Bubbler Talk

Steampunk is a subculture where people express themselves through Victorian-era costumes with a science fiction twist. For Bubbler Talk, we’ll learn about how southeastern Wisconsin is a major steampunk hub.

In urban areas, parcels of undeveloped land are becoming rarer and rarer. One of them is Seminary Woods in St. Francis.

In the mid-1900s, a Racine man named Anton Kratochvil built more than 20 round or semi-circular houses and apartments in southeast Wisconsin. But why round?

WUWM is celebrating 10 years of Bubbler Talk, our series driven by listeners’ curiosity. We’re listening back to some of our favorite episodes from the last decade and talking with the reporters who brought them to life. To close out the season, we listen to Maayan Silver’s story about  ice cream cocktails and their connection to Milwaukee. Stories mentioned in this episode: Ice Cream Cocktails, Milwaukee-Style What Happened to Milwaukee's Signature Yeast Smell? What's that smell when you drive over Milwaukee's Hoan Bridge? A Mystery Tree Grows In Milwaukee Just in time for Valentine's Day: The 'blind date cookie' and its Milwaukee connection There's a radio haunting this century-old Milwaukee area bar Have a question for Bubbler Talk? Submit it here: wuwm.com/bubblertalk.

WUWM is celebrating 10 years of Bubbler Talk, our series driven by listeners’ curiosity. We’re listening back to some of our favorite episodes from the last decade and talking with the reporters who brought them to life. This week, we listen to Ann-Elise Henzl’s 2017 story about how Milwaukee got the nickname “Cream City.” Mentioned in this episode: How Milwaukee Got The Nickname 'Cream City' Cream City brick: From Ice Age glaciers to Milwaukee's early strip malls In Wisconsin, A Bloody Mary Isn't Complete Unless It Has A Beer Chaser The saga of Milwaukee's water tower dragon WUWM 2026 Election Survey Have a question for Bubbler Talk? Submit it here: wuwm.com/bubblertalk.

WUWM is celebrating 10 years of Bubbler Talk, our series driven by listeners’ curiosity. We’re listening back to some of our favorite episodes from the last decade and talking with the reporters who brought them to life. This week, we listen to Susan Bence’s stranger-than-fiction 2018 story about a restaurant where you could dine with dolphins. Stories mentioned in this episode: Dining With Dolphins: Remembering Milwaukee's 'Most Unusual' Restaurant Did You Know There's An Ancient Coral Reef in Wauwatosa? Swimming The Milwaukee River: Should You Jump In? Have a question for Bubbler Talk? Submit it here: wuwm.com/bubblertalk.

WUWM is celebrating 10 years of Bubbler Talk, our series driven by listeners’ curiosity. We’re listening back to some of our favorite episodes from the last decade and talking with the reporters who brought them to life. This week, we listen to Lake Effect executive producer Becky Mortensen’s story about the legend of the Pfister Hotel being haunted. Stories mentioned in this episode: The legend of the Pfister Hotel ghost Unearthing the history of Milwaukee’s celery farms Where are the victims of the Bay View Massacre buried? Have a question for Bubbler Talk? Submit it here: wuwm.com/bubblertalk.

WUWM is celebrating 10 years of Bubbler Talk, our series driven by listeners’ curiosity. We’re listening back to some of our favorite episodes from the last decade and talking with the reporters who brought them to life. This week, we listen to Xcaret Nuñez’s 2024 story: “What happens when an animal at the Milwaukee County Zoo dies?” Stories mentioned in this episode: What happens when an animal at the Milwaukee County Zoo dies? Meet Ringo: The star, artist and friend of Bradford Beach Unearthing the history of Milwaukee’s celery farms The search for the mystery artist behind the wooden birds on the Oak Leaf Trail Have a question for Bubbler Talk? Submit it here: wuwm.com/bubblertalk.

