There are 60 meetups on this week’s list, arriving in 1,296 Milwaukee-area inboxes (click the blue banner above to read in your browser, or visit the MKE Meetups website to view all the events on a calendar or map).
Good morning and a bonny, boffo Wednesday to you!
This week’s featured local artist is a paper based artist whose work is rooted in the methodical processes of papermaking and printmaking.
(Sponsor) Ever have trouble figuring out what side of the street you can park on overnight across Milwaukee? I made a little web app to help you figure that out. It’s free, ad-free, no tracking or anything like that. Let me know if you run into any bugs, and I hope you find it useful!
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Huzzah! Here are this week’s meetups:
Wednesday, July 15
November Project MKE / Free / More Info
6:03am / The Calling (Orange Sculpture), 941 E Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee
“What if we told you there was a great way to meet new people and get a great workout all before the work day starts? In-person workouts every Wednesday morning. Meet at “The Calling” sculpture at 6:03am.”
Stepping Out Walking Club / Free / More Info
10:15am-11:15am / Milwaukee Washington Park Library, 2121 North Sherman Blvd, Milwaukee
“Join us for a weekly walk through beautiful Washington Park. Get exercise, enjoy the company of others, and experience the wonders of nature in this sprawling neighborhood park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted.”
Central Library Walking Club / Free / More Info
10:30am-12:00pm / Milwaukee Central Library, 814 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee
“Join us at Central library for a weekly walk. We will meet under the dome of the Central Library and take a two-mile loop through this historic neighborhood. It’s a wonderful opportunity to exercise outdoors and socialize. The club meets rain or shine, and we will use ADA accessible routes. People of all ages and abilities are welcome. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Please bring water and wear comfortable clothing.”
Death Café / Free / More Info
1:00pm-3:00pm / Milwaukee Washington Park Library (Finney Community Room), 2121 North Sherman Blvd, Milwaukee
“The goal of a Death Café is to support each other in normalizing talk about death, which is such an important part of life. This free gathering is completely participant led; there is no agenda. We will take turns speaking thoughtfully and listening respectfully. Light refreshments will be served.”
Tightknit Cactus Fibers Club / Free / More Info
4:00pm / Cactus Club, 2496 S Wentworth Avenue, Milwaukee
“Monthly meetup for fibers enthusiasts. All experience levels welcome. All mediums welcome. Bring your own materials and/or projects. Intergenerational free fun.”
Open Game Night / $3-7 / More Info
5:00pm / Beyond the Board, 17800 W Bluemound Rd, Brookfield
“Come out tonight if you’ve got nothing going on and make some new friends and find players to play with!”
MKE Grief Group / Free / More Info
5:30pm-8:30pm / Third Ward Beer Garden (in Catalano Square), 147 N Broadway, Milwaukee
“You don’t have to carry it alone. Come exactly as you are. Listening, sharing, or just sitting quietly are all welcome. DM us with questions (via link) or to RSVP so we know how many seats we need at the table.”
RPG Nights / Free / More Info
6:00pm-10:00pm / Faklandia Brewpub, 3807 S Packard Ave, St. Francis
“Every first and third Wednesday, choose from an array of one-shot games, all free (there’s even a car pool). Info on signing up to play or run a game, plus invite to event’s Discord via link.”
Board Game Club / Free / More Info
6:00pm-7:00pm / Tabletop Bookshelf, 134 W Pittsburgh Ave, Milwaukee
“Let’s grab a game from our games library and play! This is a great opportunity to learn a new game every month, meet fellow tabletop gamers, and try out one of the premium gaming tables in our lounge. Choices are provided at the beginning of each meeting and the group votes on what to play. Walk-ins are welcome, but seats are limited. Sign up to reserve your seat.”
Falcon Game Night / Free / More Info
6:00pm-11:59pm / Falcon Hall (Falcon Bowl), 801 East Clarke Street, Milwaukee
“If you’re into board games, card games, tabletop stuff, or just want to chill with folks who are, Falcon Game Night is your midweek hang. Every (okay, most) Wednesdays we set up shop in Falcon Hall with big tables, cheap drinks, and a low-key vibe that’s perfect for rolling dice, building decks, or figuring out what the hell this game even is. All skill levels welcome. Bring your own games or jump in on someone else’s. Magic, Catan, whatever. It’s casual and it’s all about community.”
