*Thursday, Jan. 30, Great Lakes Distillery will host a New Label Release and Open House at its Milwaukee location, 616 W. Virginia St. During the free event, attendees will have an opportunity to see the Distillery’s new product labels, meet the Distillery’s owners, sample complimentary cocktails, and learn about recipes and menu suggestions. The event will also feature an Instagram photo contest, drink specials and swag giveaways. The open house will run from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, click here.
*Friday, Jan. 31, the Milwaukee Art Museum will open its new exhibition “Uncommon Folk: Traditions in American Art” for public viewing. The exhibition features a collection of art pieces by folk and self-taught artists from the 1800s and 1900s. These folk artists looked to their communities and cultural traditions for inspiration instead of relying on art historical movements for inspiration. Items on display in the new exhibit include paintings, drawing, sculptures, photographs, textiles and furniture. The exhibit will debut with a gallery talk given by curator Margaret Andera on Friday at 1:30 p.m. The talk will be held in the Lubar Auditorium at the Milwaukee Art Museum, located at 700 N. Art Museum Dr. in Milwaukee, and is free with museum admission. For more information, visit www.mam.org.
*Friday, Jan. 31, the Moth and Wisconsin Public Radio will team up to host a GrandSLAM championship at Turner Hall. The Moth is a nonprofit organization that promotes the art of storytelling. The championship will feature 10 Moth StorySLAM winners from the past year who specialize in storytelling. A group of guest judges will select one winner. The Moth GandSLAM championship will run from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Turner Hall, located at 1034 N. 4th St. in Milwaukee. Admission costs $20. To purchase tickets, click here.
*Saturday, Feb. 1, the Great Lakes Pet Expo will come to the Wisconsin State Fair Grounds. In addition to featuring hundreds of animals available for adoption, the pet lovers event will include 300 exhibits, live entertainment and an interactive reptile education zone. The event will also include a Puppy Bowl as well as speed dating rounds for attendees and animals up for adoption. And in celebration of the expo’s 10th anniversary, a tribute to members of the U.S. Armed Forces will showcase the stories of men and women who have healed through the tragedies of war with the help of pets. The family-friendly expo will begin at 10 a.m. on fair grounds, located at 640 S. 84th St. in West Allis. Cost is $6 for adults. Admission is free for veterans, military personnel with I.D. and children under age 12. All event proceeds will benefit homeless veterans, companion animals and their families throughout the state. For more information, visit www.petexpomilwaukee.com.