WUWM is celebrating 10 years of Bubbler Talk, our series driven by listeners’ curiosity. We’re listening back to some of our favorite episodes from the last decade and talking with the reporters who brought them to life. This week, we listen to Teran Powell’s 2022 story “A look at Milwaukee's early Black settlers,” and talk with Teran about her Bubbler Talk reporting.    Stories mentioned in this episode: A look at Milwaukee's early Black settlers Painted Koi Fish Have Been 'Swimming' On Milwaukee's Sidewalks For Over A Decade Who’s behind ‘The Unsung Hero,’ the 6-story mural in Milwaukee’s Third Ward? Cathedral Square's 'Immigrant Mother' statue symbolizes universal motherhood The Morris Pratt Institute has been a source of Spiritualist education for more than a century Have a question for Bubbler Talk? Submit it here: wuwm.com/bubblertalk.

WUWM is celebrating 10 years of Bubbler Talk, our series driven by listeners’ curiosity. We’re listening back to some of our favorite episodes from the last decade and talking with the reporters who brought them to life. This week, we listen to Audrey Nowakowski’s delicious 2019 story “Cruller Or Kruller? However You Spell It, It's A Milwaukee Doughnut Staple.” Stories mentioned in this episode: Cruller Or Kruller? However You Spell It, It's A Milwaukee Doughnut Staple The journey of the ancestral pole that once stood outside of the Milwaukee Public Museum How Enderis Park neighborhood's namesake, Dorothy Enderis, shaped Milwaukee Recreation An Ode To Craftsmanship: Stained Glass Windows In Milwaukee Bungalows Have a question for Bubbler Talk? Submit it here: wuwm.com/bubblertalk.

WUWM is celebrating 10 years of Bubbler Talk, our series driven by listeners’ curiosity. We’re listening back to some of our favorite episodes from the last decade and talking with the reporters who brought them to life. This week, we listen to Emily Files’ 2019 story “The saga of Milwaukee's water tower dragon.” Stories mentioned in this episode: The saga of Milwaukee's water tower dragon Did you know the Milwaukee Safety Academy used to be a Catholic girls school? Milwaukee's Lost Town Of Lake How Granville Township Became Part Of Milwaukee Why is Thiensville landlocked by Mequon? Havenwoods State Forest in Milwaukee is the result of 'healing' after a military past Have a question for Bubbler Talk? Submit it here: wuwm.com/bubblertalk.

WUWM is celebrating 10 years of Bubbler Talk, our series driven by listeners’ curiosity. We’re listening back to some of our favorite episodes from the last decade and talking with the reporters who brought them to life. To kick it off, we listen to the very first Bubbler Talk episode: “Why do Wisconsinites call that a bubbler, anyway?” by Joy Powers. Stories mentioned in this episode: Why Do Wisconsinites Call That A Bubbler, Anyway? Where are the victims of the Bay View Massacre buried? How to research historic properties in Milwaukee Have a question for Bubbler Talk? Submit it here: wuwm.com/bubblertalk.

A bronze statue of an immigrant mother with two children has stood in Milwaukee’s Cathedral Square since 1960. One of our "Bubbler Talk" listeners wanted to know more.

Along I-94 near American Family Field, a group of cemeteries line the freeway. A Bubbler Talk listener wanted to know more about them.

For this episode of Bubbler Talk, we explore the history of immigrants who made Milwaukee a "German Athens."

Milwaukee's Skylight Music Theater was designed to look like the Théâtre de la Coup d'Or in Rochefort, France. Here's how it happened.

The blind date cookie has been around for centuries. A Bubbler Talk listener wanted to learn how the sweet's origins are connected to Milwaukee.

Marquette University is technically the third home of the St. Joan of Arc Chapel, which was built in France around 1420.

It’s mostly apartments and offices now, but Milwaukee’s downtown Plankinton Building used to be a grand shopping arcade.

A group of Milwaukee tumblers has been soaring through the air and wowing crowds. One listener wanted to know more.

For Bubbler Talk, we hit the road to try to answer the question: why is Milwaukee missing so many street signs? And what can residents do about it?

Beavers have been reintroduced into Milwaukee's waterways for over a decade. A Bubbler Talk listener wanted to know more.

Celery is green, crunchy and flavorful. But did you know it also has a history in Milwaukee? "Bubbler Talk" takes a deep dive into this little-known chapter of the city’s history.