Buena Tierra Run Club / Free / More Info
6:00pm / Zócalo Food Park, 636 S 6th St, Milwaukee
“Come on out Wednesday for our community run! 3 mile average at any pace. All people, backgrounds, distances, and paces welcome!”
Rochambo Art Club / Free / More Info
7:00pm-8:30pm / Rochambo Coffee & Tea House, 1317 E Brady St, Milwaukee
“Every Wednesday, come create with fellow artists at Rochambo! Bring your art supplies!”
Thursday, July 16
MKE Artists Nature Draw Day / Free / More Info
12:00pm-3:00pm / Urban Ecology Center - Riverside Park, 500 E Park Pl, Milwaukee
“We will be inside the UEC enjoying the wonderful warmth and nature. Bring a sketchbook or anything really!”
Craft & Chat / Free / More Info
4:00pm-5:00pm / Milwaukee East Library, 2320 North Cramer St, Milwaukee
“Bring your craft and hang-out for a cozy craft and chat! All-ages program to bring neighborhood crafters together.”
Purl Jam Fiber Club / Free (suggested donation $5-10) / More Info
6:00pm-9:00pm / The Drawing Room (enter through To Hell and Back artwork), 700 S 5th St, Milwaukee
“Join us every 3rd Thursday, 6–9PM at The Drawing Room! Bring your fiber craft (knit, crochet, stitch & more), sip a drink, and hang with fellow makers. All welcome! RSVP via link.”
Social Society Craft Club / Free / More Info
6:00pm-8:00pm / Pomeroy, 723 South 2nd Street, Milwaukee
“Looking for a fun way to meet new friends and craft? Come join us for a fun evening of crafting at the Pomeroy MKE! Whether you’re a junk journal girlie, a knitter, designer, drawer, crocheter or something else, bring your favourite crafty activity, and get creative with lots of other cool people in the city! More details and RSVP via the link.”
Pages in the Park Silent Book Club / Free / More Info
6:30pm / Mill Pond Park, W164N9021 Water St, Menomonee Falls
“Bring food and drink, a new or current read, and a lawn chair or blanket. No assigned reading, no pressure! Meet early at Epilogue Books to browse our shelves.”
Riverwest Yak n Yarn / Free / More Info
7:00pm-9:00pm / The Daily Bird, 818 E Center St, Milwaukee
“All ages and skill levels welcome. Please bring whatever craft you like, whether it’s knitting, painting, coloring or legos. No RSVP needed; you can come to meetups as often or infrequently as you like, and are welcome to stay for however long you want, whether that’s the whole 2 hours or just a bit to say hi. The Daily Bird opens after hours to host us, with their cafe drink menu available for purchase.”
Friday, July 17
Morning Happy Hour Run / Free / More Info
6:00am-7:00am / Humboldt Park (corner of Logan and Idaho), 3000 S Howell Milwaukee
“This run is every Friday at 6 am, leaving from the corner of Logan and Idaho for 3-6 mile lakefront run. We try to have 2 pace groups: of approx. 10 and 8 min/miles, depending on who attends. If it’s your first time at this run, ask for James or Jonathan.”
Rise and Write / Free / More Info
7:00am-8:45am / Colectivo Coffee, 170 South 1st Street, Milwaukee
“Rise and Write is a quick meetup for those who like to get their writing done in the early mornings.” RSVP via the link.
Mom Walk / Free / More Info
9:00am / Metcalfe’s Tosa, 6700 W State St, Wauwatosa
“Join us for a Mom Walk to Hart Park, starting at Metcalfes! Come early to grab coffee from Moon Dude, then we’ll walk through Hart Park and finish at the splash pad for play time!”
Meet and Stitch / Free / More Info
5:00pm-7:00pm / Vendetta Coffee Bar, 2268 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee
“Join us for a cozy Meet & Stitch at Vendetta Coffee Bar—a relaxed evening to unwind, make alongside others, and enjoy good company. All fiber arts welcome! Bring whatever you’re working on, or just come by and enjoy the night with us!”
