Go Downtown Kenosha

Brewery Tours
2024-12-21 12:00 - 14:00, 2024-12-28 12:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Public Brewing Company, 58th Street, Kenosha, Wisconsin, 53140, United States
We are excited to announce we are now offering brewery tours every Saturday at 12pm and 2pm. Thanks to our friends at Lakefront Brewery for their help and inspiration for us to create our own tour here in Kenosha, we are ready and eager to teach you about beer and entertain you while you learn!
Our brewery tours last approximately 45 minutes and are geared towards adults. Kids and families are welcome on the tour but at their own discretion. Kids 12 and under do not require a ticket but must remain next to their family at all tour stops. All patrons on premise must be 21+ with valid, unexpired ID. Anyone under 21 must always be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Each tour will be limited to 20 people. Tour patrons will receive 4 drink tokens (good for beer and N/A beverages). We do highly recommend you grab a beer before the tour because we prefer you drink on our tour! You will also receive a souvenir pint glass to take home at the end of the tour.
Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled tour, tours leave promptly on time.
Head on over to our website now to buy tickets.
Hope to see you soon!

Morning Tai Chi on the Mezzanine – Winter Session I
2024-12-23 09:00 - 10:00 | Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 1st Avenue, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Enjoy the sunshine over the lake as you practice the gentle movements of Tai Chi from the warmth of the museum’s mezzanine. Tai Chi is a slow moving mind and body exercise, patterned after movements in nature. This class will cover some of the fundamental principles and exercises of Tai Chi, focusing on balance, breathing, and movement, while relaxing the body and mind. No experience necessary, wear comfortable clothing for low impact exercise.

THE DEVIL THREE TIMES: Rickey Fayne in conversation with Cynthia Pelayo
2025-05-22 18:00 - 20:00 | Kenosha Public Library Southwest, 7979 38th ave, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
“A debut of enormous ambition” spanning eight generations of a Black family in West Tennessee as they are repeatedly visited by the Devil (Nathan Harris, New York Times bestselling author of The Sweetness of Water)
Join us at Southwest Library on May 22nd to hear from debut novelist Rickey Fayne about his novel, “The Devil Three Times”! Rickey will be discussing his book with Chicago author Cynthia Pelayo (“Vanishing Daughters”), answering questions from the audience, and signing books!
This event is free but you can guarantee your seat by registering at the button below and purchasing a copy of “The Devil Three Times” from Blue House Books.
About “The Devil Three Times”:
Yetunde awakens aboard a slave ship en route to the United States with the spirit of her dead sister as her only companion. Desperate to survive the hell that awaits her at their destination, Yetunde finds help in an unexpected form—the Devil himself. The Devil, seeking a way to reenter the pearly gates of heaven, decides to prove himself to an indifferent God by protecting Yetunde and granting her a piece of his supernatural power. In return, Yetunde makes an incredible sacrifice.
Their bargain extends far beyond Yetunde’s mortal lifespan. Over the next 175 years, the Devil visits Yetunde’s descendants in their darkest hour of need: Lucille, a conjure woman; Asa, who passes for white; Louis and Virgil, who risk becoming a twentieth-century Cain and Abel; Cassandra, who speaks to the dead; James, who struggles to make sense of the past while fighting to keep his family together; and many others. The Devil offers each of them his own version of salvation, all the while wondering: can he save himself, too?
Steeped in the spiritual traditions and oral history of the Black diaspora, “The Devil Three Times” is a baptism by fire and water, heralding a new voice in American fiction.
About the Rickey Fayne:
Rickey Fayne is a fiction writer from rural West Tennessee whose work has appeared in American Short Fiction, Guernica, The Sewanee Review, and The Kenyon Review, among other magazines. He holds an MA in English from Northwestern University and an MFA in Fiction from the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas. His writing embodies his Black, Southern upbringing in order to reimagine and honor his ancestors’ experiences.
About Cynthia Pelayo:
Cynthia Pelayo is a Bram Stoker Award winning and International Latino Book Award winning author and poet. Pelayo writes fairy tales that blend genre and explore concepts of grief, mourning, and cycles of violence.
She is the author of “Loteria”, “Poems of My Night”, “Into the Forest and All the Way Through”, “Children of Chicago”, “Crime Scene”, “The Shoemaker’s Magician”, “Forgotten Sisters”, as well as dozens of standalone short stories and poems.