One Bay View building is not like the others. Bay View Terrace is 25-story condominium surrounded by single family homes.

On this Bubbler Talk, WUWM's Teran Powell looks into this question: Did Marian Anderson ever visit and sing in Milwaukee? If so, where did she stay, as individuals who were Black were not allowed to stay in hotels in the past.

An all-girls Catholic High School opened on Milwaukee's northwest side in 1965. Six years later, it shut down. What happened?

Discover Milwaukee’s Water Current Walking Tour with "Bubbler Talk," exploring public art, water innovation and hidden gems along the city’s rivers.

A historical marker used to recognize one of the last remaining Native American burial mounds in Milwaukee County. For "Bubbler Talk," we learn why it was removed and what's next for the sacred burial site.

Bubbler Talk investigates a military plane crash on Milwaukee's Jones Island in 1959, and its connection the annual Air and Water Show.

A massive mural in Milwaukee's Third Ward features a seated female figure wearing an apron. Her hands are crossed at the wrist and rest on her knees. But the painting stops at her shoulders. Who is behind "The Unsung Hero"?

A Bubbler Talk listener sent us a question asking why Wisconsin's only urban state forest, Havenwoods, was created.

For Bubbler Talk, we explore the history of Silver City, National Park and the neighborhood's former amusement park.

The Bay View Massacre was a pivotal moment in Wisconsin's labor and political history, but not much is known about the victims. In this Bubbler Talk we explore who they were and where they're buried.

Sheepshead is a card game played throughout Wisconsin. But where did it come from? And what's up with all the different rules? Answers ahead in this episode of "Bubbler Talk."

Dorothy Enderis was the second, and arguably most influential, leader of the Milwaukee Recreation Department. Learn about her and the neighborhood named in her honor.

In 1971, Indigenous activists ripped the plywood off the abandoned Coast Guard station in Milwaukee's McKinley Park and occupied it. They successfully shaped the future, and a mysterious bridge remains.

Every day, thousands of people visit the Milwaukee County Zoo to see the animals they love — whether it’s the adorable otters, roaring tigers or giant elephants. These animals live their lives on display, but most of us don’t know what happens after they die.

For about 20 years, the Leonard Bearstein Symphony Orchestra performed at the Grand Avenue Mall. Where did the animatronic bears go?

Bubbler Talk question asker Dan Currier of Whitewater wants to know about a past iconic figure of Milwaukee: Where did the totem pole that stood in front of the old and the new Milwaukee Public Museum come from?

Riverwest resident Lindsey Goding came upon a mystery bridge above the Milwaukee River when she moved to the Milwaukee neighborhood. Together, for Bubbler Talk, we uncover its purpose.

Northridge Mall was one of several large suburban malls built in the 1960s and '70s. It was at the far northwestern edge of Milwaukee — at 76th Street and Brown Deer Road. But the glory days didn’t last. The mall closed 15 years ago and has gone into extended limbo.

Earlier this year, wildfires ravaged Los Angeles for almost a month. Destroying historical landmarks and reshaping the city forever. It got a "Bubbler Talk" listener thinking: How have Milwaukee fires shaped the city? Where and how did the fires start?

On this week's episode of "Bubbler Talk," we answer a question about what happens to homes that are sold to cash buyers advertising around Milwaukee.

"Bubbler Talk" listeners Amy Gajewski and Victor Muñoz are certified scuba divers with an interest in shipwrecks. That’s why they want to know: Why are there so many shipwrecks in Lake Michigan, especially off the coast of the Milwaukee area?

This "Bubbler Talk" takes us to the Milwaukee Public Market. Or rather, you could say something calls us to the market: it's signature colorful rooster logo. We find out what it represents and how it reflects the inspiration behind the 20-year-old iconic Milwaukee food hall.

Here’s a mystery for you: Who is leaving colorful, wood-carved birds in not-so-obvious places along Milwaukee’s Oak Leaf Trail? No one knows, but locals love them.

