Let’s Talk Womxn Milwaukee is hosting its annual International Women’s Day event on Friday, March 8 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the gorgeous, new, women-owned Milwaukee venue, Denizen, 4227 W. Vliet St.
The event, which intentionally celebrates and supports women-led food and drink establishments, will be held in tandem with similar Let's Talk Womxn events in 14 other markets (from Chicago to Houston), creating a weeklong celebration of women across the U.S.
The Live Out Loud Dinner will feature a grazing table, passed appetizers and delicious bites from 20+woman-owned food businesses. Guests will also enjoy music from DJ Livid, "Booty Portraits" from Rachal A. Duggan of RadIllustrates, a photo booth from Enclave Light & Sound, a drag show, a raffle and more!
Participating businesses include:
- Batter & Mac
- BB Cakes
- Buddah Luv
- Charcuter-Me
- Cocina Filipina
- Delicious Bites
- Denizen MKE
- Flour Girl & Flame
- Frannie’s Market
- Full Circle Healing Farm
- Honeypie Cafe
- Joy Ice Cream Social
- Little Village Play Cafe
- Modern Maki
- Outwoken Tea
- Ready to Roll
- Seven Swans Creperie
- Solful Kitchen
- Style Pop Cafe
- Sweetly Baked
- Tots on the Street
- Vegan Soul MKE
Guest speakers will include Stephanie Melnick, of Melnick & Melnick and founder of She Stands Tall; Lori Fredrich, local author and OnMilwaukee Dining Editor and event sponsor, Visit Milwaukee.
Additional partners include: GM.Creative Photography; Veronica Rose Planning; Rebel Squid(graphics); Floraynthesis (floral); and Windy City Linen.
Check out the recap from last year's event!
Get your tickets!
Past years' events have been sell-outs, so guests are advised to purchase their tickets while they still can.
Tickets for the event are $60 per person and can be purchased online. Each ticket includes food from participating vendors (with vegan and gluten-free options available), along with a cash bar and entertainment. All proceeds from the event will support the participating woman-owned businesses. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
Be sure to follow Let’s Talk Womxn MKE on Instagram for updates, giveaways, events and networking opportunities.
Join the movement
Let’s Talk Womxn MKE is an action-led movement composed of badass Milwaukee womxn-owners in the food and beverage industry. Their goals include demanding what women deserve while creating equity for ALL women-owners in the industry.
The Milwaukee chapter of Let's Talk Womxn is co-hosted by Dana Spandet (Flour Girl & Flame, Everyone’s Ice Cream), Lupe Moreno (Modern Maki, Cocina Filipina), Valeri Lucks (Honeypie, Palomino, Comet, Smallpie) and Liz Joy (Joy Ice Cream Social).
Are you a female business owner in food and beverage who feels passionately about supporting, uplifting and advocating for other businesses and giving back to the community? You are invited to join the movement. Currently, Let’s Talk Womxn is comprised of 40+ local woman-owned businesses. But more are welcome. Your commitment to the organization includes attendance at monthly meetings, currently held either virtually or in person. To find out more or get connected, email ltwmke@gmail.com
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
