Denizen MKE

08/06/2024

Introducing Denizen's Free Spirit decor: Eclectic Brass Candle Holders. And they've never looked so good thanks to photographer

Denizen does decor?
Yes, Queen! We absolutely do!
What is the process?
Let me tell you about it...

Our design process is a bit different than what you're used to. We set a budget and run through your inspo. Denizen provides you with three options built around your vision. We refine - and BAM! You have yourself a designed, cohesive look for your event.

Our decor is only available for events taking place at Denizen MKE. You are never required to work through us. There are so many talented decor providers in Milwaukee - we welcome all of them into our space. Check out some of the talented designers that helped make these photos possible:

(this lady! So talented!)
(a great choice for menus and invitation suites)
&
(did you see those palms?!?)
(plant rentals)
(creative, classy options for tablescaping)

07/25/2024

At Denizen, every detail is chosen to elevate your experience. The Wisconsin Old Fashion is served in our signature Esme Glass... it gently nods to our beaded (and stunning!) chandeliers in the reception space. The stemless martinis give us a fancy art deco flare to mimic the flutes found on our storefront. And yes, we now have glass straws to keep working towards a greener, cleaner event. I know what you're thinking... glass straws? Oh we tested these in all sorts of ways before serving them to our guests. They have been a wonderful way to give one more special touch to our experience. We are looking forward to celebrating with all of our amazing guests and couples in August! Cheers to our last week of July!

07/22/2024

Thank you! I'll just go ahead and say it... We are a little weird here!

Cheetahs in high heels? Yes, please!
Bubblegum photos in the bathrooms? Duh
Massive Wall mural in the middle of our reception space? Oh yeah... we did that.

We're more than just a wedding venue. We're here for all of your events, celebrations, birthdays and retirements. Denizen is the perfect size for events under 100 people. In fact, we are one of the few event venues in Milwaukee focused on hosting small events. Because of this, we've adopted a super flexible, super intimate event planning process that is intentionally meant to help plan small events. Our goal is to have Milwaukee celebrating all of life's moments more often in a more authentic kind of way.

07/18/2024

The benefits of an all-white space?

Aside from the talent of & , need I say more? (But seriously, SWOON! The florals and photography here - 👌

Other talented vendors who helped bring this vision to life:

07/17/2024

Who doesn't love an all-white suit?

📷 .creativephoto
🧥
🪻
💄

07/14/2024

Your bar during events... let's talk about it!

Raise your hand if you are a wine drinker.
Raise your hand if you are a wine drinker and struggle during events because the wine is... lackluster.

Enter Denizen's wine selection. We worked tirelessly finding the right wines. (it was really hard... we were drinking wine for hours...😉) Not only are our wines delicious and true to varietal, they are woman owned, LGTBQIA made, or sustainably made wines.

We have along way to go to our goal of 100% local, woman/minority owned/made or sustainably made beverage options, but we are getting closer every day. That makes us feel good and it should make you feel good, too! In the world we all live in today, our communities and partnerships mean the world to us.

What's your favorite local, women owned or sustainable beverage? Introduce us to some new people with good values and we are 100% in!

07/09/2024

All of the rain has given our patio the chance to really 🌱thrive🌱! These last two months of having the patio open have been so nice. Now that's it's July, we are ready make room for sun! ☀️☀️☀️

Anyone else ready for the rain to go away?


Thank you to for capturing these green and burgundy beauties and our al fresco lounge.
..

07/02/2024

Audrey and Josh will forever have a special place at Denizen. Thank you to the entire team for making their day so special.

Entertainment & 360 Photobooth by Just Face It Photobooths
Appetizers and Buffet by (yum!)
Photography .photography You are so amazing! Keep doing what you do, girl!

06/03/2024

This is the joy I want to see on your face on your wedding day. And hey... there are a lot of reasons to be joyful around here lately! This wall right here... it's gonna be starring in your ceremony and cocktail hour. Did we mention the huge, massive, beautiful outdoor space we're landscaping? We are weeks away... maybe days... from revealing our new patio and al fresco lounge space. We've got palms... we've got trees... and oh yes... finally, finally, we have grass! We can't wait to welcome you all into our outdoor space!

Huge thank you to for giving us these pearly whites on a Monday morning! Shout out to the talented Glenda with .creativephoto for capturing it!

05/29/2024

We're excited about this one! Anthony Duetsch tonight! Check out this sound bite. We will see you tonight for music at 6pm!

05/28/2024

This is your sign to go with a bold, rich color palette when hosting your event at Denizen. When Wisconsin Bride asked me if I wanted to do a shoot for the magazine, the answer was a simple. I am so proud of the team for coming together and creating this tablescape. It's modern, chic and sophisticated. I can't wait to see who takes inspiration from it and brings it to life in a wedding this season!

