MadCity Maven

03/26/2026

Favorite Madison area coffee shop?

03/19/2026

Our enemies are NOT in IRAN. They are in THE EPSTEIN FILES.
Also, can we please stop calling 13 and 14 year old girls “young women” they are NOT young women they are children!

02/16/2026

It’s Crossing Guard Appreciation Week in Madison!

All week long, we’re celebrating the dedicated crossing guards who help keep Madison students, families, and neighborhoods safe. From early mornings to busy afternoons (and in every kind of Wisconsin weather) our crossing guards are a steady, welcoming presence at intersections across the city.

Thank you for the care, patience, and consistency you bring to our community. Madison appreciates you!

02/16/2026

Warner Park Off-Leash Dog Park Closed: Late in the evening on Friday, February 13, Parks staff were made aware of a nearly 8-year-old dog, who, shortly after returning home from a visit to the Warner off-leash dog park, fell ill and suddenly died. Upon getting the news, Park rangers made contact and left messages with UW vet clinic and Public Health Madison & Dane County. On Saturday morning, February 14, out of an abundance of caution, park rangers closed the dog park and added closed signage at the two locked entrances.

We have received a number of phone calls and emails from concerned residents alerting us of the incident. We share your concerns and please know we are working with other local agencies and meeting internally to determine our next steps. As of Monday, February 16, Warner dog park remains closed. Any updates will be posted on our Off-Leash Dog Park webpage.

cityofmadison.com/dogsinparks

02/01/2026

You may have already heard rumblings that the WORT Winter Pledge Drive is on its way, and it is!

February 26th through March 8th, we'll need YOUR help answering phones and taking pledges from our devoted listeners.

Copy the following link and paste it into your browser to sign up to answer phones for your favorite WORT show today! https://www.wortfm.org/cgi-bin/longsignup

01/13/2026

Wherever you are on January 20th at 2:00pm your time. Get up and walk out.
Mark your calendar and please share widely.
Here is more info.
www.removetheregime.com/

Join the movement to demand impeachment and removal of the Trump administration!

01/08/2026

This…

01/04/2026

There Is a Comfort in Winter Days

It slows things down in quiet, subtle ways. It gives us permission to stay in, to rest a little more, and to be closer to the people we love. There’s something grounding about the silence after a snowfall, about warm lights in the windows, and about the simple joys we only get this time of year. Snowball fights in the yard. Hot chocolate warming your hands. Moments that feel small, but end up becoming the memories we carry with us for a lifetime.

It’s easy to wish winter away. But remember, it is fleeting, just like every season. Spring will be here soon, bringing its own energy and movement and color. For now, there is value in appreciating the quieter pace. The togetherness. The slower mornings. The extra time around the table. Winter doesn’t last forever, and neither do these moments. So take them in while you can, because spring will be here soon.

Keep warm!

01/03/2026

01/02/2026

Events this weekend.

Your Weekend in Dane County | January 2–4

The first full weekend of the year is here, and Dane County is easing into it with live music, winter markets, college sports, neighborhood events, art exhibitions, and time outdoors. Whether you’re heading to a show, wandering a gallery, shopping the winter farmers market, or taking a quiet walk through a park, there are plenty of ways to spend the weekend close to home.

Here’s what’s happening across Dane County this weekend:

⸻

FRIDAY | January 2

• High Noon Saloon – A Celebration for Brian Jansen
Doors 6:00 pm | Show 7:00 pm
Live music featuring Bon Squad, Ruin Dweller, Dogs Blood, Pyroklast, and Old Salt. Free show with donations accepted.

• First Friday on Monroe Street
4:00–7:00 pm
Neighborhood shops, restaurants, and local businesses along Monroe Street stay open late.

• UW–Madison Galleries (Nancy Nicholas Hall)
“Small Matter,” “Parallel Lines: Quilts and the American Landscape,” and “Find Your Quilt”
Open throughout the day at the Lynn Mecklenburg Textile Gallery and Ruth Davis Design Gallery.

• Overture Center Galleries
Rotating visual art exhibitions open to the public throughout the day.

• Holiday Fantasy in Lights – Olin Park
Nightly winter light display continues after dark.

⸻

SATURDAY | January 3

• Dane County Winter Farmers’ Market – Garver Feed Mill
8:00 am–12:00 pm

• High Noon Saloon – Un-Broken / Seilies / Embers Rise / Inherit The Earth
Doors 6:00 pm | Show 7:00 pm

• Majestic Theatre – Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe
Doors 7:00 pm | Show 8:00 pm

• UW Men’s Basketball vs. Purdue – Kohl Center
7:00 pm

• Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA)
Ongoing exhibitions open during regular museum hours.

• UW–Madison Galleries (Nancy Nicholas Hall)
“Small Matter,” “Parallel Lines,” and “Find Your Quilt” open throughout the day.

• Holiday Fantasy in Lights – Olin Park
Evening display continues.

⸻

SUNDAY | January 4

• UW Arboretum Family Nature Walk
1:30–2:30 pm
Meet at the Arboretum Visitor Center.

• UW Women’s Basketball vs. Penn State – Kohl Center
3:00 pm

• Harmony Bar – Gaines & Wagoner with Father Leroy
4:00–7:00 pm

• Muso – First Sunday Music Session
12:00 pm

• Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA)
Exhibitions open during regular hours.

• UW–Madison Galleries (Nancy Nicholas Hall)
Final weekend day for “Small Matter,” “Parallel Lines,” and “Find Your Quilt.”

• Holiday Fantasy in Lights – Olin Park
Final Sunday evening of the display.

⸻

ALL WEEKEND OPTIONS

• Art & Galleries
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA), Overture Center Galleries, UW–Madison Galleries at Nancy Nicholas Hall, and local independent galleries around Madison.

• Outdoors
Winter walks at the UW Arboretum, Dane County Parks, and city parks across the county.

• Neighborhood Spots
Local coffee shops, breweries, and restaurants hosting regular weekend hours and informal gatherings.

⸻

We’ll spotlight specific shows and events tomorrow.
For now, this is your full look at the weekend.

01/01/2026

What word do you commonly hear people mispronouncing in Wisconsin? Check the comments for our full list!