Kenny's Gin Mill- The hotbed of( and only bar in) Monterey

About 5 miles north of Oconomowoc off of hwy. 67, lies a cute little village not too many Waukesha County residents may be too familiar with. Monterey ( unincorporated) consists of a couple of houses, a shallow millpond with a bridge and dam being rebuilt, the remains of a feedmill and general store, an auto mechanics shop, a cemetary, and a unique little tavern next to an antique shop(  the Monterey Mall, which is open by appointment only. This tavern was once called Louie's( est. 1950's) and it served nothing but Blatz beer for four decades. Louie's reopened in the early 2000's after the original owners death, but struggled and was sold and refurbished. It is now known as Kenny's Gin Mill and it draws many Oconomowoc and Lake Country area residents,( mainly 40+, but there is an occasional group of 20-somethings who drop in) as well as local regulars. Kenny's is a simple bar with a modest beer selection ( but there are imports as well as micros available) so it has expanded beyond Blatz. The only food available is Emil's pizza and chips. There are two dartboards and a jukebox and a couple of machines for amusement. Bar dice is frequently played here as well as horseshoes in the backyard during warm weather months. The decor is appealing to nostalgia buffs with vintage beer signs and antique knick-knacks. There are occasional live bands playing here, outdoor folk music jams where the regulars bring their instruments, and an outdoor canopy to sit around and chat with drinks on warm summer evenings ( dogs welcome!)

So what is the draw about this establishment which is smaller than some living rooms and has the appearance of an Arkansas hillbilly shack on the outside? simple, everyone who patronizes it seems to be friendly, laughter is frequently heard, and the staff is very welcoming, you can always engage in a good conversation about any topic here, and you feel right at home. It is a "come as a stranger, leave as a friend" type of place, like Cheers where everybody will know your name after a couple of visits. Rudeness and fighting is very uncommon here, almost non-existent, and there are no established uninclusive social "cliques". Kenny's is open 7 days a week, even on major holidays. Its' weekday happy hour is busier than most downtown Oconomowoc bars. It is also a great place to watch a Sunday Packer game and enjoy pot luck dishes and apple pie shots after every GB touchdown. Give Kenny's a look, its' worth a visit( if you can find it !)

The Fountain- Live jazz, cozy atmosphere, and great food

When I first visited this bar located on State Street in Madison near Capitol Square, I didn't think too much of it, it was small and simple, although kind of rustic looking. That was only the front bar. I recently discovered there is also a very popular back bar area, where you can enjoy live jazz three nights a week ( music every night except Tues.) performed by some of Madison's most talented local jazz musicians, along with a great food selection featuring all Wisconsin products ( i.e. every type of cheese from the state on mouthwatering burgers, the Cajun bleu cheese really stands out) and all WI. craft beers and microbrews. There is also a delicious Friday night fish fry. The most enjoyable event here is the Sunday evening jazz open jam, where the musicians are graded on their playing abilities. Saturday nights feature a jazz showcase, and Friday there's the Piano Man, a typical fun to listen to lounge singer/player, he does pop standards and oldies, and takes requests. The service is always friendly and the atmosphere warm and cozy and kind of resembles a living room with books on shelves and portraits of Madison in the 1800's. This establishment is well worth a visit, especially on a winter weekend.