There is nothing that is more classic Milwaukee than Usinger’s Famous Sausage and once again, Usinger’s neighbor, the Old German Beer Hall, 1009 N. Old World 3rd St., joins the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County in celebrating Feb. 23 – today! – as Fred Usinger Day.
Of course, for some Milwaukeeans – guilty as charged – there's a Usinger's Day nearly every week. I suspect restaurateur Hans Weissgerber is in the club, too.
"Usinger ‘wurstmachers’ have been making superlative quality sausage on Milwaukee's Old World 3rd Street since 1880," said Weissgerber, owner of the Beer Hall, in a statement.
"The site of the original store is located directly across the street from the Old German Beer Hall. The original family recipes have never been altered in order to meet a competitive price. To the Usinger sausage makers, it is a matter of pride to maintain their tradition of excellence."
This 10th annual celebration includes free Usinger’s brats from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m., and a gratis beer sample (21 and older, of course) at a 6 p.m. keg-tapping, while supplies last.
There will also be live music by Ferdinand Buchel & Ken Brandt at noon and the Brewhouse Polka Kings from 5 until 8 p.m., as well as a variety of specials on brats, wieners, Braunschweiger, chicken sausages, sauerkraut and more from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
And, seriously, you’ll be right across the street. Don’t miss an opportunity to stop in the one-of-a-king Usinger’s retail store, where you can get the full range of Usinger’s treats – encased or otherwise.
Say hi to Fritz for me.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He can be heard weekly on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories.
