Greetings,

Last week, my husband, three-year-old daughter, and I visited Milwaukee for the All-Star Game festivities. We are from the Washington, DC metropolitan area, but we flew in to see our dear friends (who live in Shorewood), and go to the Fan Fest, the Home Run Derby, and the All-Star Game together. I just wanted to share some observations with you about our experiences for your information and planning purposes.

The upside: Milwaukee is a lovely, family-friendly city. People were very courteous and friendly — and honest. When my husband accidentally left his wallet in the rental car, two hours later, it was still there (something that would never, ever happen here!) We took our daughter to the Betty Brinn Children's Museum and also to the Milwaukee Public Museum – she loved the butterfly room. I have developed a taste for Sprecher's Diet Root Beer and am exceptionally sad that I cannot find it anywhere out here. Not to mention Kopp's Custard!

The downside: Since there was no parking available at Miller Park, we parked our car at the State Fair Grounds and took a bus to the stadium. It worked fine on the way to the stadium. Unfortunately, the way back from the stadium was a different story. You might recall that there was an incredible, torrential rainstorm that took place soon after the home run derby. Roads flooded. Lots of lightning and thunder. It was not pleasant, to be sure, and certainly, you do not have control over the weather. However, there were not enough busses to take everyone back to the State Fair Grounds parking lot, and there was no shelter. We literally stood in that horrible rainstorm, with lightning all around us, for nearly an hour. Our clothes were soaked. My leather purse/backpack is ruined, as are most of the contents inside, including my wallet and several important papers. My leather sandals are toast. My husband also has to get another wallet, as his is ruined. Our Home Run Derby tickets, which should have been prized collectibles and mementos of the day are also ruined. There was simply no place to go to stay dry and safe. Morever, the drenched crowds became angrier and angrier as time went on, and people were pushing and shoving. It was clearly one of the most unpleasant experiences of my life. Perhaps Milwaukee does not possess the transportation infrastructure to hold a high visibility game like this?

I was also surprised at the lack of security at Miller Park. Frankly, the people working the gates hardly looked at us. I actually offered to open my purse/backpack to the security guard, and he waved me away. Perhaps I do not fit the security risk profile (and I am certainly no security risk, to be sure!), but I am more accustomed to security like we have it here in Washington, DC. Mercifully, all went well at the game, but if you are to have world-class events in Milwaukee, then these times we live in require security that is up to snuff. I saw some Milwaukee Sheriff's Office people walking around, but they were mostly joking with one another and eating. We in DC do not consider that to be serious security. Maybe we are more sensitive to this considering all that has happened here, but certainly it is something you might be more aware of in the future.

Will we return to Milwaukee? I don't know. I am a bit saddened by what has happened. I just hope that if there ever is another big world-class event in Milwaukee that better planning takes place.

Thanks very much for your time and attention.