participate with thousands of beautiful luminaries lining the streets, drives and sidewalks. Many also have elaborate lighting displays. The subdivision organizes it, and the neighbors all help help, including the scouts who along with Santa will collect food and cash donations for the local food pantries. This year those who come by will have a chance to vote on their favorites!
Windsong Subdivision is located 1/4 mile east of Pilgrim Road on Donges Bay Road; or 1/4 mile west of Fond du Lac Avenue on Donges Bay Road, in Germantown.
If you are in the mood to check out some other holiday favorites, check out this list and convenient map. It includes some favorites like the Miller Valley, Candy Cane Lane and Cathedral Square.
Elves aren't the only ones working this time of year! I am available for your real estate needs this holiday season.
Posted by: Pat Tasker
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November 17, 2011 at 11:27 AM · Posted under Area Attractions & Events, Colleen Kuchta, Menomonee Falls
Thanksgiving is not even here yet, but for many of us, we cannot help but look forward to Christmas. The Village of Menomonee Falls is the same way. This year, Christmas Downtown will be held on Sunday, November 27, 2011. From noon to 4 p.m., participating businesses will have open houses; there will be entertainment groups, carolers and $2 horse & wagon rides next to Associated Bank. Santa will be giving out goodies to boys and girls from 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. - compliments of the Mason Lodge 183. At 4 p.m. in Centennial Park, the four corners of Appleton & main, The Christmas Tree Lighting will take place.
After all of the fun and festivities downtown, you can line up on Main Street or Appleton Avenue for the Annual Christmas Parade at 4:30 p.m. Be sure to bring a donation (non-perishable food or money) for the Menomonee Falls Food Pantry - volunteers will be walking along the Malkins Carpets truck to collect your gifts. The treetops glisten, and children listen to hear sleigh bells in the snow, because Santa will be at the end of the Parade, ready to welcome the Christmas Season!
Whether you celebrate Christmas, or hold true to another tradition, we hope to see you there!
The Kuchta's, Kelly & Colleen
Posted by: 
Colleen Kuchta
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October 24, 2011 at 02:21 AM · Posted under Area Attractions & Events, Colleen Kuchta, Menomonee Falls
The Village of Menomonee Falls always has something fun to do for the whole family, and Halloween is no exception! This year, the annual Halloween Downtown will be held on Thursday, October 27th, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Children will be able to Trick or Treat at the participating stores in the Village Centre. While children (under 12) are Trick or Treating, they can also participate in a fun Scavenger Hunt put on by the downtown businesses.
The fun does not stop there! The Spooky Walk Through Lime Kiln Park is a great way to finish the evening. The Spooky Walk will take place from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on October 27th. Accompany of Kids has set the theme for this year's spooky walk. The spirited adventure begins behind A.J. O'Brady's, in the municipal parking lot. When our daughter turned 11, we took her and her friends on the walk as part of her birthday party - we still talk about all of the fun we had!
On Halloween, October 31st, the Village-wide Trick Or Treat will run from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Remember to put safety first when using candles to light your pumpkins, and never light them near dried flowers, leaves, corn stalks or crepe paper. Also, make sure you are visible in the dark, use reflectors, flashlights & glow sticks to make you and your children more visible. Some of our local roads and sidewalks are under construction so be careful, but most of all - have a safe and happy Halloween!
The Kuchta's, Kelly & Colleen
Posted by: Colleen Kuchta
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October 17, 2011 at 12:03 PM · Posted under Area Attractions & Events, Lisa Rossetto-Glowacki
Head over to charming Whitefish Bay for their annual Pumpkin Festival, running October 27th through October 31st. It is located at the Old Schoolhouse Park, across from the WFB Library on Marlborough Drive. Click here for details.
Posted by: 
Lisa Rossetto
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September 21, 2011 at 07:00 PM · Posted under Area Attractions & Events, Pat Tasker
Whether its Laverne & Shirley working at the brewery, the Hamms bear at the land of sky blue waters, or the argument of "tastes great - less filling," beer definitely has a deep rooted history in Milwaukee! This weekend, Oktoberfests in Milwaukee won't be too hard to find or celebrate!
