The US Census estimated Milwaukee's population at 602,191 for 2007. People of African American and German descent make up the most significant portions of the population. The city has a high proportion of college students, with two major universities (Marquette and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee), and several smaller colleges and institutes. The metro area is home to 13 Fortune 500 company headquarters, making it the sixth highest in the nation. It is also a hub of manufacturing due to its proximity to Lake Michigan and the Menomenee River. Although once known for its breweries, today Milwaukee has only two major brewers, Pabst and Miller. Leinenkugel and microbrewer Lakefront are other brewers of note, although the city does have several brewpubs. Milwaukee has a number of notable performing arts groups, including opera and ballet companies, a professional symphony, and several theater troupes. Art, history and science museums attract large numbers of locals and visitors, as do the city's professional sports teams and public parks. Sales tax for the state of Wisconsin is 5%. County and city sales taxes add an additional 1.6%, for a total sales tax of 5.6%.

General Mitchell International Airport 5300 S Howell Ave Milwaukee, WI 53207 http://www.mitchellairport.com/ 414-747-5300 info@mitchellairport.com General Mitchell hosts 13 airlines with more than 190 flights daily. The airport is located about six miles south of downtown Milwaukee.

Milwaukee has a reliable public bus system that can get you to most locations throughout the city. Fares are inexpensive. http://www.ridemcts.com/ For taxi service, try: American United Taxicab Service 646 S 2nd St 414-220-5000 414-220-5016 OR Yellow Cab Co-Op 1840 N Martin Luther King Dr 414-271-1800 414-264-1310

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Daily newspaper http://www.jsonline.com/ jsmetro@journalsentinel.com 414-224-2919 800-456-5943 Greater Milwaukee Today Online newspaper http://www.gmtoday.com/ Shepherd Express Alternative arts, entertainment and news http://www.expressmilwaukee.com/ M Magazine Local arts and entertainment publication http://www.mmagazines.net/ Milwaukee Magazine Regional arts, entertainment, and news http://www.milwaukeemagazine.com/

The Greater Milwaukee Convention and Visitors Bureau http://www.milwaukee.org/ info@milwaukee.org 800-231-0903 414-273-3950 Fax: 414/273-5596 The CVB maintains two visitors centers: Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin Inside Promenade on First Floor 500 N Harbor Dr Milwaukee, WI 53202 Daily 9am-5pm AND Midwest Airlines Center Inside main rotunda on First Floor 400 W Wisconsin Ave Milwaukee, WI 53203 800-554-1448 Hours Vary Based on Events

Although tipping is generally a personal matter, there are some guidelines that prove helpful to travelers. At restaurants, servers typically get 15% of the bill, although 10% acknowledges basic assistance, and 20% awards exceptional service. It is also common now for some restaurants to charge an automatic gratuity of 18% for groups. You should be aware of this possibility before providing an additional tip. Taxi drivers usually fit into similar guidelines by receiving a tip equivalent to 15% of the tab. Often, a dollar tip covers many situations. Bartenders are customarily given $1 per cocktail, hotel maids are provided $1-2 for each day of a stay, bellhops get about $1 per bag, and a coat-check clerk typically receives $1 as well. The exception is a concierge, who generally receives $5-$10 for standard service (additional assistance suggests more).