Sweet Milwaukee, bum, bum, bum, good times never seemed so good!  

Hugh Jackman swept through this city like a man who understood something the rest of the world is just beginning to understand. Milwaukee doesn't apologize for itself. It simply is. Gloriously, unapologetically, with frozen custard dripping down your fingers and a fish fry waiting around every corner, the city breathes authenticity, with a side of local pride. 

The actor arrived to premiere his latest work, "Song Sung Blue," at the Oriental Theatre. Based in Milwaukee, the movie follows the true story of a local Neil Diamond tribute band through their highs and lows, their love story and tragedy, and the music that brought them together. In his wake, he left a trail of dairy-based breadcrumbs that any traveler worth their salt, or their cheese curds, should follow. This is not a trip for the faint of heart (or the lactose intolerant). This is Milwaukee at its most essential: cream-rich, beer-cold and warm as the smile of a stranger standing in block-spanning line with you to meet the man, the myth, the legend: Hugh Jackman at Kopp’s on a frigid December afternoon.  

Aw, Cracklin’ Rosie, get on board. We’re gonna ride till there ain’t no more stops to go. Here’s how to Milwaukee like Hugh Jackman. 

The Sweet (Caroline) Beginning: Kopp's Frozen Custard 

Your journey begins not at your hotel, not at some coffee shop, but at Kopp's Frozen Custard. When Hugh Jackman declares a flavor of the day, you listen. The line wrapped around the building, a democracy of desire where everyone waits their turn for what might be the best frozen custard in America. (And yes, custard, not ice cream. Wisconsinites will correct you with the gentle firmness of people who know they're right.) 

While Song Sung Blueberry might not be on the menu for a while, you should order two scoops of the flavor of the day (why stop at one?). But don't stop there. Get a classic butter burger, the kind that makes you understand why Wisconsin is America’s Dairyland. Add bacon. Pile on a side of onion rings or maybe some fries. Really, whatever your cardiologist wouldn't want you to add, now’s the time to live to the absolute max.  

Striking Gold: Landmark Lanes 

Next, descend beneath the Oriental Theatre to find the underground city, Landmark Lanes, the East Side hub where Milwaukee's bowling culture lives and breathes in lanes that have seen decades of birthday parties, first dates and the kind of “regular” Tuesday nights that become the stuff of memory. 

This is old-school bowling: “The Big Lebowski” posters on the wall, rental shoes with character and pitchers of beer poured into plastic cups that sweat in your hand. The pins crack with a sound that feels analog, almost defiant, in our digital age. Bowl badly. Bowl well. It doesn't matter. Strikes and gutters, dude. You're here for the friends, the beer, and the particular Milwaukee magic that happens when you combine a basement, bowling and the laughter as yet another of your balls heads straight for the gutter. 

Fish Fry Friday (or Any Day): Kegel's Inn 

Then point yourself toward Kegel's Inn in West Allis, where over a century of family operation has perfected the art of German comfort. Here, the walls could tell you stories if they weren't too busy holding up beer steins and photographs of Milwaukee's past. If you’re very lucky, you’ll find Charlie Berens slinging old fashioneds to order. It’s the local Haley’s Comet. The odds of catching it are low, but you won’t forgive yourself if you miss it. 

You can’t visit Milwaukee without participating in this sacred Friday tradition (though Kegel's serves it every day). It arrives golden, flaky, with a side of rye bread and coleslaw. It’s the almighty fish fry, and it’s worth every bit of the hype. The potato pancakes alone could make you "Turn On Your Heart Light." But beyond the pescatarian paradise that is Kegel’s well-loved fish fry, their German beer list runs long and cold. The sauerbraten, the schnitzel and the red cabbage slaps, rounding out the menu of German classics. And it’s all served by the restaurant’s fourth-generation owners. 

Pre-Show Drink: Old German Beer Hall 

Hugh isn’t a “Solitary Man,” and we have the feeling you aren’t either. At the heart of “Song Sung Blue” is the notion that some tributes are just as authentic and meaningful as their original counterparts. And no place in Milwaukee knows that better than Old German Beer Hall. Located in the Old World Third Street District, the two-decade-old institution is an ode to Bavarian social life, with authentic Hofbräu München beer flowing from the taps like liquid gold, serving a round of Gemütlichkeit, that cozy togetherness you can feel in your chest, with every brew. 

The tasty dunkels and hefeweizen are an added bonus to the task at hand. It takes skill. It takes power. It takes the nimble accuracy of a true athlete or the blind luck and unbridled confidence of someone who’s had a few. The name of the game is Hammerschlagen, and it is the competition of champions. See if you can drive out-drive the Wolverine himself as you attempt to crush the nail flush with the wooden stump. Your bones might not be made of adamantium, but a few clean swings should earn you bragging rights among your friends. 

The Main Event: Oriental Theatre 

Finally, sated and slightly drowsy with carbohydrates, make your way back to the Oriental Theatre for the evening's film. This 1927 movie palace, with its ornate, East Indian-inspired architecture and craft beer on tap, makes you understand why people used to dress up to go to the movies. 

Whether you see "Song Sung Blue" or whatever is showing on its screens, the Oriental specializes in films you can’t always find at the multiplex. The movies that will restore your faith in cinema as art rather than star-laden content in its seventh sequel or spin-off. The ornate details, the grand organ that rises from the orchestra pit on special occasions, the sense that you're participating in something that matters. This is Milwaukee refusing to let go of the beauty of yesteryear. 

Rest Your Head: The Pfister Hotel 

Collapse, finally, at The Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee's grande dame of hospitality since 1893. The lobby alone features a Victorian art collection that would make some museums jealous. It tells you this city has always understood that comfort and culture aren't mutually exclusive. The rooms blend historic grandeur with modern amenities. Sink into the bed and forget about the world, but not about the Hugh-ge day you’ve just had in Milwaukee. 

In Milwaukee, everybody knows this one: good things, made well and shared generously, never go out of style. 

Sweet Milwaukee, I’d be inclined to explore more in the 414! Plan your stay and map your getaway to see the Good Land through Hugh’s eyes.