Stories & Sleuthing: Murdle Jr. Activity Night!
2025-06-08 16:30 - 18:00 | Blue House Books, 5915 6th Avenue A, Kenosha, WI, 53142, United States
Calling all junior detectives! Put on your thinking caps and join us at Blue House Books on June 8th at 4:30 p.m. for a special Murdle Jr Activity Night! The event will be filled with activities, games, and the opportunity to win prizes! Each child will also get an official Detective Club membership card.
Each ticket includes one copy of Sleuths on the Loose and entry into the event. This event is for kids aged 8-12. Purchase the two accompanying puzzle books and get $5 off during the event.
There are only a limited amount of spots, and these events tend to sell out quickly, so purchase your ticket today before they’re gone!
Tickets:
Ticket includes one copy of Sleuths on the Loose and entry for up to two kids. Please include in the order comments how many kids will be attending.
About the Book:
Inspired by the global phenomenon of the Murdle puzzle books comes the first novel in a new thrilling mystery series, for fans of Mr. Lemoncello’s Library and The Swifts.
It’s a cloudy day on the Sacred Kidney playground, but Jake likes it that way—dark and uncertain. For a junior detective like Jake, standing up to bad guys is a piece of cake. After all, she’s the only detective at Sacred Kidney Elementary with a hard-earned badge to her name. But just as Jake and her sidekick Sterling prepare to face off against the biggest bully in school, there’s a scream from inside the library.
The kids are sure they heard Miss Saffron cry out, but when they arrive at the scene of the crime, the library is how it’s always been: filled with books, but no Miss Saffron to be found! None of the adults still there after school are talking, but Jake, Sterling, and Brick the bully are determined to find out what happened. This unlikely trio pinky promises to solve…the crime at Sacred Kidney!
The second Murdle Jr. puzzle book Ready, Set, Solve! is a companion for this novel, with some Easter egg puzzles to solve between the pairing of books, for readers with the keenest of eyes!
About the Author:
G. T. Karber is the bestselling author of Murdle, a murder-mystery logic puzzle book series. He has produced dozens of live interactive mysteries in the Los Angeles area, where he lives with his partner Dani Messerschmidt and their two cats. Fun fact: G. T. Karber was actually once a child himself, and in fact, he was actually a “Junior”!

BEST BUDS: A Kids' Botanical Event
2025-07-19 16:30 - 18:30 | Blue House Books, 5915 6th Avenue A, Kenosha, WI, 53142, United States
Calling all kids who like to get their hands dirty, join us on Saturday, July 19th from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. for a fun-filled kids botanical event! The event includes story time with author Becky Scharnhorst and a plant from Equinox Botanical Boutique! The kids will even get to decorate their own pot and plant their new “best bud” themself with help from Maria, owner of Equinox!
This event is ticketed and will most likely sell out fast, so be sure to grab your ticket ASAP! Check out the details and grab your ticket here: https://www.blue-house-books.com/events/2296820250719
About BEST BUDS:
Friendship comes naturally to a boy who moves to town and instantly befriends a variety of plants in this heartwarming and funny picture book for fans of Strictly No Elephants and When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree.
When Spencer moves to a new town, his mom is worried he may have a hard time making friends. But it’s easy! First, Spencer meets Fred, who is an excellent listener. Then there’s Dottie, who’s a bit wild, and Eugene, who’s a jokester. The only thing is, Fred, Dottie, and Eugene are all…plants.
While the adults in Spencer’s life question whether he might want friends he doesn’t have to water, Spencer knows that friendship can blossom in the most unexpected places.
About BECKY SCHARNHORST:
Becky grew up in Northeast Wisconsin and spent most of her childhood playing in lakes and reading books. Shortly after graduating from Luther College, Becky spent a year working as a children’s bookseller at Barnes & Noble and soon discovered she enjoyed reading picture books more than anything else. Much, much more.
Now Becky spends her days writing children’s books and working at her local library. She is the author of “My School Stinks” (2021), “This Field Trip Stinks” (2022), and “How to Get Your Octopus to School” (2023). When she’s not reading or writing, Becky can be found hiking through the woods, baking something sweet, or thinking happy thoughts. She currently lives in Central Wisconsin with her husband and two kids.

