More Top Picks Spotlights Outdoors
player ready...Milwaukee’s South Side is for more than beer slinging. The Bay View neighborhood, along South Kinnickinnic Avenue, is my holy grail of offbeat boutiques.
On a recent visit, I was tempted to get a custom topper at McLaughlin & Hayes Hat Co. (2250 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.). It’s a treat to watch milliners hover over vintage wooden forms to make flower-studded cloches and teardrop fedoras.
Across the street, Tippecanoe Herbs (2235) is a homey herbalist-founded apothecary with a botanical tincture for whatever ails you (in my case, blue vervain for better sleep). Afterward, a drop-in at Acme Records (2341) to pet the shop dog, Gertie, and dig through the bargain bins never fails.
The latest zines, graphic novels, and small-press books fill Lion’s Tooth (2421). I get my underground culture fix here with a cappuccino, sipped slowly at a counter barstool. Nearby, Ursa (2534) is a sunshine-dappled stop for plants and gifts like kilim pillows, hand-forged jewelry, and marbled ceramics.
Farther south, meander through Plume (3001). Seemingly staged for a cocktail party in ’70s Palm Springs, it carries immaculately cared-for vintage fashion. I never miss the tucked-away upper level for resort wear à la Grace Kelly.