Karen Cinpinski

An aspiring writer who loves a great microbrew.

What's Between the Bars:

Between the Bars is a tourism blog that offers descriptive and unique reviews of everything Milwaukee, including restaurants, bars, activities, events, tours, and more! Throw in some news highlights and random musings, and that’s what you’ll find between the bars...

About the Author

A life-long Milwaukee advocate, Karen has lived the majority of her days in the Milwaukee area, taking time to assiduously discover every nook and cranny within the city limits.

As a freelance writer living on Milwaukee’s East Side, Karen has spent the last four years working in various capacities of the advertising, public relations, journalism and marketing fields. Recently, she has honed in on her true passion: Writing. After blogging for VISIT Milwaukee, she now writes for a variety of media outlets, including the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel as a Community Columnist.

Karen openly admits that she fits the stereotypical Milwaukeean – She’s a cheesehead (a Packers and Brewers fanatic), loves dairy products and is a self-proclaimed beer connoisseur. Karen also admits that she has yet to frame her B.A. in Advertising and B.S. in Marketing from Winona State University and hopes to do so before she attends graduate school next year.

As a native of Wisconsin, Karen grew up in a family that holds genuine Midwestern values and family ties – a true sense of rootedness and sticking close together. Through this, she was taught that home is where the heart is, which is why Karen loves Milwaukee and all it has to offer.

Between the Bars Who's Who

Introducing the same people over and over again gets exhausting. So, I've decided to make a little readers' guide to my BTB peeps, ahem, those I regularly name in my blog.

So, please take a moment to get familiar with the Between the Bars “Who’s Who”.

Eric = the man friend
Justin = a decade of best friendship
Rose = friend since middle school
Terry = little sister
Mike = big bro
Lucy = the cat, the terror

Milwaukee Favorites

Bar: Jamo’s (1800 N Arlington Pl.)
Bar Food: Palamino (2491 S Superior Street)
Restaurant: Swig (217 N Broadway)
Ethnic Food: Maharaja (1550 N Farwell Ave.)
Late Night Eats: Pizza Shuttle (1827 N Farwell Ave.)
Brunch: Comet Café (1947 N. Farwell Ave.)
Pizza: Zaffiro’s (1724 N Farwell Ave.)
Microbrewery: Lakefront Brewery (1872 N Commerce Street)
Beer: Lakefront Organic E.S.B. or Milwaukee Ale House Louie’s Demise (Please feel free to send me cases)
Martini: Hi Hat (1701 N Arlington Pl.)
Boutique: Ess Elle Style Studio (1919 E Kenilworth Pl.)
CD Store: Rush-Mor Records (2635 S Kinnickinnic Ave.)
Live Music Venue: The Pabst Theater (144 E. Wells Street)
Movie Theater: Landmark Oriental (2230 N Farwell Ave.)
Festival: Polish Fest
Place to People-Watch: Summerfest
Museum: The Eisner Museum of Advertising & Design (208 N Water Street)
Milwaukee Landmark: Milwaukee Art Museum (700 N Art Museum Drive)
Outdoor Hangout: Oak Leaf Trail