event cost: $35 & $50
graphics: attached
website link: https://www.blue-house-books.com/events/2296820250719
facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1009615164488549?active_tab=about

Portside Catering and Sugah n' Spices Baking Class
2025-08-03 14:00 - 16:00 | Portside Catering Wisconsin, 5124 6th Avenue, Kenosha, 53140, United States
Kids are invited to Portside’s Kitchen to bake back to school cookies with Jayla from Sugah n’ Spices!! Parents are welcome to stay as well!

Downtown Clean Up - Sept. 13th! LET'S GO!!!!!!!
2025-09-13 08:30 - 10:00 | Sallese & Co., 709 56th Street, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
Join Us for the September Go Downtown Kenosha Clean-Up!The Lakeshore Business Improvement District, in collaboration with Ktown Connects Podcast & Sallese & Co. invite you to help keep our downtown beautiful!Saturday, September 13th meet outside Sallese & Co. (709 56th Street) Clean up starts at 9 AM – 10 AM but…Ktown Connects & Sallese & Co. will be there early at 8:30 AM with coffee, treats, goodie bags, giveaways and more! This will be a party of a clean up! So everyone who shows up will be entered into a drawing to win a gift basket full of Kenosha swag, local gift cards and more!!! We will also be giving away some FREE food & drink tickets for “Franks Diner Frolic at Franks 99th Anniversary Block Party” that is also the same day from 12- 7pm. Stay tuned for details………We’ll provide gloves, garbage pickers, and bags. Come ready to make a difference and clean up downtown Kenosha! Volunteers must be 18 or older, or accompanied by an adult who will stay for the entire event.Please feel free to register here so we can have a head count on snacks & supplies to bring https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Y3Q89GRNext Downtown cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, October 11th at Blue House Books time TBAGot questions? Reach out to Donny at donny@visitkenosha.com.Let’s team up and clean up! YAY!!!!

Fall Into Fun at Alpaca Arts HYK Little Yogi’s
2025-09-20 09:30 - 23:00 | Alpaca Arts, 4326 7th Ave,, Kenosha, WI, 53140, United States
🍁 Fall Into Fun at Alpaca Arts! 🎨🧘‍♂️
Celebrate the season with a creative and calming morning just for kids—where movement, mindfulness, and imagination come together!
✨ Dana will gently guide your little ones through:
🌬️ Breathing exercises
🧘‍♀️ A playful fall-inspired yoga flow
🧘‍♂️ A calming meditation to wind down
🎨 Followed by a hands-on art activity—each child will choose and glaze their own Fall-themed ceramic piece to take home!
📅 Date: Saturday, September 20th
🕘 Time: 9:30–11:00 AM
📍 Location: Alpaca Arts
👧🧒 Ages: 3–12
💲 Cost: $25 per child
👯‍♀️ Sibling Discount: Save $5 on each additional child
🎟️ Reserve Your Spot Today:
➡️ Venmo: jenna-martin-01
➡️ Zelle: 262-412-0004
📞 Or call/text the studio to register: 262-412-0004
✨ Spots are limited—early booking is encouraged!
LOCATION: ALPACA ART 🎨
4326 7th Ave, Kenosha, WI 53140

Hiroya Tsukamoto In Concert Benefitting White Lilac
2025-10-06 08:00 - 17:00 | Olafson & Porter Vintage Goods, 5000 7th Aveune, Kenosha, 53140, United States
Acclaimed, one-of-a-kind composer, guitarist and singer-songwriter from Kyoto, Japan. Performing a White Lilac show at Olafson & Porter.
Date and time

