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Kochanski's Concertina Beer Hall, 1920 S. 37th St, is a local landmark and in many ways, everything a classic, Milwaukee neighborhood tavern should be.
Known for years as Art's Concertina Bar, the bar underwent a minor name adjustment -- and a massive cleaning effort -- when Andy Kochanski purchased the venue from Art Altenberg a few years back.
Today, Kochanski still is one of the few places to kick up your heels to live polka music, but don't let the name fool you. Kochanski's is one of the area's best-kept secrets when it comes to live music.
Rockabilly, bluegrass and blues are regular fixtures on the schedule, which features live music every weekend. A DJ spins "retro" tunes -- on vinyl -- every Thursday and there's an open polka jam on Wednesday nights.
If you haven't been, you should check it out.
Menu: Kochanski's offers the best selection of Polish beers in town with 26 bottles and two more on tap. Plus, there are a number of German beers including Bitburger and the usual variety of local favorites, retro and microbrews.
Price: Pretty fair, especially for the imports. No more than you'd spend at a Downtown bar and probably, a little less. Nightly specials -- like $1 off Polish beers on Wednesdays and $2 bottles of retro beers on Thursdays make it an inexpensive night out.
Dress: Any thing is welcome here. If it's polka night, feel free to put on your lederhosen. Rockabilly? Boots are fine, too. Be comfortable.
Parking: There is a lot on the building's north side that fills up quickly. Parking is available on the street, too, but it's a residential neighborhood, so keep it down when you're leaving.
What to wear: Clothes. Seriously ... there's no dress code. And if there's polka music playing, lederhosen -- and other ethnic attire -- is more than welcome.
Don't miss: Truthfully, there really isn't one "must-see" thing about the place; the entire bar -- music, drinks, atmosphere, decor -- is something every Milwaukeean should experience at least once.