Crew Cuts

BY JEANETTE HURT

ON THE WATERFRONT

Crew Member Mary Widen
in front of Discovery
WorldAirTran Airways Crew Member Mary Widen doesn’t miss a moment of fun on the shores of Lake Michigan in Milwaukee.

Aviation and water are Mary Widen’s top two passions in life. While her position as a customer service agent for AirTran Airways allows her to indulge her first love, her hometown of Milwaukee—and its gorgeous lakefront—is where she dives into her second.

LAKE MICHIGAN & BEYOND

“Milwaukee is a gem in the Midwest,” Widen says. “I just love Lake Michigan. When I was working on my master’s degree, I loved taking Lake Drive north to University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s campus, watching the lake throughout the seasons.”

Widen especially savors the lake in the spring and summer. In the warm months, visitors should head straight to Veteran’s Park, which abuts Lake Michigan downtown. There, you can rent kites, skates, bikes and even paddle boats for the lagoon. “[In some other cities], it is hard to see the shore at all because of the build-up, but here in Milwaukee, anyone can enjoy the lake—it’s just so accessible,” Widen says.

ARTS & CULTURE

Milwaukee Art
MuseumAfter a bike ride or walk along the lake, Widen advises a trip to Milwaukee Art Museum (www.mam.org) or Discovery World (www.discoveryworld.org). “I’m a science enthusiast, and Discovery World epitomizes who I am,” says Widen, who is also a teacher. “I helped work with them to develop some of their curricula, and I love both the salt and fresh water aquariums. Plus, the Denis Sullivan [a 137-foot three-masted schooner] is docked there.”

Widen is a season ticket holder to the Milwaukee Ballet (www.milwaukeeballet.org) and also enjoys the Broadway series at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts (www.marcuscenter.org). “I just love dance,” she says. “It’s really exciting to watch different dancers grow and mature.” Sometimes, she’ll take in a play at the Broadway Theatre Center (414-291-7800) in the Third Ward.

Milwaukee BalletEAT & DRINK

With all the lake and cultural activities, Widen works up quite an appetite. She often heads to Water Street Brewery (www.waterstreetbrewery.com; 414-272-1195), which serves tasty pub food and specialty beers. If she’s in the Third Ward, she enjoys Milwaukee Ale House (www.ale-house.com; 414-226-2337).

And if there’s one thing all visitors should try, Widen says it’s Milwaukee’s answer to ice cream: thick, rich, creamy treats at Leon’s Frozen Custard (414-383-1784). “When my sister-in-law comes in to visit from Hawaii, we have to go there,” she says. “It’s addictive.”