Madison hosts Gaza victim UW Hospital is treating young man injured in Israeli attack Esty Dinur on Thursday 07/30/2009, (2) Recommendations Ahmed Abu Salama is in a wheelchair, in the basement of Madison's Ronald McDonald House. He and his mother have been here since late May, receiving care from UW Hospital. Their ordeal began a year and a half ago and is continuing. >MoreBruer gesture draws complaint Clerk's Office worker says council president was out of line Joe Tarr on Thursday 07/30/2009 Tammy Peters was just doing her job, taking minutes for the Madison Common Council on July 7. Then something unexpected happened. >MoreDane County considering time limit for convict rental denials Joe Tarr on Thursday 07/30/2009 Not long ago, Tim Johnson turned down a man who wanted to rent one of his apartments in Fitchburg because he'd once been convicted of a gun crime. Now Johnson fears his ability to make such choices will be undercut by the county's new fair housing ordinance. >MoreALRC looking to broaden entertainment license requirements Joe Tarr on Thursday 07/30/2009 The Alcohol License Review Committee may expand what venues must obtain an entertainment license, in response to police concerns about small restaurants morphing into nightclubs. >More
Sugar Maple Traditional Music Festival sweetens its lineup for 2009 Jessica Steinhoff on Friday 07/31/2009, (2) Recommendations The Sugar Maple Traditional Music Festival, taking place July 31 and Aug. 1, deals with tradition in two senses of the word. Its featured artists come from roots-music genres such as Delta blues, Cajun and bluegrass, and it's become a yearly ritual for folks who like to camp out, take in concerts and learn an instrument at the same time. >MoreUW's carillonneur makes a big sound Ring them bells Josh Wimmer on Friday 07/31/2009 Lyle Anderson is your average street musician. Except that he plays in the snow and cold, and if his audience really wants to hear him, they should stand about 60 feet away. Oh, and his instrument weighs several tons. >MoreYou'd better read up before The Decemberists perform Indie-rock opera Rich Albertoni on Friday 07/31/2009 The Decemberists have been performing The Hazards of Love from start to finish at many recent concerts. The band comes to Overture Hall on Aug. 5. >More
Let's declare a crime wave! Why dwell on falling stats when we can flip out? Ruth Conniff on Thursday 07/30/2009, (1) Comment Imagine my surprise when, after picture day at school last year, I received a milk-carton-style mug shot of my second-grader. It came along with a code number and an offer to keep my child's information in a special database in case of abduction. Somehow, seeing my daughter's gap-tooth smile photo-shopped into a crime-victim layout did not warm my heart. I didn't take advantage of the special offer. >MoreNo laughing matter My friend snickered during my wedding on Thursday 07/30/2009 Dear Tell All: When I got married 13 years ago, I asked my niece to sing during the ceremony. She's not a professional singer, but I've always liked her voice. Well, I thought she did a great job, but apparently not everyone was pleased. When I watched a video of the ceremony, I caught one of my friends and her husband snickering. >More
Overture Center positioned to prosper in recession-devastated arts scene Beacon of hope Jay Rath on Friday 07/31/2009, (1) Recommendation Despite the economy, advance ticket sales have increased. More popular programming is coming. Top road shows looking for venues now put us on par with Milwaukee. Better financial management is in place. Studies have begun for changing management, possibly privatizing it. Best of all, donations are up -- way up. >MoreMadison attempts a cultural plan Unclear how recommendations will be funded Jay Rath on Friday 07/31/2009, (1) Recommendation The old saying in arts administration circles is that attempting to organize artists is like trying to herd cats. The city of Madison is going to try, however, with its first-ever cultural plan. >MoreMichael Jackson is overrated An MTV marathon proves the point Dean Robbins on Friday 07/31/2009, (13) Comments, (3) Recommendations For the last month we've been hearing about Michael Jackson's greatness. It's all but settled that he's up there with the pop immortals in terms of musical artistry. With all due respect, I don't think that's true. >MorePigskin preview The drama of fun, flawed NCAA Football 10; Erin Andrews(clothed); and a lawsuit Doug Elfman on Friday 07/31/2009 Two news stories are revolving around the release of NCAA Football 10 -- neither of which has anything to do with the fact that the new game is pretty good but infuriatingly flawed. >More
MOVIES
Food, Inc. takes an alarmist look at what we eat Down on the farm Kenneth Burns on Friday 07/31/2009, (2) Comments, (5) Recommendations Food, Inc. reminds me of someone I knew in college. At the dining hall, just as I'd be cutting into a piece of poultry, she'd ask, "Do you want to learn how that chicken died?" I'd answer: Yes, but maybe not while I'm eating it. >MoreFunny People: Beyond genitals Beyond genitals Kimberley Jones on Friday 07/31/2009, (1) Recommendation Judd Apatow, of course, has built a mini movie empire on dick jokes, and Funny People, the writer-director's bid at something more grownup than Knocked Up and The 40 Year Old Virgin, just as obsessively tugs at the male genitalia for laughs. >More
Good old Potosi A pretty drive, a restaurant, beer and history Robin Shepard on Friday 07/31/2009, (11) Recommendations The drive from Madison to Potosi, via Highway 151 and County Highway O, takes about an hour and a half. It's an old, rural landscape, but beautiful with trees, woods and cold-running trout streams. It's not hard to imagine that today's natural beauty isn't that far from what Gabriel Hail, who immigrated from England, saw when he arrived in Potosi and built the brewery that would become home to the community's namesake beer. >MoreHeavenly caramels, holy cheeses A new guidebook to monastery made foods is a great resource Linda Falkenstein on Friday 07/31/2009, (2) Recommendations It's not uncommon to hear people describe wonderful food as tasting "heavenly." Madison author Madeline Scherb took that characterization literally with her new book, A Taste of Heaven: A Guide to Food and Drink Made by Monks and Nuns. >More
SPORTS & RECREATION
Training people for careers in recreation management When work is play David Medaris on Friday 07/31/2009 They are golf course superintendents and park rangers, managers of health clubs and YMCAs. They direct municipal recreation programs, water parks and ski resorts. They are the people who help us play. Each year, dozens of them graduate from MATC with a two-year associate degree in recreation management. >MoreMadison Mustangs: Too good for their own good? Jason Joyce on Thursday 07/30/2009 Beating your opponents by an average score of 50-10 should be good news to a football team. But for Bob Gingras, owner and head coach of the Madison Mustangs, it's reason to worry. >More
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