Take a Girl's Getaway in Milwaukee this Summer!

With more than 10 stages presenting music acts simultaneously, 12 hours a day, Summerfest is the largest music festival in the world. There's plenty of food, beer, comedy and kid's activities, too.

This year's festival runs from June 24 through July 4th, with mainstage acts as diverse as Tom Petty, Tim McGraw, Usher, Carrie Underwood, Santana, and Eric Clapton, . There are literally hundreds of acts appearing during the fest - if you don't like one, wander off to another stage! Admission is $15, but there are discounts available almost every day.

www.summerfest.com for more information.

There are festivals in Milwaukee almost every weekend from Memorial Day to beyond Labor Day. There are about 10 festivals that celebrate the diverse ethnic roots of our population, plus others that focus on music, neighborhoods, or just plain fun!.

The ethnic festivals include GermanFest (of course! - this is Milwaukee!), Festa Italiana, Bastille Days (French), Polish Fest, Mexican Fiesta, African World Festival, Irish Fest, Arab World Festival, and Indian Summer. Plus, the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church Festival is commonly known as "Greek Fest".

All are 3 - 4 day weekend events, most are held at the Summerfest grounds (Bastille Days is at Cathedral Square, just north of downtown, and Greek Fest is at State Fair Park).

All are celebrations of food, music, dance, and crafts of the specific culture. I go for the food!

Riverspash has entertainment and activities along the newly renovated Riverwalk downtown.

PrideFest celebrates the gay community.

South Shore Frolics has music, an classic car show, and an art show in Bay View, just south of downtown.

Harley Davidson is celebrating it's 105th year with music and HOGs.

You can find more information on any or all of these festivals at this Milwaukee Journal article.

Even if you're not a beader (and I'm not!), the Bead and Button Show is a fascinating experience.

I had no idea there were so many sizes, shapes, and kinds of beads available! Glass, wood, metal, plastic - almost every kind of material and workmanship imaginable.

There are displays of completed pieces (one year, they had a car completely covered in beads!), kits for beginners, supplies for experienced beaders - and even glass and torches for making your own glass beads! There is something for every level of experience or interest.

If nothing else, you can buy a great new bead to wear on a silk cord for a beautiful necklace.

I usually spend about 4 hours at the show, and have never gotten through all of the vendors, much less the demonstrations.

The event is a week long, but the first few days are all classes and workshops. The Marketplace is Friday - Sunday, June 11 - 13, 2010.

More information (or plan for next year) at www.beadandbuttonshow.com

The Milwaukee Art Museum may be best known for it's recent addition, designed by Santiago Calatrava (his first commission in the United States).

The Brise Soleil (in the photo at the top of this page) looks like a whale's tail when open, and
closes like the wings of a bird. Inside, the light is incredible, and the hallways connecting the addition to the older building have curved ribs that make you feel like you're Jonah inside the whale.

It's a wonderful example of contemporary architecture, but there's so much more to MAM.

The Milwaukee Art Museum has one of the largest collections of Haitian art in the country, plus impressive collections of folk art, contemporary American art, and Old Masters. You'll find Picasso and Georgia O'Keefe, Monet and Warhol.

Plus, it's right on the lakefront - both the Calatrava addition and the older, War Memorial building have great views of Lake Michigan.

www.mam.org for more information.

The Wisconsin State Fair may seem an odd selection for the "top 5" list, but it really is one of my favorite things to do in the summer.

I mean, who doesn't love fuzzy bunnies? And cows?

And roasted sweet corn dripping with butter, cream puffs, cranberry everything, beer, corndogs on a stick, pickles on a stick, cheesecake on a stick.... And new this year - fried mac n' cheese on a stick!!! It's worth it just to check that out!

There are displays of the most amazing quilts, some not-so-amazing-but-you-have-to-appreciate-the-effort crafts, vendors selling "miracle" mops and knives that cut through anything.....

It's just good, old-fashioned fun!

The Fair runs from July 31 to August 10.

www.wsfp.state.wi.us for more information.