Think & Drink Programs
Our Thursday Think & Drink programs feature a range of historical and maritime experts. It is the first Thursday evening of every month, starting at 6:30 pm. Admission is free in person and online, and there is a limited cash bar that features a specialty cocktail and non-alcoholic alternative related to the theme of the talk. Doors and bar open at 6:00 pm.
This year we are celebrating the women, both historical and modern, who shaped the maritime world with this year’s theme: Great Women of the Great Lakes and Beyond.
April 4th – Spooky Lakes: Environmental Education Through Art
Drink Pairing: Lake Baikal Water
Every October Educator Geo Rutherford takes TikTok and Instagram by storm with her video series Spooky Lake Month. Her daily videos take a deep dive into the history and ecology of the strangest, and most terrifying, lakes and rivers on planet earth. From sunken ships to lakes that turn bodies into soap, Geo’s videos fascinate millions. Learn how she uses her platform and art to teach about and advocate for the wonderful world of hydrology.
Doors and bar open at 6:00 pm. The talk and live stream portion begin at 6:30 pm. To access the live stream of this event, please register here: https://forms.gle/R6cQrh8G4CfY1dGW8
Admission is free both in-person and virtually.
May 2nd – We Do This for the Water
Drink Pairing: Non Alcoholic Tea Tasting
Josephine Mandamin was an Anishinaabe elder and Water rights activist who walked around the Great Lakes, more than 10,000 miles, to raise awareness about water pollution and the sacredness of Water. Join Siobhan Marks as she tells the story of Grandmother Josephine and her fellow Water Walkers, their sacred walk, and what it meant to her community and the world.
June 6th – Think & Drink at Sub Pub: The Music of Victory at Sea
Drink Pairing: Suffering Bastard
In 1952-53, NBC brought WWII right into American living rooms as network television found its way into homes across the country. Victory at Sea’s 26 episodes, with their vivid orchestra score and footage sourced from 14 warring nations, took viewers into every theater of the war. Join Professor George Ferencz to learn about NBC’s prize winning WWII documentary series.
August 1st – Think & Drink at Sub Pub: Dance Styles from the 30s, 40s, & 50s
Drink Pairing: Dance the Night Away Punch
Dancing during WWII was one of the few ways people could escape the pressure of life both on the warfront and at home. Learn about the popular dance styles from the 30s, 40s, and 50s.
September 5th – From the Sea to the Stars: The Life and Death of Astronaut Laurel Clark
Drink Pairing: Sea of Tranquility Fizz
Astronaut Laurel Clark, from Racine, WI, was an accomplished doctor, U.S. Navy captain, and NASA astronaut who died aboard the space shuttle Columbia in 2003. Before she worked in space, Clark was the medical department head for a submarine squadron and preformed numerous dives to evacuate submarines in medical emergencies.
October 3rd – The History of Female Pirates
Drink Pairing: Grog
Despite pirates being a perennially popular topic, female swashbucklers are often overlooked. Yet there have been numerous female pirates who have terrorized the seven seas. Learn about these women who sought their freedom in the sea and found infamy.
November 7th– Ladies of the Light: Georgia Stebbins and Female Lighthouse Keepers
Drink Pairing: Dark & Stormy
In 1873, forty-six years before women were allowed to vote in America, a lady named by the name of Georgia Green Stebbins managed the North Point Lighthouse in Milwaukee. She became the longest-serving lighthouse keeper in North Point history, never missing a night for 26 years.
December 5th – Women on Submarines
Drink Pairing: Torpedo Juice
In 2010, the ban on women serving on submarines was lifted. In 2022, two women made history: Lt. Cmdr. Amber Cowan became the first female Executive Officer on a submarine and Master Chief Information Systems Technician (Submarine) Angela Koogler became the first female Chief of the Boat.
Past Topics
- WAVES and SPARS: Women of the US Navy and Coast Guard in WWII
- Keeping Girls Afloat: Black Girls Dive Foundation
- Historic Housewives of Manitowoc
- Wounded Veterans in Parks: Underwater Archaeology and USS Arizona
- Native Americans in World War II
- The Ghost Army
- Prohibition, Propaganda, & War
- King Neptune’s Court – Gender Expression in the US Navy
- Wheels of Courage- How Paralyzed WWII Veterans Invented Wheelchair Sports
- The Belles of Baseball – Racine’s Champion AAGPBL Team
- 125, 284 – Japanese Internment, Racism, and Americanism
- Eating for Victory – Food Stories from World War II and Beyond
- Underground Resistance – The Story of Mildred Fish-Harnack
- Disney & Dolphins – Insignia that Defined the Silent Service
Funded in part by a grant from Wisconsin Humanities, with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Wisconsin Humanities strengthens our democracy through educational and cultural programs that build connections and understanding among people of all backgrounds and beliefs throughout the state.
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this project do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Help us to continue offering these programs for free! Program Sponsorships are available! Visit our Sponsorship page for more information.