if you've lived in Milwaukee for more than a few years you quickly realize that the best time to live in Milwaukee is summer. Winter sucks in Milwaukee. It's cold, ugly, cold, snowy, and nothing is happening. But, summer. Oh, summer is amazing.

I'm going to miss driving along Lincoln Memorial Drive by the lakefront on sunny days listening to Beyonce. Or biking down to Bradford Beach and having a margarita (or 4) at the new snack stand. Or drooling over the cute lifeguards with 6 amazing friends.

Milwaukee is best missed during the winter months. During summer it's best to be enjoying Milwaukee.

It's probably not quite fair to title this post Missing Milwaukee (since I'm still here) but as this is my last week in Milwaukee before I move to New York I've started to get quasi-sentimental.

So in an attempt to honor all that I have come to love - and perhaps loathe - about Milwaukee I will highlight something I will miss once I'm out of the Midwest.

One of the things I will truly miss - as it is one of my only regular habits - is Alterra. I've been getting my morning Americano from Alterra for several years. Many mornings I'd pair it with a delicious Cranberry Pumpkin muffin.

The staff at the Alterra on Humboldt are exactly what you want in a local favorite. Friendly, accommodating, and they remember your order (if you get the same thing every day like me).

As most of them know I am moving (I have been using all of my many, many free drink cards) - I was touched - if maybe a bit cheesy - that they all wished me well and said they'd miss me every morning.

Ok, maybe that's really really cheesy but in a week that's surely going to be tough it was exactly what I needed.

I will miss you too Alterra - staff, coffee, sandwiches and all...