‘Somebody loved these buildings to the point where the doorknobs are engraved.’

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee graphic arts instructor Lauren Robertson takes in the beauty of the Riverside Theater as she sits in the audience. As she gets up from her first row seat, she requests the organist at the side of the stage, who’s playing music for the visitors, to perform “The Phantom of the Opera.” This is Robertson’s first year attending Doors Open Milwaukee, where she made the most of it by visiting various buildings, plus a manhole looking down into one of Milwaukee’s oldest sewers.

Starlette Schuler: What made you want to come [to the Riverside Theater]?

Lauren Robertson: My friend was talking about standing in line for the green room, and honestly, that was kind of the most underwhelming part of everything. But I’ve been here before. I just saw Jon Stewart here last winter, so it was kind of cool to see behind the curtains.

Starlette Schuler: What was the most exciting thing you’ve seen or learned from here so far?

Lauren Robertson: I think just how much care and detail everyone put into it. I went to the We Energies building as well, and the tour guide said that the craftsmanship and the pride that people had was just unmatched. And I really felt that as an art person myself, it was just like, wow, you could. You can feel the love in these buildings. Somebody loved these buildings to the point where the doorknobs are engraved, and the wallpaper is like this thick, gorgeous, gleaming thing that has texture that you just want to touch. So you can really feel it.

Starlette Schuler: Out of which places that you’ve been to, including this one, which one do you like the most right now?

Lauren Robertson: It has to be a tie between the Pfister and Riverside Theater right now. This place is absolutely gorgeous, and I just made the poor organ player play “Phantom of the Opera” for, I didn’t realize, a long time.

Starlette Schuler: Do you think Doors Open Milwaukee builds up the community within Milwaukee?

Lauren Robertson: I think so. I see such a diverse group of people coming out. I see so many diverse services, buildings and people interacting throughout the city. And there’s been a few people I’ve run into that have wanted to just start conversations with me. And we’ve talked about just our love for the city and our love for everything. So yeah, I’d say so.

Starlette Schuler: Do you think more people should come out to Doors Open Milwaukee?

Lauren Robertson: Oh my gosh, yes. I think everybody who has ever been in this city and has interacted with any of these spaces and wants to see it when it’s not for its usual intention, but loving it for or seeing it for what it is and seeing it for the beauty of things when you’re not in a chaotic state or you’re not trying to get to someplace. I think it’s also causing people to slow down, to look at things in detail, to look at each other even. I’ve made so many connections, just meeting people and talking about the love of the city and what does that mean, what does that look like?

Starlette Schuler: Do you feel Doors Open Milwaukee has made you know Milwaukee more?

Lauren Robertson: Yes. I think as somebody who wasn’t born and raised here, who didn’t grow up going to all these places and seeing it from a child’s mind, I think it’s really caused me to open up, see the city, see parts of the city that I’d never see, like looking down a manhole. Who gets to do that? That’s crazy, seeing one of the oldest, sewers in Milwaukee. And, you know, these people all love what they do. You know, you talk to people that work with the sewers, and they’re talking about the history of it, and they’re talking about the buildings and how things influence each other. And I think that’s the other beautiful thing. We’re kind of all talking with each other, and it’s crazy how much we interact, and really we’re not alone in this world. We’re really seeing the city for what the love and passion that everyone puts into it. I know I keep saying that, but it truly is. There’s so much love. People just love this city and love these things and these buildings and everything. So seeing even the smallest details that I’ve never even noticed before. I probably walked past the Grain Exchange building a billion times and never been inside there. And what is it? I mean, it was the most gorgeous building I think I’ve ever been in in my life. It’s insane. Or the Pfister. I’m never going to be able to afford to stay there. But you know what? There are so many things that I think we don’t normally appreciate and notice.

Starlette Schuler: Do you think you’re going to come to Doors Open Milwaukee again?

Lauren Robertson: Yes, I know I’m not going to see everything today — I want to see the basilica, and I want to see a few artist studios as well. If I can make it every year I’d love to go every year.