Be MKE: Comet Cafe reopened, Post Malone is (finally!) coming here and a Giannis movie

Who we are. Where we go. What we need to know.

Happy (early) Father's Day to all you dads out there, especially mine.

He's selfless and kind; is known for talking to everyone he encounters — i.e. in elevators, on walks ... wherever, really; and always has a classic dad joke in the arsenal. The list of things I look up to him for could go on and on. 

Know who recently became a dad? Post Malone. 

Why in the world am I bringing up Posty? It was announced this week that he's going to be playing Milwaukee for the first time in September. 

And I don't think I could be more excited, ecstatic, elated. All of the happy words.

No, I'm not exaggerating. I've been waiting a longgg time for this. 

He'll be bringing his "Twelve Carat Tour" to Fiserv Forum on Sept. 15 with special guest Roddy Ricch. 

Let’s talk business

Renters, how we doing? Dwellsy, an online listing service for rental housing, said the median asking rent in Milwaukee went up 18.3% in May compared with May 2021. The culprit? Inflation. The biggest driver of the increase was for apartments, whose median asking price was up 21% over last year. But the median rent asking prices here are actually below the national average, which has seen a 26% increase from last year, according to Dwellsy. 

Iron Horse Hotel has filed to reorganize its finances under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The largest unsecured debt of its owner, Rider Hotel LLC, is to the U.S. Small Business Administration for a $2 million COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan. The Chapter 11 filing doesn't mean the Iron Horse is shutting down, said Tim Dixon, Rider Hotel president. The initial filing says Rider Hotel has estimated liabilities ranging from $10 million to $50 million. It provides the same range for the hotel's estimated assets. Rider Hotel's filing comes as it faces a separate foreclosure suit.

Fans of the popular PufferFish tiki bar will for shore beach happy about this (Couldn't resist the tropical puns). Come June 23, PufferFish will start a four-month residency, Thursday to Sunday on the rooftop of Hotel Metro, 411 E. Mason St. The bar will feature updated classic drinks, like the Zombie, as well as new ones, such as Ocean Eyes, a riff on the Vicious Virgin No. 2. Hotel Metro will prepare tropical-ish small plates, including banh mi sliders and sweet-soy chicken kebabs. Pufferfish initially popped up behind Bay View's Lost Whale and was a pandemic lifesaver for the bar.

Out and about 

On Sunday, Milwaukee and beyond will once again celebrate Juneteenth Day. It commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union Army soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, with the news that all slaves were free, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Here's what to know about the day, including where to celebrate in our area this year.  

If you've been reading this for a while, you know one of my favorite times of the year is super close to being here. Summerfest is coming up on June 23-25, June 30-July 2 and July 7-9. That's right, it kicks off next week. Here's a guide on what you need to know before heading to the Big Gig, from how to get tickets to where to park.

The Smile is touring North America for the first time this fall and will be stopping at the Riverside Theater on Nov. 29. Who are they, you ask? A spinoff group featuring Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke, the band's lead guitarist and keyboardist Jonny Greenwood, and Sons of Kemet drummer Tom Skinner. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at the Pabst Theater box office (144 E. Wells St.) and through pabsttheater.org. 

Don’t go hangry

The winner of this year's James Beard Award for best chef in the Midwest is ... Dane Baldwin, the chef-owner of the Diplomat, 815 E. Brady St., on the lower east side. Baldwin was chosen over two other Milwaukee finalists and three chefs from Minneapolis. "I know there's a lot of people tipping their hat to me" and thinking, "he was worth investing into," Baldwin told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "That's not lost on me." Baldwin refers to his food as "just fancy enough" — dishes often rooted in comfort or family foods, but presented in a modern way.

Comet Cafe bacon-wrapped meatloaf, you have been dearly missed. After a nearly two-year hiatus, the east side institution, 1947 N. Farwell Ave., has reopened under new management. There are some new offerings, including vegan chili cheese fries and a fried chicken sandwich, as well as a children's menu. The restaurant is operating with shorter hours of business for now and a briefer menu. Previously owned by Mojofuco Restaurants, Comet is now owned by Pie Inc., which also operates HoneyPie Cafe and SmallPie in Bay View, among other spots.

Meat & Co. — a sibling to Crevensten's Hot Wax at Crossroads Collective — has opened at Zocalo Food Truck Park in Walker's Point. It serves up sandwiches, such as, the Tomato Sandwich with marinated heirloom tomatoes; Veg & Co, which features panko-crusted eggplant; griddled mortadella, aka the Lunch Box; the Cuban; and more. A la carte sides include basil latkes, cucumber and onion salad, and roasted potatoes that are crisped to order and drizzled with smoky mayo.

Here are the talkers

"Rise," the new movie about Giannis, Thanasis, Kostas and Alex Antetokounmpo and their journey to global fame in the NBA, will debut on the Disney+ streaming service on June 24. 

Be MKE, 

Hannah 

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To see what I'm up to around the city, follow me on Instagram @hannahhopekirby. Always keeping it pretty profesh over on Twitter @hannahhopekirby. Be MKE love or comments can be sent to hannah.kirby@jrn.com.