Bubbler Talk listener, Sophia Heyn discovered the geological history of quarrying in Estabrook Park while researching a school assignment. We went together to discover the history of the riverbed.

Walking downtown on a cold day, a "Bubbler Talk" listener wondered whether they could use Milwaukee's skywalks.

A WUWM listener's question about taking MCTS to the Mitchell Park Domes comes as MCTS wants to hear your ideas about possible service changes later in 2025.

The Morris Pratt Institute, located in Wauwatosa, offers education in Spiritualism. Spiritualists believe in communicating with the deceased, or spirits, through a medium.

The story of Milwaukee custard is a story of FDA regulations, nostalgia and cooperative economics.

Recently a large section of trees was removed along Milwaukee's lakefront at the southeast end of the Veterans Park lagoon. We learn why, and more about what's going on in the lagoon itself.

For Bubbler Talk, we explore the history of Silver City, National Park and the neighborhood's former amusement park.

For Bubbler Talk, we look into a question posed by a Milwaukee native: are we a bunch of haters?

Bubbler Talk question asker Susan Armour Seidman wants to know: What happened to the Chudnow Museum of Yesteryear in Milwaukee?

Nearly 120 years ago, Theodore Kronshage — who would become Fox Point's first village president — had a home designed above Lake Michigan. Somehow the designs were used to build a house in Fort Atkinson.

With the arrival of spring, plants are blooming — in our homes, our parks, and even in the middle of some Milwaukee streets. One WUWM listener wondered about those peculiar sunken gardens in street medians, and "Bubbler Talk" investigates.

One Bay View building is not like the others. Bay View Terrace is 25-story condominium surrounded by single family homes.

The pictures that line Brady Street are like hieroglyphics, telling the story of the popular street's early history.

After years of advocacy by passenger rail groups, the inaugural Amtrak Borealis service is set to launch on May 21, 2024.

Every day, thousands of people visit the Milwaukee County Zoo to see the animals they love — whether it’s the adorable otters, roaring tigers or giant elephants. These animals live their lives on display, but most of us don’t know what happens after they die.

Bubbler Talk question asker Tom Roberts has been wondering about the circular, metal structure in Bay View's Cupertino Park — what is it and why is it near Lake Michigan.

Water towers are a routine part of the scenery in Wauwatosa. Bubbler Talk question asker and Tosa resident Brice Smith wants to know why there are so many of them.

In 1938, the heir of the Blatz Brewing Company wanted to bring his love of classical music to Milwaukee. Emil Blatz provided $100,000 for the construction of a bandshell that would soon become a temple of music.

The waves of Lake Michigan bring in an unknown number of things onto the shore — trash, trinkets and sometimes treasures, as Erin Christie learned while beach combing. Erin and her husband regularly comb the beach together, which inspired her to ask Bubbler Talk to explore some of the cool and unique things people have found on the shores of Lake Michigan.

On this Bubbler Talk, WUWM's Teran Powell looks into this question: Did Marian Anderson ever visit and sing in Milwaukee? If so, where did she stay, as individuals who were Black were not allowed to stay in hotels in the past.

For this week's Bubbler Talk, we look at how the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps expanded the Milwaukee County Park system in the 1930s.

For this week’s Bubbler Talk, listener Connor Bowman asked us — “What’s the story with the reindeer I’ve been seeing at COVID testing and vaccination sites around Milwaukee?”

When you look at a map of Wisconsin, it’s covered in names that remind us of this country’s original inhabitants. Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, Waukesha, Kinnickinnic — all words derived from Native American languages.

At the corner of North Shepard Avenue and East Locust Street, there are standalone brick pillars. Listener Eric Kowalik wondered where the structures came from and what they were for.

People have a lot of questions when they come to the Milwaukee County Zoo. But the most the important one may be this: how did all of these animals even get here?

With the help of former Milwaukee Braves and a local historian, we look back at the celebrations after the Braves became World Series Champions in 1957.

On May 4, 1989, two Milwaukee celebrities — Bob Reitman and Gene Mueller, hosts of the popular WKTI morning show Reitman and Mueller — were featured as barflies on the popular sitcom Cheers. Bubbler Talk looks into how this came about.

