MILWAUKEE – To celebrate the many reasons why the Near West Side is a great place to live, work, and play, Near West Side Partners (NWSP) is hosting its third annual Near West Side Week – a weeklong celebration complete with daily activities, opportunities to spend time as a community, and a focus on recognizing progress. Beginning on Sunday, Sept. 10 and running through Saturday, Sept. 16, Near West Side Week will include daily activities, opportunities to visit with neighbors and friends, and prizes for participants.
“The Near West Side is a thriving community brimming with history, diversity, and investment,” said Lindsey St. Arnold Bell, NWSP Executive Director. “Near West Side Week is a great opportunity for neighbors, employees and visitors alike to take pride in all the people, businesses and landmarks that make this neighborhood unique and celebrate why the Near West Side is a great place to live, work, and play. I look forward to seeing many new and familiar faces throughout the week.”
A complete line-up of events and activities to engage in during Near West Side Week is here:
Sunday, Sept. 10:
Toast to Near West Side Week / Paint & Sip, 12:00 – 2:00 p.m
Washington Park Media Center, 4303 W Vliet St.
On Sunday, Vibez Creative Art Space will host a “Paint & Sip” class at the Washington Park Media Center, complete with snacks and wine courtesy of Near West Side Partners. Class size is limited, so those interested in expressing their creativity must register in advance: nearwestsidemke.org/nwsweek/
Monday, Sept. 11:
Near West Side Week Kick-Off Celebration, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Buffalo Boss, 540 N 27th Street
To formally kick-off Near West Side Week, Near West Side Partners will host a celebration at one of the Near West Side’s newest restaurants – Buffalo Boss!! Lunch will be available for purchase from the restaurant and the event will include a few words from NWSP Executive Director Lindsey St. Arnold Bell and public partners, plus celebratory Pete’s Pops for all.
Tuesday, Sept. 12:
C27 Preview, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Concordia 27, 821 N. 27th Street
Join Near West Side Partners at Concordia 27 for hard hat tours of the under-construction community resource hub and future NWSP office space. During the event, NWSP team members will highlight the ways in which partner support has elevated the Near West Side business community. Catering will be provided by a local NWS business! Joining for the tour? Registration details are online: nearwestsidemke.org/nwsweek/
Wednesday, Sept. 13:
Rev-Up MKE Live Pitch Competition, 5:00 – 8:30 p.m.
The Rave/Eagles Club, 2401 W Wisconsin Ave.
Near West Side Partners will host the sixth Rev-Up MKE 2023 live pitch competition at the Rave on Wednesday, Sept. 13 at 5:00 p.m. During this event, Rev-Up MKE finalists – local entrepreneurs who have received business training and support from Marquette University mentors – will pitch their business idea to members of their community and a panel of judges. Attendees will be able to vote for an “Audience Choice Winner,” and awards will go to top contenders. Before and after the Live Pitch event, attendees will also be treated to a Taste of the Near West Side, refreshments provided by favorite restaurants in the Near West Side. Attendee registration is free, but encouraged. More information is available at nearwestsidemke.org/revupmke/
Thursday, Sept. 14:
Fun, Fresh & Fast Lunch Hour, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Potawatomi Wgema Campus, 3215 W. State Street
Healthy lunch options on the go! Employees and community members are encouraged to purchase healthy grab-and-go lunch options from Food for Health or from a food truck while learning about health and wellness resources.
Friday, Sept. 15:
Friday, Sept. 15 at 12:00 p.m. – Saturday, Sept. 16 at 6:00 p.m.
Teams of Near West Side enthusiasts are encouraged to participate in a virtual scavenger hunt, with missions and clues directing participants to explore the Near West Side and discover its hidden gems while competing for prizes. The scavenger hunt will launch via the GooseChase app at noon on Friday and will close at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16th. Additional details and rules are available online.
Near West Side Movie Night, 6:00 – 9:30 p.m.
Merrill Park, 435 N 35th St.
Community members are invited to Merrill Park on Friday, Sept. 15 to watch The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Water and snacks will be provided, and neighbors are encouraged to arrive early to play, listen to music, and put down a blanket before the movie begins at about 7:15 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 16:
Homebuyer Resource Fair, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Concordia 27, 821 N. 27th Street
Those interested in becoming a homeowner can join Near West Side Partners and Take Root Milwaukee for a Homebuyer Resource Fair on Saturday, Sept. 16 from 10:00 a.m. – Noon. Attendees can hear from HUD-certified counseling agencies, make connections and learn all there is to know about purchasing a home.
The New State Near West Side Block Party, 1:00 – 6:00 p.m.
The New State Park, 2612 W State St.
Near West Side Week will conclude with a full-scale celebration at The New State Park, where musical acts and groups like Your Move MKE, a hip-hop chess club, will get the party started with DJ sets and breakdancing performances from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. The MKE Youth Theatre will perform at approximately 2:00 p.m. V Funk, a high-energy funk band, will perform from 3:30 – 6:00 p.m.. Throughout the day, artists will be creating, Familia de Arte will be etching ceramic tiles with the support of attendees, and classic cars will be shown on State Street. Lily Bell’s Fine Dining and Pete’s Pops will provide refreshments.
All Week: Monday, Sept. 11th – Friday, Sept. 15th
Text to Win
Each day during Near West Side Week, people can text NWSWEEK to 414-677-3300 and follow the prompts to answer a question for a chance to win a gift card to a local Near West Side business. A new question will be added each day at 9 a.m., so play to win each day to increase your chances of winning! For more information, visit www.nearwestsidemke.org/nwsweek.
NWSP would like to thank this year’s Near West Side Week sponsors for their generous support. In particular, NWSP is grateful to Town Bank, the presenting sponsor for Near West Side Week and the Rev-Up MKE Live Pitch Competition. In addition, Aurora Health Care, CG Schmidt, Inc., Five O’Clock Steakhouse, Harley-Davidson, Milwaukee Center for Independence, Marquette University, Molson Coors, Potawatomi Business Development Corporation, and WE Energies have generously partnered with NWSP to support Near West Side Week.