Sunday, November 9 · 6 – 8pm CST

Location Olafson & Porter Vintage Goods

5000 7th Avenue Kenosha, WI 53140
Tsukamoto brings a blend of masterful fingerstyle guitar and evocative storytelling that transcends cultural barriers. His artistry, honed at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, has been celebrated on renowned stages like the Blue Note in NYC and the United Nations, and lauded for its “delicate, fluid, and beautifully detailed” style by Acoustic Guitar magazine.
Tsukamoto’s concerts are not just musical events; they are immersive experiences that weave lyrical narratives with intricate melodies. Recognized for his soulful performances that create an orchestra at his fingertips, he invites audiences into his world of musical exploration and emotional expression. This is a rare opportunity to witness a performer who has been celebrated for his ability to take listeners on an “impressionistic journey” (Boston Herald). Enchanting music that promises to resonate long after the final note is played.
“…chops, passion and warmth. Zealously recommended!” –Jazz Review.com
“HiroyaTsukamoto takes us to an impressionistic journey ” -Boston Herald
“The fingerpicking is delicate, fluid, and beautifully detailed” –Acoustic Guitar Magazine

Cocktail Class at Élan Events Venue
2025-10-24 19:00 - 22:00 | Elan Event Venue, 720 58th Street, Kenosha, 53140, United States
HAPPY OCTOBER!
If you missed our last cocktail class, get ready for this one!
Join us for an unforgettable cocktail experience where you’ll do more than just sip—you’ll create! Learn the art of custom cocktail making while uncovering the fascinating history behind your favorite spirits.
Expect: Hands-on cocktail crafting A splash of history with every pour Great vibes & lively atmosphere A chance to mingle with fellow cocktail lovers Games & Prizes Snacks & Bites Included
Get Ready For Our Spook Season Themed Drinks!
Limited space of 15 people per class!
Please use the links below or in our bio to secure your ticket today!
Ticket for 1 person- https://square.link/u/cYcjE7x7?src=sheet

Portside + Ono Sushi Class
2025-10-27 17:00 - 19:00 | Portside Catering Wisconsin, 5124 6th Avenue, Kenosha, 53140, United States
Get ready to roll up your sleeves and dive into the world of sushi-making with Chef Alex Bee from Ono!

BIRDS OF THE GREAT LAKES: Dexter Patterson in Kenosha!
2025-10-30 18:30 - 20:30 | Blue House Books, 5915 6th Avenue A, Kenosha, WI, 53142, United States
Calling all birding fans, enthusiasts, and beginners! Dexter Patterson, co-founder of Wisconsin’s BIPOC Birding Club, will be in Kenosha to discuss his new book, “Birds of the Great Lakes”, the perfect guide for identifying birds in the Midwest!
Join Dexter on Thursday, October 30th, at Blue House Books at 6:30 p.m. where he will be discussing his book and all things birding with Rick Fare, Education Chair for Hoy Audubon Society of Kenosha and Racine, answering questions from the audience, and signing books!
This event requires a $5 reservation deposit. Get all the details here: https://www.blue-house-books.com/events/3436920251030
About BIRDS OF THE GREAT LAKES:
The Great Lakes region is teeming with scores of beautiful birds, and the Birds of the Great Lakes will help you find them. This easy-to-use book will help you identify more than 100 commonly seen birds that help make the Great Lakes the natural wonders that they are.
An emphasis on best practices and habitat sustainability helps empower conservation and ensure that birding around our most precious resources will be possible for years to come. Perfect for budding and experienced birders alike, this sleek and compact guide is the ideal travel companion for every trip to the region.
About DEXTER PATTERSON:
Dexter Patterson is the co-founder of the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, an organization dedicated to making birding more accessible and inclusive for people of color. In addition, he is the CEO of operation Bird Joy, a venture aimed at spreading joy and encouraging people to enjoy the wonders of bird watching. He has been featured in several prominent birding publications, including “Birds & Blooms”, “Sierra Club”, and National Audubon magazines.
About RICK FARE:
Rick Fare has been a birder for over 40 years. He was the past President and current Education Chair for Hoy Audubon Society of Kenosha and Racine. He was the recipient of the Bronze Passenger Pigeon Award from the WI Society for Ornithology for having made outstanding contributions to promote the field of Ornithology, and the recipient of the Merit Award from the Bluebird Restoration Association of WI for contributing to the study and propagation of bluebirds.