Eileen Hosmanek was walking her dogs with her daughter on Milwaukee's Lower East Side and came across something quite strange: the Near Here plaque.

Baseball great Hank Aaron passed away this year and will be honored at the Major League All Star Game on Tuesday. So, we thought we'd finally bring to the plate a Bubbler Talk question from 2017 that asks about Aaron statues in Milwaukee.

Milwaukee is known as a city of breweries. But Bubbler Talk question asker Tom Targos has noticed another alcohol industry growing in Wisconsin — craft distilleries.

For this week's Bubbler Talk, WUWM's Audrey Nowakowski looks into why Milwaukeeans love their pizza topped with cheese, sausage, mushroom and onions.

On this week’s Bubbler Talk, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson gives an update on the shuttering of iconic Up And Under Pub on Milwaukee's Brady Street last September.

The near south side of Milwaukee has long been home to the city’s Mexican community, where food has always been an important part of the culture. This week's Bubbler Talk explores the history of one family's longtime restaurant — Luna's Texas Restaurant.

On this Bubbler Talk, we learn about the history behind the stained glass windows found in Milwaukee bungalows.

For more than 20 years, families gathered around their radios during the holidays to hear the Billie the Brownie show, featuring Billie, Santa Claus and Captain Larry.

When you’re driving to work, there’s nothing worse than seeing a traffic sign that shows delays ahead. But if you’re like firefighter Drew Schuster, there's one thing you look forward to seeing: the witty safety messages.

A listener recently discovered a piece of cultural and legal history on a break from jury duty at the Milwaukee County Courthouse, and wanted to know the story behind the Mahatma Gandhi statue.

The south side of Milwaukee is known for having a lot of churches. In fact, depending on where you are, many of those churches dot the Milwaukee skyline with their steeples.

Bubbler Talk inquirer Eloisa Gomez wanted to know: "In the Latino community, what and where are the historic landmarks that people can go to to get a better sense of the local Latino history?" Well, there are none.

The 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks were one of the greatest NBA teams of their era, but after winning it all in April of 1971 the team never got a victory parade. Instead, Milwaukeeans found their own way to celebrate the world champions.

What is the rusted metal object sitting across from the Lindsay Bros. Building on South 2nd Street in Milwaukee? The object is big, about the size of one of those storage PODS you see outside some people’s houses when they’re moving.

On this week’s Bubbler Talk, question asker Craig Steitz wanted to know about the history of music stores in Milwaukee.

This week’s Bubbler Talk clears up some muddled history of one of our favorite drinks — the Old Fashioned. In a question from listener Lea, she asked:

A WUWM listener, Erin Christie, enjoys the company of friends at her basement bar, so she requested an appreciation segment on the prevalence of basement bars in Milwaukee.

Over the past four months, lots of systems in Wisconsin have had to adapt due to the coronavirus pandemic. That includes the state court system, which was forced to halt jury trials and move most other business online.

A listener wondered if it was true that there were underground baths in Milwaukee where powerful men once met in secret to do powerful things.

On Tuesday night, the Waukesha Common Council may decide whether to OK tearing down a key part of the last intact resort from Waukesha’s springs era. It’s a controversial proposal. But before we get into that, let's share the story of how Waukesha became known as a 'Spring City.'

Have you ever noticed a place name on your Google Maps or GPS, and thought, "I wonder what that is?"

Every summer on Father’s Day weekend, a huge festival used to take place in West Allis. It was called “West Allis Western Days.” It started in 1964 and saw its heyday in the '80s and '90s. Its signature event was an elaborate parade that included up to 500 horses and dozens of marching bands.

Wisconsin has a nickname. You've seen it on license plates: America's Dairyland. And in Milwaukee, you may have heard this moniker: Cream City.

There are three types of people in this world: Those who notice nothing. Those who notice but don’t care to question. And then there are those who ask why. David Wagner is the last one.

Editor's note: This piece was originally published on Feb. 16, 2018.

The 1960s and '70s were a time of great change in the United States. The counterculture was well underway.