The East Side

Support the voices, stories, and creativity of the East Side.

The Community Stage at Ivanhoe Plaza will be a centerpiece for live music, film screenings, performances, and civic events, a place where people gather, connect, and experience the energy of the neighborhood.

This is a unique opportunity to secure exclusive naming rights to one of the plaza’s most visible and active features. Your name will be prominently featured on the stage itself, becoming part of countless moments that bring the community together.

From performances to everyday use, the stage will play a central role in the life of Ivanhoe Plaza and offer lasting recognition as a supporter of public space and local culture.

Interested in naming rights or making a larger contribution? Connect directly with Ryan Laessig at [email protected].

TWO YEARS, A LOT TO CELEBRATE! 🎉

This week, we’re celebrating Ryan Laessig’s second anniversary as Executive Director of the East Side BID!

It’s been a BIG year on the East Side. Ryan has helped expand the use of Ivanhoe Plaza, kicked off the vision and fundraising for its future as a permanent community space, supported new businesses joining the neighborhood, and helped bring another packed calendar of free community events to the East Side.

From Summer Soulstice Music Festival and the Rolling Bike Party to East Side Gallery Night, Black Cat Alley After Dark and Doors Open Mural Fest, there have been plenty of reasons to get out, explore the neighborhood, support local businesses, and experience the East Side’s creative crossroads.

And the work hasn’t stopped there. Black Cat Alley welcomed another new mural, saw restoration work and new artist plaques, the North Avenue Mural Project moved forward with fundraising, and Poppy Bakery secured a BID Security grant.

Two years in, there’s always another project taking shape, another idea around the corner and plenty more to look forward to. We’re so excited to see what year three brings!
Help us wish Ryan a very happy second anniversary! 🥳

Read the full recap of Ryan’s second year and everything happening on the East Side: https://www.theeastside.org/news/latest-news/two-years-a-lot-to-celebrate

Head to Vintage (Vintage) on Saturday, October 10 from 11:30 AM to 4 PM for their upcoming blood drive in support of Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin. ❤️

Every donation can make a meaningful difference in someone's life, and there's a little extra incentive for those who donate! While supplies last, blood donors will receive a coupon for a free 7.5" sandwich from Cousins Subs. 🥪

If you're able to donate, schedule your appointment here:
👉 https://donateblood.versiti.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/11646116

And don't forget to come back to Vintage the following weekend! 🎃

On Saturday, October 17 at 1 PM, join Loretta Love Lee and Mercedes Benzova for Drag Queen Bingo! Get ready for 10 rounds of bingo, plenty of laughs, and a spooky-season celebration. 👑👻

Bingo cards are $5 each, doors open at 12 PM, and costumes are encouraged! 🧛

Give blood, then come back for bingo. Sounds like we've got your next two Saturdays covered. 🩸👑🖤

Looking for a new spot to browse on North Ave? 👀 Economy Studio (Economy Studio) is a small boutique packed with trendy, affordable finds and some seriously good scents.

Located at 1812 E. North Ave., Economy Studio is thoughtfully curated by the owner, so you won't have to dig through racks of filler to find something good. The inventory rotates frequently, which means there's always something new to check out, whether you're looking for a weekend outfit, a going-out piece, or just want to treat yourself to something fun.

And don't sleep on the perfume selection. Economy Studio carries a curated line of scents that are a little different from what you'll find at the usual department stores. 👃✨

Stop in, browse with a friend, and see what catches your eye. You might leave with a new outfit, a new signature scent, or both.

🕚 Economy Studio is open Wednesday-Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM!

The gin is cold, the piano is hot, and somebody's about to get away with murder. 🕵️‍♀️🥂

Step into the Roaring Twenties at Vier North for a Jazz Age Murder Mystery Dinner on Thursday, October 15 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM.

Come dressed in your best '20s-inspired look, enjoy dinner and drinks, and see if you can figure out whodunit before the night is over. Just don't trust anyone's alibi. 👀

Tickets are $75, and '20s attire is encouraged, so grab your best flapper dress, sharp suit, or whatever says Jazz Age to you.

Grab your tickets at viernorth.com through the Events page and get ready for a night of dinner, drinks, and a little murder mystery. 🔎🍸

What a weekend! 🎨☀️

We couldn’t have asked for better weather for Doors Open Mural Fest, and we’re so glad you came out to explore the East Side with us!

A huge thank you to all of the East Side businesses who opened their doors, offered special events and promotions, and helped make the weekend so much fun. Thank you to the House Circuit crew and musicians who brought Ivanhoe Plaza to life Saturday night, and to all of the East Side Makers Market vendors who filled the plaza with local art, goods, and creativity on Sunday (Milwaukee Makers Market).