Friday Night Fun Run / Free / More Info
5:10pm-6:10pm / Riverside Park (in front of the Riverside Park Urban Ecology Center), 1500 E. Park Place, Milwaukee
“Join us for our Friday Night Fun Run! We’ll be running a 3.5mi route around the Upper East Side. This run is all about fun, so following most runs we hang out after - grabbing food/drinks, volleyball, and bowling are all favorites! Runners of all paces and abilities are welcome, most of our runners typically run 9:00 - 11:00/mi pace!”
MKE Discord Summer Meetup / Free / More Info
6:00pm-8:00pm / Zocalo Food Truck Park, 636 S 6th St, Milwaukee
“Join the MKECord crew for a mid-year summer meetup! This is a casual hangout for those of you who want to get to know members more, make new friends or hang out with old ones. It’s an open community and open invite so bring your friends and join the crew. As a reminder, this even is open to all ages! Anyone under the age of 18 should bring a parent or guardian along with them.” Free Discord account required to view info link.
Let’s Climb Together / $12-16 / More Info
6:00pm-8:00pm / Adventure Rock MKE, 2220 N Commerce St, Milwaukee
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned climber or this will be your first time on a wall. There’s a route for anyone of every skill level. When you walk in mention, you are here for the meetup. First-timers who are MeetUp participants enjoy a day pass discount. $12 for a day pass without gear and $16 for a day pass with all the necessary rental equipment. You don’t need to bring anything special to climb, but we recommend gym attire to aid in movement on the wall.” More details at the link.
Featured Local Artist: Lillith Forsythe
Meetup hosts: I’d love to feature your meetup!
Artists/creatives/craftspeople: I’d love to feature your work!
Respond to this email and we’ll make it happen (this is completely free, I just want to help share your work or group with more people).
Saturday, July 18
Saturday Long Run / Free / More Info
8:00am-10:00am / Colectivo Lakefront, 1701 N Lincoln Memorial Dr, Milwaukee
“All levels of experience, running a wide variety of different speeds and distances, are usually represented. Feeling anxious? Just show up, we’ll take care of you. If this is your first time ask for Patrick or the OMG host. We’d be happy to answer questions, explain options, and do our best to match you up with someone your speed and distance. Meet on the lawn just north of Colectivo before and after the run. If the weather is nice all are welcome to stay after and share breakfast or a beverage.”
Saturday Morning Run-Walk / Free / More Info
8:30am / North Point Water Tower, 2288 N Lake Drive, Milwaukee
“Weekly run-walk hosted by FEAR (Forget Everything And Run). Walkers and runners of all pace levels are welcome, meet weekly at the North Point Water Tower, 8:45am warm-up and takeoff. Fill out waiver/register via link.”
Books & Coffee / Free / More Info
10:00am / West Allis Public Library (Constitution Room), 7421 W National Avenue, West Allis
“Join us to talk about great fiction over tea and treats. This month we will discuss Bad Summer People by Emma Rosenblum.”
Just Write It On Saturday / Free / More Info
10:00am-1:00pm / Anodyne Coffee, 224 W Bruce St, Milwaukee
“Just Write It On Saturday is a loosely structured meetup where you just show up and write. We’ll talk briefly at the beginning and have a recap at the end, but mostly we’ll just write. RSVPs not required, but appreciated.”
Shorewood Shuffles / Free / More Info
10:30am / Shorewood Public Library (Program Room), 3920 N Murray Ave, Shorewood
“Do you enjoy board games? Looking to learn a new board game? Drop in for tabletop fun! Experienced and new board game enthusiasts ages 16 & up are welcome. An assortment of games will be provided. Bring your own games too!”
Death Café / Free / More Info
1:00pm-3:00pm / Milwaukee Bay View Library (Llewellyn Community Room), 2566 South Kinnickinnic Avenue, Milwaukee
“The goal of a Death Café is to support each other in normalizing talk about death, which is such an important part of life. This free gathering is completely participant led; there is no agenda. We will take turns speaking thoughtfully and listening respectfully. Light refreshments will be served.”
