Auto + Marine

Driven by Gratitude

Uptown Motors celebrates 80 years of serving the community Article by Terry Schuster | Photography by Abbie Miller At Uptown Motors, you’ll find plenty of beautiful vehicles, but the real story isn’t sitting on the showroom floor. It’s in the relationships built over the years, the customers who return generation after generation, and the longevity of employees who understand that a successful dealership is about far more than putting someone behind the wheel. “We take care of individual...

Local Services

A Century of Service for Women

Zonta Club of Milwaukee marks 100 years of creating opportunities for women and girls Article by Erin Treder | Photography by Provided For 100 years, the Zonta Club of Milwaukee has been committed to improving the lives of women and girls through service and advocacy, creating opportunities locally and around the world. With a diverse group of members, the club raises funds for scholarships and other projects, supports local organizations that benefit women and girls, and gives members...

Home + Design

Holiday Entertaining Made Easy

Graze Craze brings convenience, creativity, and a delicious twist to holiday gatherings Article by Erin Treder | Photography by RGZ Productions Holiday Entertaining Made Easy The holiday season is all about bringing people together, and nothing gets a gathering started like a beautifully arranged charcuterie board. With various meats, cheeses, fruits, and other delicious treats, grazing boards offer a festive, convenient way to entertain. According to Dave Hess, owner of Graze Craze, a...

Food + Beverage

Gathered With Grace

Gracious creates elevated experiences through delicious food and warm hospitality Article by Terry Schuster | Photography by Katy Rowe Photography On a balmy Saturday in July, the Villa Terrace Museum and Gardens came alive with dinner, dancing, and celebration as it hosted its biennial summer fundraiser, Sopra Mare La Sera. Set against the sweeping backdrop of Lake Michigan, the evening featured a lakeside dinner, dancing and auctions, all in support of the museum’s preservation efforts. At...

Food + Beverage

Beyond the Tasting Room

How to plan a wine trip worth traveling for Article by Jillian Gibas, founder, JLJ Travel | Photography by Provided You have a vision for your trip: vineyard views, intimate tastings and long lunches. But turning that vision into an actual itinerary can be overwhelming. Where should you stay? Which wineries should you visit? How will you get around? And how much needs to be booked in advance? A well-designed wine trip brings all of those pieces together. The goal isn’t simply to visit great...

Food + Beverage

Mindful Meals

Made from scratch choices offer healthy alternatives to fast food Article by Terry Schuster | Photography by Provided For Mark Jasso, healthy food should never feel like a punishment. As the owner of Mark’s Mindful Meals, Jasso is on a mission to prove that eating well can be satisfying and convenient. “Healthy food doesn’t have to taste bad,” he says. “I want to give people options that don’t push them away from healthy food.” Jasso prepares made-from-scratch meals using whole...

Food + Beverage

A Different Kind of Field

From Brookfield to the NFL, Joe Thomas returns to Wisconsin roots to build a legacy Article by Erin Treder | Photography by Abbie Miller/Provided While the football field may have made Joe Thomas famous, these days, he’s focused on a very different kind of field. The NFL Hall of Famer and former Wisconsin Badger is now at the helm of Hall of Fame Beef, a company headquartered in the Driftless Region west of Madison.  Farming may seem like a far cry from professional football. But in some...

Home + Design

Weaving Lifestyles

Shabahang Rug Gallery offers a blend of old-world traditions, contemporary charm Article by Terry Schuster | Photography by Abbie Miller For Bruce Shabahang, every rug has a story waiting to be discovered. Step inside Shabahang Rug Gallery in Waukesha, and it quickly becomes clear why the fourth-generation owner describes the two-story showroom as an art gallery rather than simply a retail store. Thousands of handwoven rugs line the walls and floors, each representing months or even years of...

Food + Beverage

Toss, Sip, Savor

Enjoy the bright flavors of late summer with a Mediterranean-inspired salad and citrusy limoncello spritz. Article by Erin Treder | Photography by Abbie Miller When Brookfield City Lifestyle publisher Jessica Opat served this Mediterranean orzo salad at a recent gathering, it quickly became the recipe everyone was asking about. Fresh, colorful, and packed with bright Mediterranean flavors, it was an instant crowd favorite—and she knew we had to share it with our readers. Our team paired it...

Shopping

Timeless Jewelry Returns

Craig Husar shares how global influences shape jewelry trends. Article by Craig Husar, Chief Romance Officer | Photography by Abbie Miller Standing along the shores of Lake Como, Italy, it’s impossible not to feel inspired. The light dances across the water, historic villas rise from the hillsides, and everywhere you look there is elegance. Italy has always been a global center of fashion and design, and during my recent visit, I was reminded how much the romance of travel influences the...