Most of all, thank you to everyone who stopped by, danced, shopped, explored the murals, grabbed a bite, and spent part of the weekend on the East Side. We loved seeing you out there! 💛

TODAY’S THE DAY! DOORS OPEN MURAL FEST IS HERE! 🎨

The East Side is ready for a full weekend of art, history, music, shopping, and local flavor. If you’re wondering where to start, here’s your game plan for September 26-27:

🏛️ Visit official Doors Open Milwaukee participants. Explore the historic Oriental Theatre MKE, Charles Allis Art Museum, Bertelson Building and PALOMA WILDER, UWM Kenilworth Square East Gallery, North Point Water Tower, and Von Trier. Check the official Doors Open Milwaukee schedule for hours and details before you head out.

🛍️ Support participating East Side businesses. Stop by Lowwstock Vintage for a DJ, sidewalk sale, and vintage finds. Visit Jalisco’s Cocina y Bar 1987 for their buy-one, get-your-second-half-off margarita special. The Oriental Theatre is also hosting the Dialogues Documentary Festival, and Shanghai MKE will have its gate open for walk-up service in Black Cat Alley.

🎨 Go mural hunting. Use our East Side mural map to explore Black Cat Alley and other public art throughout the neighborhood. Be sure to look for Up Up and Away by Arcadia Melster (AIM Creatively), the newest mural in Black Cat Alley, and Wild Bill by Brent Schoonover and Hannah Tews (Terrible Tews), the featured Brewers mural.

🪩 Dance the night away at House Circuit. On Saturday, Chicago selector Ivano Lima and Milwaukee legend Moorhaus will bring the house music to Ivanhoe Plaza from 5-10:30 PM. Grab dinner nearby, stop for a drink at Shanghai Speakeasy or Star Bar MKE, and then make your way to the plaza for music under the lights.

☀️ Come back Sunday for the East Side Makers Market. Grab breakfast or a pastry at Poppy Bakery or a smoothie from Baya Bar Wisconsin , then shop local artists, makers, vintage sellers, bakers, and small businesses at Ivanhoe Plaza from 10 AM-3 PM. The market is sponsored by Milwaukee Makers Market and features plenty of unique finds, sweet treats, handmade goods, and more.

Doors Open Mural Fest is your excuse to spend the weekend exploring the East Side at your own pace. Save this post, check out our maps, and come see what’s waiting around the corner! 🎉

* Studio B & Co. is no longer able to participate in the event.

Why Ivanhoe Plaza?

Right in the heart of the East Side, Ivanhoe Plaza is already where people gather, pass through, and connect. This project builds on that energy by creating a permanent public space designed for everyday use and the moments in between.

From morning coffee runs to evenings out, the plaza will serve as a natural place to pause and connect before and after nearby events. Just steps from destinations like Oriental Theatre MKE, Colectivo Coffee, Black Cat Alley, Poppy Bakery, and Hooligans Milwaukee, it becomes a true front porch for the neighborhood.

The plaza will support local culture, small businesses, and community life by creating space for markets, performances, and everyday gathering. It is designed to strengthen connections between people, places, and the local economy.

This vision has been years in the making. First outlined in the City of Milwaukee’s Northeast Area Plan, it also aligns with broader efforts to create more walkable, people-focused neighborhoods.

What started as a temporary street closure has already shown what is possible. Now, Ivanhoe Plaza has the opportunity to become a permanent civic space that brings lasting energy, accessibility, and connection to the East Side.

You can be part of bringing this space to life. Support the project through a digital dedication or explore naming and sponsorship opportunities to leave your mark on the future of Ivanhoe Plaza.

Learn more: https://ivanhoeplaza.theeastside.org/

If you haven’t visited Black Cat Alley in a while, Doors Open Mural Fest is the perfect time to return! We’ve added and refreshed 10 murals over the past two years, giving the alley a fresh look and plenty of new details to discover. 🐈‍⬛🎨

While you’re there, look for "Up Up and Away" by Arcadia Melster (AIM Creatively), the newest mural in Black Cat Alley, and "Wild Bill" by Brent Schoonover and Hannah Tews (Terrible Tews), the featured Brewers mural celebrating Milwaukee baseball. ⚾🎨

🌟 On Saturday, grab a drink at Star Bar MKE or Shanghai MKE (their gate will be open for walk-up service!) and then make your way to the House Circuit event in Ivanhoe Plaza starting at 5 PM.

☀️ On Sunday, grab a pastry from Poppy Bakery or a smoothie from Baya Bar Wisconsin before strolling through the alley and making a visit to the East Side Market in Ivanhoe Plaza from 10 AM to 3 PM.

There’s plenty to see, sip, and explore around Black Cat Alley during Doors Open Mural Fest, happening September 26-27! Make sure you snap some photos in the alley and tag us so we can see your visit!