Rediscovering Downtown

Rediscovering Downtown – A Local Perspective

WRITER: JULIE BUTSCHLI
PERSONAL CHEF AND OWNER OF CRAFTY KITCHEN
HTTP://WWW.CRAFTYKITCHEN4U.COM

AS HAVING RECENTLY RETURNED TO KENOSHA AFTER ONLY BEING GONE 2 ½ YEARS, I AM REDISCOVERING CERTAIN PLACES I LOVED ABOUT DOWNTOWN KENOSHA AND FINDING NEW ATTRACTIONS TO KEEP ME HEADING BACK DOWNTOWN. I HAVE BEEN A KENOSHA RESIDENT AN ACCUMULATED 17 YEARS DATING BACK TO 1987. THROUGHOUT THE YEARS KENOSHA HAS PROVEN TO BE A SUCCESS STORY AFTER REBOUNDING FROM AUTO MANUFACTURER LOSSES TO REBUILDING AND CREATING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. DOWNTOWN KENOSHA AND THE LAKEFRONT NOW GLISTEN WITH LUXURIOUS CONDOS AND APARTMENTS LIKE THE 5TH AVENUE LOFTS IN THE 5800-BLOCK OFFERING STYLISH AMENITIES AND BREATHTAKING LAKE MICHIGAN VIEWS. SPEAKING OF VIEWS, TAKE IN THE SPARKLING LAKEFRONT BY STROLLING ALONG THE SCULPTURE WALK ALONG KENOSHA’S HARBOR, OR THE BOARDWALK ALONG THE BEACH AND BRING YOUR DOG FOR SOME FRIENDLY SOCIALIZING! I HAVE DISCOVERED SOME NEW EATERIES THAT I HAVE FOUND TO BE ENTICING OFFERING A GREAT ATMOSPHERE, FOOD AND DRINKS INCLUDING SLIP 56 BAR AND GALLEY AND FROM THERE YOU ARE STEPS FROM NEIGHBORING RESTAURANTS AND UNIQUE SHOPS SUCH AS SANDY’S POPPER, SCOOPS ICE CREAM, AND ELSIE MAE’S CANNING. HOW FUN ARE THESE SHOPS! AND BRING YOUR KIDS! TAKE THEM ON A HISTORIC STREETCAR RIDE (THERE ARE A FLEET OF SEVEN STREETCARS) THAT LOOPS YOU AROUND DOWNTOWN AND ALONG THE LAKEFRONT THEN TIE IT IN BY GETTING A HOTDOG AT TROLLEY DOGS ON 6TH AVENUE FOR CHICAGO STYLE OR ANY WAY YOU PREFER YOUR DOG, OR CHOO CHOO CHARLIES WITH GREAT SHAKES AND MALTS LOCATED INSIDE THE METRA STATION. BOTH OPTIONS ARE KID FRIENDLY. I SUGGEST MAKING A DAY OF IT. OR TWO, BECAUSE OPENING MAY 11TH ALL ALONG 2ND AVENUE IS THE REGIONS LARGEST OUTDOOR MARKET SITUATED ALONG THE KENOSHA PUBLIC MUSEUM AND THE CIVIL WAR MUSEUM. START OFF AT THE TOT PARK AND GAZE AT THE MAGNIFICENT YACHTS, MAYBE GRAB A BLOODY MARY FROM ASHLING ON THE LOUGH. THEN CASUALLY STROLL DOWN 2ND AVENUE DOTTED WITH VENDORS OFFERING THEIR FRESHEST PRODUCE, TASTY TREATS, HAND MADE SPECIALTY TRINKETS OF ALL SORTS WHILE ENTERTAINED BY MUSICIANS ALONG THE WAY. BE SURE TO TRY THE FOOD OFFERED AT THIS MARKET AND SIT OUTSIDE THE PUBLIC MUSEUM FOUNTAIN TO EAT. TAKE IT ALL IN. YOU’LL FEEL RENEWED AND THE BEST PART IS YOU CAN COME BACK AND DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN WEEK AFTER WEEK!