Sunday, July 19
WI Metro Audubon Society Bird Walk / Free ($5 parking) / More Info
8:00am / Wehr Nature Center (front entrance), 9701 W College Ave, Franklin
“Join us on our walk through woodland, prairie and lake habitats on the nature center trails. Depending on weather and bird activity, we typically walk for 1.5 to 2 hours, and cover 1 to 2 miles. It’s not uncommon to see over 40 species in migration seasons! All birding levels are welcome. Mentoring is offered to beginning birders.” More details via the link.
Play Catch Tosa / Free / More Info
9:00am-11:00am / Hart Park Baseball Field, 7300 W Chestnut St, Wauwatosa
“A casual, all-skill-level group for adults who just want to throw around and have a good time. Football, baseball, frisbee—whatever you want to bring! No fees, no tryouts, no pressure. Just good people throwing stuff.”
Chess at The Shop / Free / More Info
9:00am-2:00pm / Colectivo Coffee, 2999 N Humboldt Blvd, Milwaukee
“Everybody is welcome from absolute beginners to seasoned players! Bring a set, come through sit down, sip some coffee, and play a game of Chess!”
MKE Millennial Book Club / Free / More Info
10:00am / Vennture Brew Co, 5519 W North Ave, Milwaukee
“Please join us as we discuss Yellowface by R.F. Kuang, and who has the right to tell a story. This novel explores themes of race, identity, cultural appropriation, performative diversity, and plagiarism. Please RSVP on Discord (link in bio) or comment via link, if you plan on attending. All interested adults are welcome, and we’d love for you to attend, whether you finish the book or not!”
Late Morning Shorewood Run / Free / More Info
10:00am-11:00am / Corner Bakery Cafe, 1305 E Capitol Dr, Shorewood
“This meetup is great for folks of all paces from Speedy McSpeedies to walkers and everything in between, including plenty of folks like your host who enjoy an 11- to 13-minute pace. The tone is relaxed as we all put in a chill 2 to 4 miles on the Oak Leaf Trail. We’ll meet up behind the Corner Bakery at Capitol and Wilson in Shorewood, which is also a good place for coffee and eats afterward for those so inclined.”
Dance Joy / Free / More Info
11:00am-12:30pm / Kern Park, 3614 N Humboldt Blvd, Milwaukee
“Every Sunday at Kern Park, rain or shine, by the tennis courts. Unplug and move to the music! Come one, come all - free & fun, no phones and yes community!”
Just Write It On Sunday / Free / More Info
12:00pm-3:00pm / Anodyne Coffee, 224 W Bruce St, Milwaukee
“Just Write It On Sunday is a loosely structured meetup where you just show up and write. We’ll chit chat in the beginning and break for a chat in the end, but mostly we’ll just write. RSVPs not required, but appreciated.”
Milwaukee Area Riichi Mahjong / Free / More Info
1:00pm-5:30pm / MOTW Coffee, 2850 W Rawson Ave, Franklin
“Come on by and play Riichi! We meet up on most Sundays to learn about and play this fascinating classic tile game. If you have never played before, we will teach you how to play!” More meetup details via the link.
Sunday Reading Group / Free / More Info
1:00pm-2:00pm / Kuumba Juice & Coffeehouse, 274 E Keefe Ave, Milwaukee
“Spend an hour reading with other human beings in companionable silence. Show up a little early (around 12:45pm) and/or stay after (we often stay till about 2:30pm) to meet some new people and chat about books (and all sorts of other things).”
Milwaukee Psychedelic Society Meeting / Free / More Info
4:00pm-5:30pm / Pink House Studio, 601 E. Wright St, Milwaukee
“Join a thoughtful, inclusive monthly meetup to share ideas, spark plans for future events, and enjoy open discussion - perfect for curious minds. We are a growing community, interested in bringing the latest information coming out of the academic environment to a group based forum. We would like to foster an open and honest discussion about responsible use, education, legalization, community outreach, and finally, a space where our common experiences can be discussed without retribution. Our group is open to all, to participate or just listen. The Milwaukee Psychedelic Society is a drug free zone. More info via the link.”
