Bay View's Chill on the Hill

Tuesday night music in Humbolt Park

Milwaukee loves its summertime outdoor music. Last year, Tosa Tonight was a favorite of mine; now I'm trying a new neighborhood on for size.

There's a covered stage in Humbolt Park off Howell Avenue in Bay View. I'd only been there once — for IndiaFest last year. But this time, and for every Tuesday this summer, the park fills up for Chill on the Hill — and boy does it fill up! The weather wasn't even particularly nice last week (surprise: it was cold), so I can only imagine how much the hill must be hoppin' on a true summer night.

Although other people set up tables with buffets of food, my family mostly sprawled out on blankets. Arriving around 5:30, I found us a spot pretty easily — before the hill really filled up. The website says Chill on the Hill starts at 6:00 — but the music didn't start until at least 6:30, maybe even 7:00, so bear that in mind if you go.

Also bear in mind that there's lots of mingling: My dad made a new best friend — the kind that treats you like a human jungle gym.

We saw the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra — which was fun, but not all I had built it up to be. It was actually hard to hear sometimes, and while I'm all for a good patriotic tune, we were holding out for some iconic movie theme music. Crowd pleasers, amiright? No such luck.

Still, of course the music was a great thing, but it's the together-outside-in-summertime that really makes events like Chill on the Hill so worth while. Picnics and friends make summer weeknights feel special — like we're not just working for the weekend. Check out Chill on the Hill's summer 2015 schedule here.