john_dye
The Mystique of Hidden Windows: A Restoration Revelation
Hey there, fans! Join me on an exciting journey as we explore some hidden treasures in this old building. Can you believe it? Tucked away...
top of page
Field Notes from At Random
Notes, thoughts, ramblings, and exciting things from At Random. At Random is more than a cocktail lounge, it is a living pieced of history. It is more like a living museum dedicated to the mid-century cocktail lounge. But, it's the best museum ever because admission is free and we serve cocktails!
john_dye
- Jul 12
- 3 min
The Grasshopper Cocktail: A Classic with a Wisconsin Twist
Cocktails have a rich history and unique stories behind them, often reflecting the cultural influences and regional preferences of their...
38 views0 comments
john_dye
- Jul 11
- 2 min
And we have a winner… Arcade White!
We have chosen our exterior paint color for At Random Cocktail Lounge: Arcade White
9 views0 comments
john_dye
- Jul 8
- 3 min
Choosing the Perfect White Paint for the Exterior Restoration of At Random
Introduction: When it comes to the exterior restoration of a historic cocktail lounge like At Random, selecting the right white paint...
23 views0 comments
john_dye
- Jul 8
- 2 min
Exploring July's Cocktail of the Month, the Mezcal Mai Tai: A Summery Twist on a Classic
As summer continues to beckon us with its warm embrace, the quest for refreshing and unique cocktails becomes all the more enticing. This...
45 views0 comments
john_dye
- May 18
- 2 min
A new Dorothy mug colorway - Fiesta Orange!
Introducing Fiesta Orange: The Sizzling New Specialty Tiki Mug Colorway at At Random Cocktail Lounge! Attention all cocktail enthusiasts...
27 views0 comments
john_dye
- May 1
- 2 min
Facade Restoration - A Sneak Peek into the Restoration Plans for At Random
Our facade restoration of At Random needs to take in to consideration several things: The mid century awesomeness that is At Random The...
54 views0 comments
john_dye
- Apr 15
- 2 min
Facade Restoration - another historic photo!
Our neighbor Loretta gave us this photo - it is of her husband as a little boy, standing in front of their house with At Random in the...
16 views0 comments
john_dye
- Feb 12
- 1 min
Facade Restoration - A vintage advertisement
As we removed the siding, we were hoping to find a ghost sign or mural, but unfortunately we weren't so lucky. We did find this tin...
17 views0 comments
john_dye
- Feb 10
- 1 min
Facade Restoration - 1930s Graffiti
One of the most exciting things we found under the siding was some graffiti from the 1930s. There were a lot of doodles on the side of...
11 views0 comments
john_dye
- Feb 7
- 1 min
Facade Restoration - photo evidence
As we removed the layers of substitute siding, we thought back to a photo that was given to Ron Zeller (the founder of At Random) showing...
12 views0 comments
john_dye
- Feb 6
- 1 min
Facade Restoration - exposing the clapboard!
After a lot of soggy asphalt siding came off the building, we started to see a glimpse of what the structure originally looked like. The...
13 views0 comments
john_dye
- Feb 5
- 1 min
Facade Restoration - exploring the unknown
We are approaching this project like we approach all of our projects. We are letting the building lead us to the next steps. Every...
8 views0 comments
john_dye
- Feb 4
- 1 min
Facade Restoration - Mid Century Details
As we analyze what makes the facade of At Random Cocktail Lounge unique, one thing that became very apparent is how much the adornments...
10 views0 comments
john_dye
- Feb 1
- 2 min
Facade Restoration - where we started
Pictured is the corner of Russell and Delaware in MIlwaukee that people have known for years. It has a charm and, best of all, it houses...
14 views0 comments
john_dye
- Jan 31
- 2 min
Facade Restoration - so it begins!
When we took over At Random in 2018, we took great care to restore the interior. Our main goal was to preserve the feeling of the space...
18 views0 comments
bottom of page