Women’s Climbing Meetup / $15 / More Info
6:00pm-8:00pm / Adventure Rock, 2220 N Commerce St, Milwaukee
“The Women’s Climbing Meetup seeks to foster an empowering community for female-identifying climbers at the gym. This is an inclusive space to climb, train and learn together! Anyone who identifies as a woman is encouraged to attend. This meet-up will include women of all nationalities, backgrounds, identities, sizes, orientations, and climbing levels. Register through the events page on our website.”
Monday, July 20
Art For All / Free / More Info
5:30pm-7:30pm / Milwaukee East Library, 2320 North Cramer Street, Milwaukee
“Bring your own art supplies and feel free to join me for art making of ANY kind (paint, crayon, ink, pencil, collaging, digital, fiber, etc.) at the Milwaukee Public Library East Branch. Bring your own coffee and snacks if you’d like. Do you have to stay for the full time? Absolutely not! Can you? Of course! Also feel free to show up late if you need to — people often arrive at various times. Please note that these meetups are for adults only!”
Silent Book Club / Free / More Info
5:30pm-7:00pm / Milwaukee Good Hope Library (Community Room), 7715 Good Hope Road, Milwaukee
“There is no assigned reading, and no pressure! Come with your own book, studying material, work or other silent task and relax with a friendly group of book lovers! Silent Book Club is for people who love to read and want to meet new people, without the pressure to finish the selected book or to have something smart to say. All readers are welcome—ebooks, audiobooks, textbooks, comic books... it’s BYOBook. Following an hour of silent reading, there will be an opportunity to socialize and discuss your books in a welcoming environment.”
Cozy Crafting / Free / More Info
5:30pm-7:00pm / Milwaukee Central Library (Art, Music & Recreation Room), 814 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee
“Get cozy, craft, and meet up with friends and neighbors at the Central Library! Bring along your latest work in progress, or try out an easy, librarian-selected crochet pattern. We’ll enjoy hot seasonal drinks, and browse a curated selection of pattern books available to scan or check out. Bring along a skein or two of yarn if you’re looking to de-stash. We will have a mini yarn exchange at each meeting!”
History Buff Book Club / Free / More Info
5:30pm-7:00pm / Milwaukee Tippecanoe Library (Community Room), 3912 S Howell Ave, Milwaukee
“Calling all history buffs, History Buff Book Club is here! Please join us for a monthly non-fiction, history related book discussion. July read: Dark Renaissance by Stephan Greenblatt.”
Silent Book Club / Free / More Info
6:00pm-8:00pm / MobCraft, 505 S 5th St, Milwaukee
“Bring your current read, grab a drink, and spend some cozy time reading alongside other book lovers. No assigned books. No awkward discussions. Just vibes and pages turning.”
Art Club MKE / Free / More Info
6:00pm-7:30pm / South Shore Park, 2900 S. Shore Drive, Milwaukee
“Our vibe: Free art club for adults, no experience needed! Make art just for the joy of making - no “good” or “bad” here. Meetups twice a month. Drop in when you can! Hit pause on the daily grind and connect with others in a judgement- free space. Be a little silly goose with your art and crafts! What to bring: Your own art supplies / craft supplies - I always have extra paper and pencils. An open mind and willingness to create! Indoor meetups: seats are available on a first come, first served basis. Outdoor meetups: no guarantee of a pavilion, seating, or shade. Please bring a chair or blanket to sit on. Bring non-parishable food items to our next meetup to donate to the hunger task force!”
Feminist Lit Group / Free / More Info
6:30pm / Boswell Books, 2559 N Downer Ave, Milwaukee
“Reading: Intemperance by Sonora Jha. All are welcome! No registration necessary.”
Sci-Fi Book Club / Free / More Info
6:30pm / Boswell Books, 2559 N Downer Ave, Milwaukee
“Reading: The Republic of Memory by Mahmud El Sayed. No registration necessary.”