There are several different Oktoberfest in Milwaukee opportunities from historical to fun. And if you are wondering why its called Oktoberfest, but falls in September, you will have to check in on Monday's blog for the explanation!
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| photo credit DiscoveryWorld.org |
An educational look at beer can be found in the Legacies of Milwaukee Northside Brewing History Tour, which includes:
- Visit several historically significant brewery sites, tide houses, cooperages, etc. in Schiltz Park, Brewers Hill, Riverwest neighborhoods, and beyond.
- Special tour and lunch at Stonefly Brewery in Riverwest.
- Featuring an inside tour of Sprecher Brewing Co. in Glendale and Big Bay Brewing Co. in Shorewood.
If you are more athletic, try the Oktoberfest downtown at Pere Marquette Park and compete in the beer run. Balancing a brat in one hand and beer (or root beer) in the other, runners will cover a 1.5 block area and see who will win the Brat Trot! This family and pet friendly event offers food, beer and fun!
And for the true Germans looking for their fill of Spanferkl, rollbraten, kraut and beer in very large (mass) glass steins, Bavarian Inn (Glendale) hosts an annual Oktoberfest that can't be beat! The outdoor park with covered beer hall hosts hundreds of diners, drinkers and dancers. The roasting barn will see pigs, chickens and brats roasting on fiery hot coals. Desserts feature Black Forest Torte and Bienenstich a delicious honey and almond covered cake. Saturday the popular Alte Kamaraden Band from Freistadt will be performing. Bring your tablecloths, steins and pitchers and plant your family for the evening and enjoy! We've gone to this since our son was five days old, so to say it is a family tradition for us might be an understatement! Look for me, and say hi if you go!
Posted by: Pat Tasker
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September 21, 2011 at 12:58 AM · Posted under Ann Lebiecki, Area Attractions & Events, Germantown
Germantown, Wisconsin is the place to be this upcoming fall weekend! September 24 and 25, 2011 will be the annual Germantown Hunsrucker Octoberfest event, held at Dheinsville Historic Park at the intersections of Holy Hill Rd, Hwy 145 and Maple Ave. Come partake in this free festival event with tons of activities for all to enjoy. Saturday afternoon enjoy Radio Disney 1-2:30 p.m. and the Dheinsville Dachshund Dash at 3 p.m. Stay around for some authentic German Bier and foods featuring pork, brats, potato pancakes, custard, roasted nuts and more. Sunday at noon enjoy the bake sale and the classic car show noon to 3 p.m.
Other attractions are the 5th annual Bier races and the Wisconsin Power Reunion Exhibit, plus kids activities like pumpkin painting and bounce haus too! Take a tour of the Bast Bell Museum and view 5,000 bells! Bring a non perishable food donation for ½ off admission to the museum, something you don’t want to miss.
The history of Dheinsville, a historic settlement, all began in 1842. The walking tour that is available will educate you on Germantown’s Oldest Settlement.
I’ll be there on Saturday enjoying the afternoon events with my family and then helping to serve some of our great German food from 4 to 9 p.m. Stop by and enjoy a German Bier or wine and say hello. Prost!
Posted by: 
Ann Lebiecki
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September 02, 2011 at 11:17 AM · Posted under Colleen Kuchta
Saturday, September 10, 2011 The Village of Menomonee Falls will hold its Annual Falls Safety Fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Safety Fair will take place at the Menomonee Falls High School, located at W142N8101 Merrimac Drive in Menomonee Falls. The Fair will include Fire Apparatus displays, Police displays, games, Sesame Street Puppet Show, Silent Auction, 911 simulators, Survive Alive Trailer, Flight for Life and many more displays. There will also be a commemoration in honor of the 10 year anniversary of the attack on our country on September 11, 2001. Please consider attending this special ceremony at 9:30am in the High School auditorium.
This year, the fair will also feature a “D.A.R.E. to CARE” Walk. The Walk will help raise funds to assist in keeping the D.A.R.E. Program in our schools for future years. The Walk will be held at the Fair starting at 8:30 a.m. Registration for the Walk will begin at 7:45 a.m. Walkers are asked to make a $10 donation, and will receive a “D.A.R.E. to CARE” t-shirt for their participation. Click here for more information.