Vendor Team:
Heather Farr Events

05/22/2024

We're back for another music night! Doors open at 5pm. Music starts at 6pm.

Our band tonight is V Funk bringing some funky tunes and R&B. Our food truck, Lily Bells, will not be joining us tonight BUT! Please stop by our neighbor, Fred's Frozen Custard & Grill to grab a bite before swinging by Denizen for live music and drinks.

We will see you tonight! We have only 3 music nights left. Tonight, May 29th and June 5th. Don't miss our last music events before Washington Park Wednesdays starts in July!

05/12/2024

Neighbors and Music Night supporters!

Music for next Wednesday, May 15th is being rescheduled for June 5th. Landscaping was completed today by Martin Drive's very own Ginkgo Stonescapes! We need some time to get our patio in order and keep on our watering schedule. There will be NO MUSIC this coming Wednesday. Neighbors are invited to join us for Alderman Murphy's Celebration on Tuesday. Doors open at 6. We'll let you check out the new outdoor space!

Music Nights will resume on Wednesday, May 22nd with Lily Bells Fine Dining. Please be advised the lawn area will not be open until June.

Until then, thank you so much for all of the good vibes and energy you're bringing to Denizen on Wednesdays! We will see you on the 22nd for a night of funk with the V Funk Band!

Washington Park Wednesdays
Washington Park Media Center

05/10/2024

Huge thank you to everyone who came out to party for the park! We felt the love last night and so did Washington Park!

05/08/2024

We're ready to Party for the Park 2024!

Please join us tomorrow from 5-8pm for our all ages “Party for the Park” to benefit Washington Park Wednesdays at Milwaukee County Parks!

We invite our neighbors and other art enthusiasts to slide through in person as , Denizen MKE and Artists Working in Education, Inc. co-host as creative small businesses at . Donations will support the return of the Washington Park Wednesdays summer concert series.

“Washington Park Wednesdays is known as one of the best series in the area, but it’s actually much more than that,” says Melissa J Muller Designs, Washington Park Neighbors Board President. “It connects diverse neighborhoods through and at one of the most unique venues in Milwaukee. Your support enriches the community while uplifting local artists, musicians and businesses, promoting equity, and providing free meals to in the community.”

Denizen MKE will host live music with Caley Conway and while a silent auction is active. Food and drinks available for purchase from local vendors indoors and outdoors.

Washington Park Media Center will host a live+livestream with DJs
and , with special artist interview segments with Wes Tank and Manny Vibez and VJ Adam White Ossers. Pop-up bar by our new West Vliet Street neighbor Biersal Tavern. Storycart for sharing voting experiences with C21: Center for 21st Century Studies and Anne Basting. Whiteboard wall drawing by 43rd+Vliet artist Johann Hauser-Ulrich . Livestream available for free on YouTube, Facebook, Twitch and Twitter.

Artists Working in Education will have art projects activating all of our spaces indoors and outdoors!

And a special fashion peak with our talented neighbor JazzyRae' Jewels & Accessories if we are lucky.

"Party for the Park” is a ticketed event kept intentionally affordable for neighbors. Tickets can be purchased online and at the door. Online silent auction bids and donations can be submitted at https://givebutter.com/c/PartyforthePark (link in bio)

05/01/2024

We finally have some good weather for Music Night! Keshena Armon will be entertaining us with some soulful piano tunes tonight.

We have Lily Bells Fine Dining as our food truck in at 6pm. Were trying something new: Make your own bouquet with Linda Laake Flower Cart. She'll have a variety of flowers available for DIY bouquets.

As always, we have our construction paper mural available for kids activity.

We'll see you all this evening. Doors open at 5pm. Music starts at 6pm. The patio will be open tonight, as well.

04/25/2024

Party for the Park on May 8th! We are so excited to continue our work with supporting the community and the park!

Mark your calendars!
Live music.
Food trucks.
You cant miss Couch Talk with Wes Tank

Come support our hidden gem, Washington Park and the 2024 music series!

2 WEEKS TO GO! Party for the Park 2024 on Vliet Street! Get Your Tickets Here: https://givebutter.com/PartyforthePark

ENTERTAINMENT:
At Denizen MKE-
🖋 5pm - Silent Auction Begins
🎷 6pm - Sandwich (Jazz Band)
🎶 7pm - Caley Conway

At Washington Park Media Center:
🎧 5pm - DJ Katie Rose
🛋 5:30pm - Couch Talks with Wes Tank
📢 6:30pm - Manny on The Street (on Vliet)
🎤 7:30pm - Open Jam with Wes Tank

At Artists Working in Education, Inc.:
🎨 Live Art, Family Friendly Creative Activities, & Giveaways

FOOD & DRINK:
🍺 Biersal Tavern
🍛 Lily Bells Fine Dining
🍗 Yadeem's On The Go
🍭 Pete's Pops
🍬 Cottonmouth MKE
🍧 Island Ice Shaved Ice Cups LLC

See you there! 👋

04/24/2024

MUSIC NIGHT with Donna Woodall tonight. Cottonmouth MKE won't be in this evening, however, our neighbors Fred's Frozen Custard & Grill are officially open again! Stop at Fred's and bring snacks and ice cream to Denizen for music.