Swing Dance Lessons and Social Hour / $10 (social hour is free) / More Info
6:45pm-10:15pm / Falcon Bowl, 801 East Clarke St, Milwaukee
“Ages 18-and-up; registration/check in/warm-up at 6:45pm, Lindy Hop 200 at 7:00pm-8:00pm; registration/check in/warm-up at 8:00pm-8:15pm; Lindy Hop 103 at 8:15pm-9:15pm; social hour/open practice at 9:15pm-10:15pm.”
Rochambo Writing Club / Free / More Info
7:00pm-8:30pm / Rochambo Coffee & Tea House (Second floor), 1317 E Brady St, Milwaukee
“Do you like writing? Socializing? Getting a taste of something new? In that case we’d like to introduce……our writing club! One of our baristas, Caleb, is hosting this every Monday here at Rochambo on the second floor! We hope to see you there! No RSVP necessary.”
Tuesday, July 21
Tuesday Wake Up Run / Free / More Info
5:15am-6:00am / Colectivo Lakefront, 1701 N Lincoln Memorial Dr, Milwaukee
“Join us on Tuesday mornings starting at Colectivo at the Lakefront for a three to five mile run on the well lite paths along Lincoln Memorial Drive. Paces are anywhere from 9:00 to 12:00 minutes per mile - something for everyone. Beginners are welcome! New to running? Ask for Dia and we’ll get you started.”
Drop-In Dungeons & Dragons / Free / More Info
5:30pm-7:30pm / Shorewood Public Library, 3920 North Murray Avenue, Shorewood
“Curious about Dungeons and Dragons? Looking for a friendly local campaign? Drop in to the Shorewood Public Library every Tuesday this summer. Participants must be sixteen or older. First time players welcome!”
Death Café / Free / More Info
5:30pm-7:30pm / Milwaukee MLK Library (Study Room 114), 2901 North Doctor MLK Jr Drive, Milwaukee
“The goal of a Death Café is to support each other in normalizing talk about death, which is such an important part of life. This free gathering is completely participant led; there is no agenda. We will take turns speaking thoughtfully and listening respectfully. Light refreshments will be served.”
West Allis Board Game Night / Free / More Info
6:00pm-10:00pm / Festival Foods (Food Court), 11111 W Greenfield Ave, Milwaukee
“The public is welcome to make new friends and play simple-to-complex board and card games for free in the food court of West Allis’s Festival Foods supermarket!The only requirements are a cooperative attitude, that minors be supervised, and that outside food and drink (other than water) are forbidden, so if you’d like dinner, the deli is open until 8 PM. If you want coffee, Caribou closes at 6 PM. Consider bringing an icebox if you’d like to grocery-shop for perishables and then stay for games (or just leave them in your car during colder months). Details about the types of games played and the WABG Facebook group via link.”
Bad Moon Craft Night / Free / More Info
6:00pm / Bad Moon Saloon, 4035 S Clement Ave, Milwaukee
“Bring your craft projects, skills, extra supplies (if you want to share), or just your curiosity to learn something new! Roll up every other Tuesday at 6pm or later with your crafts, and your second round of drinks is on us!”
Hidden Chapter Book Club / Free / More Info
6:00pm-7:00pm / Milwaukee Central Library (Old Board Room), 814 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee
“Tucked away in a cozy corner of the library, The Hidden Chapter Book Club gathers once a month to read, sip, and discover. We’ll discuss The Art Forger by Barbara Shapiro and explore unique art pieces collected by Milwaukee Public Library.”
Tuesday Night Ride / Free / More Info
6:00pm-9:00pm / Last Rites, 625 S 6th St, Milwaukee
“Start point is at Last Rites. Meet and pre-ride social starting at 6pm. Roll out at 6:30pm prompt. Always slow roll around 10mph. Never drop riders for pace. Never cancel for weather. Bring lights!” Map of tentative route and weekly schedule via link.
Comix Social Workshop Night / Free / More Info
7:00pm-9:00pm / Milwaukee Brewing Company, 2335 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee
“Hey y’all! We’re having a workshop night over at MKE Brewing in Bayview coming up! Bring whatever creative project you’re working on, come hang out, and let’s make stuff!!!!! Some drawing supplies will be provided, and we will be chilling outside if the weather permits! Hope to see you there!!!”
It’s going to be a great week, you’ve got this!