Another fun event at the High School, will be the Menomonee Falls Neighborhood Watch "Silent Auction." This is your chance to bid on a wide variety of items, as well as, gift certificates and services donated by businesses in the Milwaukee area. Auction items will be on display in the gymnasium from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The winning bidders will be contacted after the event to make arrangements for pick-up/delivery and payment. The items may be purchased by cash or check, but no credit or debit cards will be accepted.
Be sure to mark this day on your calendar, it is sure to be fun for the whole family!
The Kuchta's, Kelly & Colleen
Posted by: Colleen Kuchta
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September 01, 2011 at 01:13 AM · Posted under Pat Tasker
Living in Milwaukee has many special benefits, one of them is our Lakefront and all it has to offer. From Grant Park in Cudahy to Doctors Park in Fox Point, and a ton of places in between, our Lakefront is a treasure. So for the last hurrah of summer, why not visit the Lakefront and enjoy one of those places!
Bradford Beach has some new features the past year or two. On a recent visit with a friend, we enjoyed comfy chaise lounges with thick cushions and an umbrella. There are small cabanas, paddle boards and kayaks also for rent. During full season there is wait staff available! In the same location are quite a few beach volleyball nets for the active set. The old beach house has a grill and fountain, and there is a tiki bar right on the beach for some serious heat relief.
McKinley Marina is just packed with beautiful boats this time of year. The Milwaukee Sailing Center has some events for those interested in trying to sail. Bartolottas has a custard and hamburger stand right at the bottom of St Marys hill, and their new Harbor House is a great restaurant for that special occasion.
No one can miss the Calatrava, an addition to the Milwaukee Art Museum 10 years ago, this Santiago Calatrava design is unique to say the least. The Brise Soleil, is the wing like structure that opens and closes several times a day. Go hang out on a Saturday and you will see one wedding party after another show up for their photo shoots! The art museum is frequent host to large special exhibits, many which make only 1 or 2 other stops in the US.
Pier Wisconsin offers a Great Lakes Aquarium, and a great walking path. On the south side of Pier Wisconsin, you might find the Dennis Sullivan sailing ship docked. For a fee, you can go for a sail.
Now you are as far south as Henry Maier Festival Park, home of Summerfest, the world's largest music festival, and ethnic festival most summer weekends. Germanfest is a family favorite!
Take some time and check out our beautiful Lakefront this weekend. There truly is something for everyone. Park and walk around, or bring your bikes. If you would love to live near the Lakefront, there are many options from condos with lake views, to mansions on Lake Drive. I'd be glad to help you find your new home along the lakefront! Call me or text 414-588-4907, or email
Posted by: Pat Tasker
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June 28, 2011 at 07:00 PM · Posted under Area Attractions & Events, Colleen Kuchta
The Village of Menomonee Falls will be celebrating Independence Day with a parade and fireworks on July 3, 2011. The parade will begin at 7 p.m. at the intersections of Elm Lane and Appleton Avenue. Parade participants will head east down Appleton Avenue to Woosencraft Drive. The parade is a pretty big event in Menomonee Falls. So big that spectators set up the day ahead to lay claim to the perfect spot! If you want to stake a claim, the Menomonee Falls Police Department will close Appleton Avenue between Elm Lane and Woosencraft Drive from 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on July 2, 2011.
After the parade, head on over to the Menomonee Falls High School for some fantastic fireworks! The fireworks begin at dusk - approximately 9:30 p.m. Weather in Wisconsin is unpredictable, so if it rains we will watch the fireworks at dusk on July 5th instead. We hope you have a safe and happy Independence Day! God Bless America!
The Kuchta's- Kelly & Colleen
Posted by: Colleen Kuchta
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June 17, 2011 at 03:39 AM · Posted under Area Attractions & Events, Pat Tasker
The Kids From Wisconsin have performed around the state for years, entertaining and bringing smiles to those in the audience. On Friday, July 8th, at North Middle School in Menomonee Falls, you can check them out and see local MFHS grad Mackenzie Curran, who is touring with the show choir for her second year. Mackenzie was interviewed by Channel 12 during rehearsals this week.
