Continually seeking to explore the relationship between form and content, the magazine features fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, comics, reviews of contemporary literature and criticism, as well as author interviews and artwork.

Prior to Cream City Review, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee published Cheshire, a student-run magazine started at a predecessor unstitution, the Wisconsin State College of Milwaukee, in 1931.

After working at The Wisconsin Review, Allen desired a similar literary journal for the creative writing department at the UWM.

Cream City bricks remained popular throughout the 19th century and were used widely for ornamental architecture throughout the United States and Europe.

[5] Cream City Review's continued success is due, in large part, to grants from the Bradley Foundation,[6] the Wisconsin Arts Board,[7] as well as support from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (specifically, the English Department), and the Letters and Science Constituent Alumni Association.