Hot Box Pizza MKE will have pizzas available from their food truck.

AND we've officially brought in a Moscato for the sweet wine drinkers. We've gotten so many requests!

Don't forget to stop in at Washington Park Media Center later tonight for Blanket Fort Live!

04/03/2024

Tonights the night! 43rd and Vliet kicks off our Live Music and Livestream event series. We have had a few questions over the past week. Hopefully this addresses any you have.

Doors open at 5. Music from 6 to 9. Blanket Fort Live at Washington Park Media Center from 9pm to midnight. Tickets are available to purchase at Denizen or online.

Pizza and cotton candy are available for purchase. You may also bring in your own snacks and outside food. All beverages are provided by Denizen.
Art Mural art project for the kids provided by Artists Working in Education, Inc.

We'll also be collecting feedback and ideas for our vision on Vliet Street and Martin Drive pedestrian/bicycle safety, cleanup efforts and landscaping. We have a few renders provided by Quorum Architects to show you the possibilities we've been dreaming up!

For detailed venue and event information,
please visit the Denizen MKE website!! 🎶
https://www.denizenmke.com/

04/02/2024

03/19/2024

Dreamy, right? captured the mood of this shoot so well proving even an all-white space can lean into a moody vibe. How can you recreate this vibe?

Drapery from @.co is the perfect ceiling install. The moody, swooshing fabric really brings the drama!
Candles, design and furniture from is setting the moody for this neutral toned micro wedding shoot.
set the moodiest of champagne towers. It's a great option for a photo op!
pulled the design together with draped, fabric signs. The invitations pulled in coppers and the drama being set on black.
If you are looking for a modern, artistic florist, truly impresses me every time. The wispy florals really add to the overall vibe.

As always, we're here to help connect you with vendors that match your vision. It can be difficult to know if you are choosing the right vendors. During your tour, you'll receive a full list of caterers and preferred vendors. We can run through the list to find your perfect match!

03/18/2024

All this talk about Spring and our patio has me thinking about lawn games, music and weddings! If you haven't heard, has launched a black and white wedding collection... It might be the perfect touch for our Patio! Cocktail hour can be a bit awkward for your out of town guests. Giving them a way to break the ice sets them up to soak up your event without the pressure of small talk! (cause who really likes small talk?!?!?)

03/12/2024

Music Series: 43rd and Vliet Live Music and Livestream is 3 weeks away! We are so excited to continue the Washington Park Tradition of Wednesday Night Music while we wait for Washington Park Wednesdays to officially launch their 2024 season.

Doors open at 5pm each Wednesday starting in April.
Food Trucks and Dessert vendors will be available for purchase.
Performances begin at 6pm

This is the perfect event to bring the kids, listen to some music and gear up for all of the outdoor music Milwaukee offers throughout the summer. All are welcome. There is no cover. Cash bar and food options are available for purchase. (Please no alcohol carry-ins.)

For our night owls, join the VIP after party at with DJ DripSweat starting at 9pm. (cover charge for VIP event)

Hot Box Pizza MKE




Visit our website for full details and vendor lists. https://www.denizenmke.com/43rdandvliet

02/27/2024

We're going to talk about something real over here. I'll be honest, a lot of the images you see on Pinterest or on your Instagram feed are not Realistic expectations for your day. Think of these images like the designer shoes you'd love to get. They are your inspiration to create from. So keep pinning, liking amd bookmarking... I've got some tips for you to make your wedding day live up to the dream.

1. Choose a few high impact pieces. Maybe it's flowers. Great. In order to make the most of your budget, set floral centerpieces on half of your tables. Remaining tables can be simple and clean with your other tables taking the show.

2. Go intimate for your ceremony and dinner. Invite friends and co workers for late night and dancing. Yes, this is a budgeting tip, but also, having more guests come later in the day adds a jump start to the night right when we want people on the dance floor.

3. If you haven't heard me say it before, go with an upgraded linen. Colored or patterned linens pack a punch! You only need a few to transform a space.

4. Reuse your decor! Pull ceremony pieces like your arch, candles, and aisle markers into your reception. Ceremonies are so short these days. Design and pin while keeping in mind how you can reuse those pieces later in the day.

5. Simple, classic and timeless pieces are always stunning. Don't try to fill a table if it doesn't make sense. Simple can be just as beautiful. Choose each item with intention and meaning.