Holiday Decor Workshop with Howland Flowers
2025-12-02 17:00 - 19:00 | Portside Catering Wisconsin, 5124 6th Avenue, Kenosha, 53140, United States
Join us for a fun workshop with Howland Flowers to learn how to create beautiful holiday decorations!

FIREPROOF: Curtis Duffy in conversation with James Schend
2025-12-03 19:00 - 21:00 | Kemper Center Inc., 6501 3rd Avenue, Kenosha, WI, 53143, United States
“Curtis Duffy’s story is one of tragedy and triumph, the art of perfection and perfecting the art, and what it means to be one of the country’s best chefs. His journey is deeply personal, yet universally resonant.” – Grant Achatz, The Alinea Group
Join world-renowned Chef Curtis Duffy at Kemper Center on Wednesday, December 3rd, at 7 p.m. as he discusses his new book, “Fireproof: Memoir of a Chef”. Chef Duffy will be talking about his book with Kenosha native and former editor of “Taste of Home”, James Schend. This is sure to be a one-of-a-kind experience for foodies, chefs, and memoir enthusiasts. Get your ticket today!
This event is ticketed, check out the details and grab your ticket here: https://www.blue–house–books.com/events/3661220251203
Please note that previously purchased copies of “Fireproof” will not be allowed into the event without a Blue House Books receipt.
About FIREPROOF: MEMOIR OF A CHEF:
With rare intensity and candor, world-renowned, Michelin-starred Chef Curtis Duffy shares his epic journey from child of an outlaw biker father to famed culinary iconoclast. Fans of no holds-barred stories such as Motley Crue’s The Dirt, memoirs by celebrity chefs, and brutally honest personal memoirs will love this raw and inspiring true story.
“Chef Curtis Duffy’s Fireproof is like Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential meets Sons of Anarchy.” —Peter Blauner, New York Times bestselling author of “The Intruder”.
“Fireproof” charts Chef Curtis Duffy’s rise in spite of trauma, to being mentored by and recognized among the world’s top chefs. Amid childhood chaos in rural Ohio, a young Duffy first found refuge in Home Ec class, then at one of Columbus’s best restaurants, where he honed his skills. His passion ignited, Duffy was dead set on leaving Ohio and breaking the Duffy family curse.
But the tragic deaths of his parents jeopardized his promising trajectories. Summoning extraordinary fortitude, Duffy ate pain, graduated culinary school, and moved to Chicago to work in Chef Charlie Trotter’s kitchen—a hotbed of talent that produced prominent alumni such as Grant Achatz, Graham Elliot, and Homaro Cantu. Inspired by stellar peers and staging for Thomas Keller at the French Laundry, Duffy’s drive only grew.
His meteoric rise would cost him a marriage—the price of ambition, focus, and Grace restaurant. Grace earned three Michelin stars four years in a row, solidifying Duffy’s place as one of the world’s greatest culinary artists. But in a heartbreaking act of defiance, Duffy walked out after disputes with Grace’s owner.
Unstoppable, Duffy created Ever restaurant—a launch nearly derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Duffy persisted where many others would have resigned their craft, and Ever earned two Michelin stars from 2021-2024. Duffy was ranked one of the “50 Most Powerful People in American Fine Dining” in 2024 by the Robb Report.
About CURTIS DUFFY:
World-renowned, James Beard Award-winning, Michelin-starred chef Curtis Duffy was raised in Ohio. Duffy moved to Chicago to work for legendary chef Charlie Trotter before becoming chef de cuisine at Alinea. As head chef at Avenues, Duffy earned two Michelin stars. Duffy later opened Grace restaurant, earning three Michelin stars four years in a row. Duffy has since opened the Michelin-starred restaurant, Ever, and the After lounge. Netflix released “For Grace”—a documentary about Duffy creating Grace, the tragic loss of his parents, and becoming a critically acclaimed chef. Duffy and Ever restaurant has been featured heavily in Hulu’s hit series, “The Bear”.
Duffy volunteers for Chicago’s Banchet Awards, the Grand Chef’s Gala, and sits on the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts advisory board, where a $25,000 scholarship in his name is awarded. Duffy lives between Chicago and Miami with his wife, Jennifer Duffy, and their children. “Fireproof: Memoir of a Chef” is his first book.
About JAMES SCHEND:
After a delicious decade at “Taste of Home”, James hung up his editor’s hat for a well-deserved retirement, bringing his culinary adventures full circle right back to Kenosha! His journey with “Taste of Home” began as a food editor, where he quickly became a familiar face in the Test Kitchen. Through the years, he moved up the ranks, ultimately reaching the pinnacle as the editor of “Taste of Home”. In this role, he had the privilege of leading the culinary editorial teams, orchestrating major recipe contests, and steering the direction of “Taste of Home’s” food content.
This thrilling ride is built on a career that started after he left Kenosha to pursue a culinary degree and exciting jobs across the US. His experience included serving as Content Director at the Williams-Sonoma corporate office in San Francisco and working as a food editor and culinary specialist at “Southern Living” in Birmingham, Alabama. And now the aprons are off, but James’s passion for exceptional cuisine is stronger than ever!
While his professional kitchen days are behind him, his global quest for incredible flavors has just begun. He’s excited to explore the world’s culinary landscapes, all while enjoying the vibrant community and familiar comforts of his hometown.