The Kids from Wisconsin are a 40+ years old tradition, and their producer was a "kid" himself decades ago. You may have seen the Kids at the Wisconsin State Fair, where they perform two shows a day.
A group of 33 Wisconsin kids that auditioned and earned a spot in the troupe, spends 17 days at the State Fair dorms, practicing 12 hours a day in preparation for their summer tour. Their appearances number over 65 in 40 different venues around the state.
If you are looking for some great entertainment, check out their Menomonee Falls show July 8th at 7 p.m. North Middle School auditorium is located at N88 W16750 Garfield Drive, Menomonee Falls. Contact Eileen at 262-253-6560 for ticket information.
Posted by: Pat Tasker
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May 31, 2011 at 03:24 AM · Posted under Lisa Rossetto-Glowacki
It's Downtown Dining Week! June 2-9th! Great dinners for $30 at great restaurants! Click here and check it out!
Posted by: Lisa Rossetto
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May 24, 2011 at 02:44 AM · Posted under Area Attractions & Events, Lisa Rossetto-Glowacki
A traditional favorite of families and lots of fun--the Elm Grove Memorial Day Parade, starting at 10:30 a.m. Arrive earlier and have breakfast or coffee and bakery in the charming Village of Elm Grove!
Click here to find out all the details.
Posted by: Lisa Rossetto
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May 06, 2011 at 06:08 AM · Posted under Area Attractions & Events, Pat Tasker
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| Courtesy of Mitchell Park Conservatory |
Mother's Day is one of those days a family might look for something special to do with their mom. One of our family favorites for this holiday was visiting The Domes.
The official name is Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory, but most Milwaukeeans know it as "the domes." Located just off I-94 and S 27th Street, you can see the three giant and glass domes from quite a distance.
There are three large domes, each are 85 feet high, and 140 feet in diameter. The "show dome" has a new exhibit several times a year with a seasonal theme, say Easter/spring, Christmas, Trains to name a few. This Mother's Day the show dome features a "Rocky Mountain Spring" theme. It is a perfect place to take family photos, while a pianist plays tunes.
The Arid Dome is an oasis in the desert with thousands of cacti and other plants found in arid locations.
The Tropical Dome features a jungle setting, humid and warm with the sounds of the waterfall and smell of orchids. This is a very welcome feel in the dead of winter!
The Domes were constructed between 1959 and 1967, with the Show dome opening first in 1964. A little known fact is that there is a 4th and smaller dome towards the back that is where the county stores the orchids and other replacement plants. The five acre parcel was donated by Alexander Mitchell, grandson of General Billy Mitchell.
This fantastic Milwaukee County Park is one of the jewels of our park system. That system was originally designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, also known for his designs at the Chicago World's Fair and New York's Central Park.
I wish everyone a great Mother's Day, and perhaps a tour of The Domes! If you are looking to tour homes, now thats my department. As a Certified Residential Specialist, I can help you find the perfect home for you and your family, whether it is in the city or suburbs of Greater Milwaukee. Contact me via email at or call/text me at 414-588-4907. ENJOY YOUR MOTHER'S DAY CELEBRATION!
Posted by: Pat Tasker
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April 15, 2011 at 04:08 AM · Posted under Area Attractions & Events, Pat Tasker
Hopping down the bunny trail! This Saturday April 16, at noon, the Park and Recreation Department will hold the annual Germantown Egg Hunt at Firemans Park. Weather permitting, the hunt will occur at the park, if forced inside, it will take place at Kennedy Middle School. Details will be announced on the Park & Recs' Facebook page.
For residents of Tree Tops, and my loyal clients, customers, friends and family, I will be hosting my annual Spring Egg Hunt on Saturday at 10 a.m. at Tree Tops Park. To register contact me at . For kids up to 10, there will be lots of candy, prizes, and a chance to take photos with the Easter Bunny! A few lucky kids will find an egg with a prize number inside and be able to pick from these adorable stuffed animals! I hope you can make it!
Posted by: Pat Tasker
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