Your event should bring you joy. Not stress or comparison. And if you find yourself lost in all of the pretty pins, just unplug, step back and take some time to consider how you can adjust your plan to bring you back to a feel good space.

Roost Photography
- seriously, talk about a statement piece with the balloon arch she created for our Grand Opening!

02/26/2024

This romantic, moody shoot got me thinking about the challenges micro weddings and small events must face in a world of 200+ capacity venues. For this setup, a gorgeous table by Beautifully Layered Rentals was set for about 20. We had a ceremony on the other side of the room and plenty of space for dancing and cocktail hour. The space was gorgeous. It never felt empty. And, let's be honest, we all want all 👏of 👏the 👏things for every one of our celebrations... so why not invite your closest family and friends to enjoy a party in style?

When planning a layout for your event, think about the whole picture starting with what is most important.
1. How many tables do I need to seat my guests?
2. What display or extra tables do I need? Gifts? Buffet? DJ? Photobooth? Dessert?
3. Now where do I need to fill space or cut back?

Work with your venue or planner to determine the best options. And choose team to build your dream tablescape like this talented group of women!

Draping: .co
Signage and Stationary: Multifaceted Creative
Florist:
Champagne Tower:
Venue: Denizen MKE
Photographers:
Videographer:
Linens:
Decor and Design:

02/21/2024

Meet the team! I am shook with the talent that lives within these walls. Each member of the fit into the bigger goal. Not only do we curate an intimate and intentional event experience, we are setting out to make some waves in the community and event practices.

Angie brings over a decade of event management experience to the team and a whole lot of heart. She's a fierce mother, a dedicated friend and an important piece of building our best practices.

Kenzie is our mixologist, bar ops extraordinaire! Kenz is here to make sure our bar service is smooth, quick and servin' up tasty craft cocktails!

Michael is the newest member of our team. As I learn more about Michael, he is going to be pivotal in navigating how to make an impact on the neighborhood and create positive changes. I am so thankful he found us!

Kaylie brings even more back of house and operations experience to the team. She's my 'whatever you need, I can do it" person. She has an amazing skill set on event flow, timelines and ex*****on.

Jae brings years of bartending, hiring and talent acquisition to the team. She's also our upbeat, positive force that keeps us all light hearted and maybe even a bit silly sometimes.

We are nearing the end of our first month of operating. I couldn't have asked for a better team to build this space with.

02/20/2024

Behind Denizen's Bar, you will find locally owned spirits, woman owned/made wines, and local beer. What you won't find is taps or draft beverages. When Alma, the owner of introduced me to Nova, this cute little mobile beverage cart, I knew we needed to partner to create a mobile beverage experience on our patio.

Nova offers draft wine, beer, kombucha and aguas frescas right on Denizen's Patio! It's a great addition for cocktail hour at Denizen MKE! Check out Cordial Co's website to find out more. Most beer & wine options fit within your beverage package. Custom options are available. We cannot wait to have Alma & Nova back on our patio.

Speaking of the patio - furniture is ordered and ready for delivery in April! Is anyone else seriously jonesin' for some Summer Patio time?

Photography: Roost Photography

02/13/2024

We are beyond thrilled to be hosting this celebration women! Hosted and curated by over 20 woman owned businesses, this is one you are not going to miss! Food, drinks, amazing atmosphere and Drag. What more could a gal ask for?

Come celebrate International Woman's Day with all of the amazing women in your life.

So tag your besties. Follow the link. Purchase your tickets. Join us on March 8th for one epic party!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lets-talk-womxn-live-out-loud-dinner-tickets-835199272507?aff=ebdsshother

We are thrilled to be a part of the planning for this amazing collective of Women-Owned 👩‍🍳 food businesses right here in Milwaukee. Join us for an evening of food, drinks, photos, music, (b***y) art, raffle, dancing, and more food! 🍱

Sponsorship and VIP tables available 💎

Oh wait. Did I mention a drag show? Did you hear me? DRAG SHOW!!! 💃

Let’s celebrate International Women’s Day together 🎊

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lets-talk-womxn-live-out-loud-dinner-tickets-835199272507 🎟️

Venue & Cash Bar: Denizen MKE

Savory, Sweet, & Vegan Grazing tables by:
Tots On The Street
Charcuter-Me
Outwoken Tea
Delicious Bites
Frannie's Market
Modern Maki

Honeypie Cafe

Palomino Bar
Style Pop Cafe
Sweetly Baked MKE
Full Circle Healing Farm
Buddah Luv
Joy Ice Cream Social
Anomaly Catering
Batter MKE
Cocoa Tree Confectionery
Flour Girl & Flame
and more!

Entertainment by:
RADillustrates Enclave Light and Sound

Graphics by:
Rebel Squid

Let's Talk Womxn Let's Talk Womxn MKE