Poerio - Kenosha, WI

Kenosha’s story began in the early 1800s with the arrival of settlers from New York State. Its location on Lake Michigan gave early townspeople hope that the city could grow to become a major port city. While not as large as Chicago or Milwaukee, Kenosha did grow and, in the early 20th century, was a major producer of automobiles.

Tourism remains a big industry in Kenosha and many residents live in town part-time, or commute to Chicago and Milwaukee for work. Kenosha features a museum system that includes the Kenosha Public Museum, with a great collection of fine art, and Kenosha Civil War Museum. The city’s Lakeside Players produce live theater for locals to enjoy at the Rhode Center for the Arts. Taste of Wisconsin draws visitors to downtown Kenosha every year for the chance to sample food and drink from Wisconsin vendors, and to enjoy live music.

Poerio may not have a centralized location for food and drink, but several great choices exist in the neighborhood.

Tacos El Rey provides residents of Poerio with classic Mexican dishes of tacos, enchiladas, tostadas and burrito choices that include beef, chicken and a house favorite: sirloin tips. Parents appreciate the free children’s menu of a taco or quesadilla served with rice and beans, available for limited hours Tuesday through Thursday.

For Italian fare, Casa Capri has been serving Kenosha for over 50 years. With a menu featuring a variety of great pizza and pasta options, Casa Capri also serves American dishes, such as New York strip steaks and thick cuts of prime rib, available on Friday and Saturday nights only.

Folks looking for a quiet night of relaxation should avoid Somers House, as this college bar attracts a younger crowd from nearby the schools of University of Wisconsin Parkside and Carthage College. Located in a converted house, the bar features an outside patio for enjoying drinks in the warm weather months.

Many more options for eating and drinking can be found with a short trip downtown. Here you find Franks Diner. Locals love to start their day off with one of the diner's famous breakfast Garbage Plates, featuring a big old mess of hash browns, onions, peppers, meat, cheese and jalapenos. As a nano-brewery, The Rustic Road Brewing Company brews small batches of craft beer for locals to enjoy in a laid-back tap room setting. The brew masters can be found on location most days, ready to talk about their latest creations. The Rustic Road also hosts live music on the weekends.

Biking and walking in Poerio provide viable transportation and exercise options. Although roads may not have designated bike lanes, residential streets experience a low level of traffic. Many residents get around the neighborhood by car, but the city also features eight bus routes that serve the area, and Kenosha’s downtown electric street-car system runs a loop from the harbor to the Metra station.

The Metra line provides daily service for commuters working in Chicago, and Amtrak runs from Milwaukee to Chicago seven times daily, with a stop at Kenosha.

Uber ride-sharing has not become available yet, but cab service can be found. Calling for service generates the best results. For travel outside of town, Highway 31 can be taken north to Racine, and Interstate 94 can be accessed for trips further north to Milwaukee or south to Chicago.

Poerio Park features a nature center and sports complex for residents to enjoy. A fishing pond and playground entertains kids, and the park’s fields provide options for competitive games of softball and baseball. Kenosha’s HarborPark remains a source of pride for the whole community. The park hosts many events and activities throughout the year, such as the HarborPark Jazz & Blues Festival held here every August. Great live music set against fantastic views of Lake Michigan inspires locals and makes them proud to live in such a beautiful area.

The Kenosha County Bike trail features two segments with the northern section running through Poerio. The trail can be used to access the southern segment for a total of 18 miles of trail, which can be used to bike, jog, roller blade and for cross-country skiing in the winter.

To let their dogs run off-leash, Poerio residents take their four-legged friends to Carlisle Family Dog Park located to the northwest at Petrifying Springs Park. Day or yearly passes are available for purchase.

The cost of living in Poerio falls in line with the surrounding area, which falls below the national average. A one-bedroom apartment rents for about $570. A bus trip downtown costs $1.75 for adults and $1.25 for students. Senior citizens and people with disabilities receive a discounted fare of 85 cents. Gas prices in Poerio fall almost 10 percent below the national average. A bottle of beer at a local bar costs $3.25, and a bottle of import costs about $5.

Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets, located in Racine to the north of Poerio, provides residents with many options in retail shopping. Locals can also head to downtown Kenosha for more choices.

For upscale consignment shopping, stop in at Sixth Avenue Consignment Boutique, also home to ZouBisou Lingerie featuring new European and U.S. lingerie designers for petite and plus sizes. The consignment shop offers top brands such as Ann Taylor, Coach purses, Michael Kors and Prada.

Peacetree Originals features great jewelry, incense and knickknacks. Down the Rabbit Hole sells a variety of women's clothing, accessories and great gift ideas. For a wide selection of men's and women's footwear, a trip to Chiappetta Shoe Store may be in order.

Most residents of Southeast Wisconsin are aware of Mar's Cheese Castle. This shop rates as a must-stop, whether you live in Kenosha or you're just passing through. The Castle has great choices of cheese, meat and beer. Piggly Wiggly and Pick 'n' Save give residents of Poerio a choice of grocery options, and the employee-owned Woodman's Food Market lies close by, giving residents that chance to take advantage of great everyday deals.

The Kenosha Harbor MarketPlace provides a nice selection of produce from local vendors with an outdoor market in operation every Saturday from May to October. An indoor market takes over from October to December.