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Centrally
located this is the heart of Wisconsin. I
was raised just outside of Oconomowoc, and it is a major
part of why this site exists. It has all the "small town"
flare mixed with access to all you need. There are lush trees and
crystal blue lakes everywhere you go. The downtown area where
my wife and I live is quaint and true to its roots. Cute
shops, bars and dining mixed with people so friendly you want
to punch them! Downtown has changed little since I
was a boy. It is wholesome and rich in spirit, and it is home
to me again after years away. This is a great
town!
*COOLEST FUN FACT ABOUT OCONOMOWOC*  
August 12, 1939:
The world premiere of MGM's The Wizard of Oz was held at
the Strand Theatre in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. It was shown
through September 16, 1939. It should be noted that this is
considered the "official" anniversary date for The Wizard of
Oz.
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On May 5th, 2006, the
Downtown Area launched its new logo. At first I thought it was
a knock off from the Olympics, but then I heard the premise behind
it. Each "O" in the concentric circle represents one of the 5
"O's" in the name of our great city. I like it! The tag
line that will go with the logo ties in as well. It
is..................."OH!"
  
The Kiltie is a perfect example of what is
right about our state. The history of this place goes way back
to around 1946! It was as popular then as it is now. I was
born in 1966 and spent my first birthday
here. Generations of Wisconsinites take the drive all the
way in from Milwaukee just for the food, custard, fun and
of course the high spirited girls that sport cute little 50's
drive-in style outfits.
Much
like the drive-in diners of the 50's, you pull up and choose your
food. The girls take your order and then bring it back on
"hip" little trays that hang from your window. Start your
engine and it is retrieved. The Kiltie is closed in
the off season. We were close to John Barry who owned it for a
long time until his passing several years back. I know it
served as a Christmas Tree store in the off season. I believe
the new owner dates back for many years and was
serving as manager for years before buying it. If anyone at the
Kiltie is reading this, shoot me his name and more info on what you
are doing in the off season!
 
The food is
all good fun and traditional Wisconsin fare. The onion rings,
French fries and deserts though will have you coming back all summer
with addiction issues. On my last trip to Wisconsin a few
months ago, I ate here six times in eight
days!
Kiltie
Drive-In (262) 567-2648
IF ANYONE HAS A PICTURE OF JOHN BARRY,
PLEASE E-MAIL ME, AS I WOULD LIKE TO POST IT
HERE.
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On a random drive
through town, I stumbled on to a great Bike Rally for Breast
Cancer. Tons of great bikers from all over this state and
those surrounding us. I stopped and shot a few picks, and
before you knew it I was eating brats and drinking beer with people
I had never seen before. It is the reason I dig Wisconsin so
much.
Good people with the desire to live happy and be
friendly! You will notice that there is the quint essential circus
tent filled with food, fun and folly. Also note the
willingness to look funny. It is all about the party here and
this was one of hundreds of thousands of events held all across our
great state each year.
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 The hairstyles of the kids in Oconomowoc and Wisconsin,
intrigue me. Look at the Fros! The culture changes around us,
but yet in Wisconsin the styles still linger to the days of
Yor! I love that on any given moment on the radio you can
still hear songs by Night Ranger, REO Speedwagon, Rush, or Pat
Benetar with the same vigored introduction as you got in the 70's
and 80's. I was eating lunch at The Chocolate Factory in
Oconomowoc and saw this group of kids come
in. Dude! I love that the 70's hair has held
firm! Although a trend with this generation, many
Wisconsinites have never given up their mullets
and 70's doos.
Kudos to the squirt in the right
background on this shot.....little ham! 
I am a huge fan of
the afro, so I was stoked to see a kid sporting something close in
the picture here to the right!
If you are trying to get
a grasp on my bantor go rent "Dazed & Confused." It is a movie
about the 70's, that encapulates the feeling of being a kid
back then. (Matthew McConaughey and Ben
Affleck's first roles!) It ranks in my top
10.
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