Brookfield Square is holding a "celebration" in honor of its renovation from October 16-19.   I was there a few days ago and was generally impressed with the changes.

Thumbs up:  Overall redecoration

The whole mall has a cleaner, bigger look.   The new flooring and new lighting make the mall brighter and seem more open.  There are more seating areas with new armchairs and love seats.

Thumbs up:  renovation of the food court

There is more seating, including banquette seating that partially rims the table areas.  At the time I was there, what looked like a fireplace was not yet completed.

Thumbs down:  counter seating behind banquettes 

Although the addition of counters and bar stools adds more seating, when seated facing the banquettes, I found it a little disconcerting to look up and find a counter seater staring back at me. 

Thumbs up:  new food court vendors 

Steak Escape and Stir Fry 88 to name a few.  (Note:  Stir Fry 88 is different from the new restaurant Stir Crazy, which is not located inside the mall but in a separate building on the north side of Boston Store.)

Thumbs down:  Pushy sample person from Stir Fry 88

Was a little sulky when we turned down the free samples. 

Thumbs down: Parking on the east side of the mall 

With the addition of the new Claim Jumper restaurant, parking on the east side of the mall has become more of a hassle.  I find that parking around Sears is usually the best option. 

Thumbs up:  interactive floor game for kids by the food court

I'm not sure how this works exactly, but there is a machine on the ceiling that projects games on to a special mat on the floor.  Children can make things move in the various games by moving their feet on the floor mat.  (So, you can "kick" balls and other objects.)

I love to indulge in a cafe mocha, even though it is bad for my reflux and my tooth enamel.  I justify it by saying that there are studies that say coffee is chock full of antioxidants.  Although I am a fan of Starbucks, I had an opportunity to go to the Elm Grove Perk and Pub (when using this link, scroll down to "Perks and Pubs").  I probably had the smoothest cafe mocha there that I have ever had.

I take my daughter to get her haircut at Whimsikidz, a kids' boutique, in Elm Grove, owned by a Brookfield Central graduate.  Right down the sidewalk is the Elm Grove Perk and Pub.  Both stores are located in the Autumn Grove Plaza complex, slightly east of the intersection of Bluemound and Elm Grove Roads.  Because I was feeling the need for some caffeine this morning, I dropped by the Perk and Pub for the first time.  As the name implies, it is a place for both coffee and something a little harder, the bar opening later in the evening.

The Perk and Pub offers a quieter atmosphere than the Starbucks a little farther west on Bluemound, and the mocha I had didn't have that acidic punch that sometimes a Starbucks one can have.  The Perk and Pub  has several tables, and a small sitting area with a few comfy chairs and toys for the kids.  Although I only had coffee, sweet treats were also available, like cookies and brownies, and there is a food menu.