Greater Milwaukee Men

The kudos keep coming in for Milwaukee, especially where alcohol is concerned. From bars to beer and even liquor , Milwaukee is at the head of the pack. This time Drink Me Magazine , which covers premium beer, wine and spirits products,  and distills them down into a 'daily curated selection as we help our readers navigate the art and cultures of the world’s best alcohol products.' and for 2014 their Drink Me Magazine Elite 150 singles out the 150 most exciting and memorable beers, wines and spirits from the past year. On Putting Milwaukee on the map was Milwaukee Brewing Company  who was not only named Domestic Brewery Of The Year but also had three beers selected. The 2014 is the inaugural Elite 150 for Drink Me which 'celebrates ambitious bottles that are making a statement at all price levels, regardless of market familiarity.' MKE's ambition was recognized for Louie’s Demise, Polish Moon, and O-Gii. They were one of only 3 breweries to have 3 or more be...

You know we like to tout #MKEPride here at GMM - it is as much about Milwaukee as men after all - and we feel the need to help us get over our inferiority complex. Milwaukee has been in many national best lists lately, and we keep a running tab here . Well, one of Milwaukee's great hoe,grown businesses just made another list. Colectivo Coffee Roasters and Cafes  were named one of America's 25 Best Coffee Shops by Epicurious . Epicruious calls Colectivo a 'vanguard of the U.S. coffee movement' and touts the community vibe enhanced by concerts by MSO, the Florentine Opera, and Música del Lago throughout the year. So Viva Colectivo! and congratulations on achieving another accolade for Milwaukee culture.

It is now March, and that means March Madness approaches - the events leading up to and including the NCAA men's basketball tourney which not only encompasses the tournament but games and other tourneys leading up to it that decide who even gets in. You'd pretty much have to be living under a rock in America to not be aware of the tournament brackets where people try to predict the winners. For years other people have copied the bracket format to let people vote on or predict the best of other unrelated things from the best beer to Milwaukee has connections to the NCAA Tournament such as Northwestern Mutual being a sponsor of NCAA sports and this year Milwaukee gets a set of games right here in our backyard. So in anticipation of the tournament coming to Milwaukee March 20 and 22, VISIT Milwaukee is hosting a Milwaukee Tourism Tournament to determine the number one tourist destination for visitors. Starting with 64 attractions, they need your help to crown a champion! Ca...

Yesterday, nearly a year after he announced publicly that he was gay, Jason Collins finally got the chance to actually play in the NBA - the first man to do so in any of the four major American pro sports leagues. We applauded Collins when he made the announcement, and hoped it would bode well for others in his own and other leagues. When Michael Sam, college defensive lineman and SEC Defensive Player of the Year, made his own announcement two weeks ago, the hard choice to do so may have been softened by Collins being first.

The Milwaukee Bucks are offering free tickets to Wisconsin military veterans under Milwaukee County's Purple Heart Pass Program . Milwaukee County's Purple Heart Pass program was started in 2013 by Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele and the Milwaukee County Veterans Service Office  as a way to recognize that award by granting Wisconsin's Purple Heart recipients a free pass to some of Milwaukee County's world class attractions. Any veteran in Wisconsin who has received a Purple Heart decoration is eligible for the pass. The Milwaukee County Veterans Service Office (MCVSO) will administer the pass, verifying eligibility through military service records. Purple Heart Veterans can contact MCVSO Director Jim Duff via phone (414.266.1235) or email (jduff@milwcnty.com) for more information on obtaining a pass.

Join BloodCenter of Wisconsin on March 4 at the 14th Annual Milwaukee Bucks Blood Drive from 7 am to 7 pm at the BMO Harris Bradley Center at 1001 N. 4th Street. As a special thank you for your life-saving gift, all attempting donors will receive a limited-edition t-shirt and a voucher for a pair of tickets for one of the following games: Wednesday, March 5 vs. Sacramento Kings (7pm) Monday, March 10 vs. Orlando Magic (7pm) Free parking and childcare will be provided the day of the blood drive. (Donors should enter at the Potawatomi Gate off of 4th and Highland) Click here to make an appointment.

It's no secret that I have a soft spot for dogs, but it goes beyond affection for them as household companions and to a genuine respect for what they have and continue to contribute to our society. It s known we developed a symbiotic relationship from early years and so many times they have helped us from herding and protecting our livestock to hunting other beasts for food or safety (such as by killing rats that carry disease). Today they do many more amazing things that have evolved from their original roles like serving the disabled, finding and rescuing lost people, even detecting disease. A saying goes that behind ever man is a great woman, but I think you could replace 'woman' with dog as often as not. Since so many activities that are important to men often include dogs, to continue to sing the praises of dogs, and champion for their respect and humane treatment, I am starting a new column called Man's Best Friend which will cover stories of Great Dogs makin...

Valentine's Day is a day we are supposed to declare our love, 'give our heart', to someone and the traditional way to do so is supposed to be to give them gifts. I think a better way to show your love for them and all of mankind is to give to a charity instead. Support a cause that your loved one believes in, do it in their name, and you may be surprised at the response you will get instead of candy or jewelry or even a new smartphone. There are so many I could recommend but if you want again be thoughtful and make it something your love values versus you. I have an even better idea. Today is appropriately National Donor Day, the day when we pledge our hearts to someone is the day when we can all pledge to literally give our organs to someone when we don't need them anymore. Sign up at organdonor.gov or on Wisconsin directly at our state Donor Registry .

Today is the date of Abraham Lincoln's birth which reminds me of perhaps my favorite quote by anyone, ever. Of all the wise people and wise things said, this to me sums up how I want to live my life: When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. That's my religion. I couldn't agree more. Despite what they may all think of each other, most of the teachings and saying of all the world's religions come down to instructing us to try to be good. The problem is there is usually a caveat - we are to do good to get something now or later from the supreme being(s) rather than simply just because we should . That is why I agree with Lincoln that my  religion is simply to do good - for others but yes also for myself. But do we truly feel better when we are better - feel great when we are great? Simply, yes.

Tomorrow, February 11, beer lovers of Milwaukee have a great opportunity to celebrate beer and help a great cause at the same time - exactly the type of event GMM endorse s. Beer historian Lance Rice, whose autism has given him a photographic memory of beer history but also kept him from sharing that knowledge for years, will be at Best Place for an event called  "Beer. Autism. Hope. Milwaukee." At the event you can meet Lance and during it Best Place will make donations to Lance's autism charity called Lance's Room . Rice will meet privately with visitors from 1 to 5 p.m. At 5 p.m., the event becomes a fundraiser for the public. Best Place will donate $1 for each beer sold to Lance's Room. A panel of beer and beer history experts will challenge Rice about beer trivia. Tours of Best Place (usually $8) will be given for donations of $5, $10 and $20 to Lance's Room.

It may seem like another feat of strength for Milwaukeeans to show our moxy by partying in the cold, but Mitten Fest seeks to conquer the cold in another way. Saturday, Feb. 8 Burnhearts  in Bay View (2599 S. Logan Ave.) hosts an outdoor party to benefit Hunger Task Force. In addition to food donations though, they are also accepting warm clothing for those in need during this most cold and snowy winter. Last year, Mitten Fest brought in 1,125 pounds of food, 50 bags of clothing and more than $1500 in cash donations.  The party features beer and live music to warm the soul from the Fatty Acids, The Whips, Midwest Death Rattle, and Heavy Hand, but it may be the delicious house crafted Bourbon Barrel Korbel Brandy Old Fashioneds & Ginger Brandy that warm up party goers the most. There is also a cold weather craft fair and food.