Pfister familiar faces

As the Pfister Narrator, I’ve had the chance to meet people from all over the world including Cambodia, Germany and California. One of my favorite things to do is watch guests from afar and wonder where they are from and why they are at the Pfister before I approach them. (I try not to be too creepy gawky. I think I pull it off most of the time.)

However, I also really love when I come in contact with someone, randomly, whom I already know. I always congratulate them for coming to the Pfister – whether it’s for drinks and the Lobby Bar or a bite to eat at the cafe – because I really don’t think enough Milwaukeeans take advantage of the Pfister’s splendor on a regular basis.

And I’m not one to “should” on anyone, but Milwaukee, you should visit the Pfister more often. I think we sometimes forget that you don’t have to be staying overnight at the hotel to access it and how much it can provide a getaway feeling even during a short visit.

Recently, I ran into Alisha, a woman who I was in a theatrical performance with a few years ago. (OK, I wasn’t going to type this at first because it makes some people feel uncomfortable, but it was a performance of the “Vagina Monologues.” There. I said it. Happy?)

Alisha was with a friend and they were having a cup of tea before a rehearsal. I just started drinking tea and I asked them for advice on good teas and where to get ‘em. It turns out they were a treasure trove of tea-related info and I felt like I sometimes do in my life: like things are all coming together perfectly.

We ended our conversation and said perhaps we’d run into each other again at the Pfister sometime. I liked the sound of that.

I really didn’t come to the Pfister a lot prior to my tenure as the Narrator, but I am definitely now a lifelong guest. I plan to visit for the rest of my life just to visit the lions, to listen to Dr. Hollander play the piano in the Lobby Bar or to simply reflect on the beautiful experience I had as the writer in residence in 2013 and 2014.

I usually imagine myself drinking a glass of wine during one of thes future Pfister pop ins. But maybe I’ll order a cup of tea instead.