Meet & Greet with Nicole Hewitt
2025-12-06 11:00 - 14:00 | Blue House Books, 5915 6th Avenue A, Kenosha, WI, 53142, United States
Combining the gentleness of Hayao Miyazaki, the wintry wonderland of “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe”, and the whimsicality of Newbery winner, “The Girl Who Drank the Moon”, Nicole M. Hewitt’s debut middle-grade novel, “The Song of Orphan’s Garden”, is an enchanting fantasy tale with all the makings of a new classic.
Join Nicole at Blue House Books on Saturday, December 6th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nicole will be chatting with readers and signing books, so stop by anytime during the event to meet this Midwest author!
About THE SONG OF ORPHAN’S GARDEN:
In an arctic world that’s getting colder every day, Lyriana’s only hope of survival is to get her little brother Zave and herself to the fabled Orphan’s Garden. It’s rumored to be the one place in the world not controlled by deadly Winter Spirits or ruled by the tyrant Giant king. In Orphan’s Garden, healing trees will melt away Winter’s pains, and Lyriana and Zave can live safely in the warmth of Spring. If the garden exists, they must find it. They won’t live much longer without it.
Brob, a Giant boy, also needs sanctuary. When the Giant king banishes his family to the Winter Blight, it’s a death sentence. Orphan’s Garden is his family’s only hope, and as far as Brob’s concerned, it belongs to him. After all, he was the one who accidentally used an ancient magic to grow the garden years ago. He has no intention of sharing his haven with pesky humans, who will just use up its magic and ruin it.
When it becomes clear that Orphan’s Garden is in danger of being destroyed, Lyriana and Brob are the only ones who can save it—but only if they can put the ages-old battle between Humans and Giants aside and find a way to work together.
About NICOLE M. HEWITT:
Nicole M. Hewitt is a middle grade author living in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, three grown kids, and three overly-enthusiastic pups. She hates to run, but she succeeded in finishing a marathon in 2022. (It was for a good cause!) She enjoys nature but doesn’t see nearly enough of it in Illinois, so her family travels as often as possible. She also loves to sing and can often be heard spontaneously composing incredibly profound songs about the fluffiest members of her family (the dogs, in case you weren’t sure).
Nicole has been a book blogger at Feed Your Fiction Addiction for the past 10 years, where she writes about all the books she loves. She’s a co-rep for SCBWI-IL’s Far North Suburban Network and was a co- mentor for Author Mentor Match Round 8. She was also a homeschool co-op teacher for six years, where she taught writing, theater and more, and currently works part-time as a bookseller. Nicole’s debut middle grade novel in verse, ORPHAN’S SONG, will be released in early 2025. Find out more at NicoleMHewitt.com.
