Madison Favorites

Favorite thing: The weekly 'newspaper' that lists upcoming events, movies, shows, concerts, etc.. comes out on thursday afternoon. They're usually available in doorways, coffee shops, record stores, paper kiosks, etc...

Also use the website to see what's happening before you come.

www.isthmus.com

Favorite thing: Maybe you've seen the on-line satirical website and radio program that mocks everything and everyone. (I saw it on sale at a Borders Book Store in Scotland last year) That was started here in the late '80s by a couple guys. It started as an 8 page weekly newspaper, and you can find it at locations around town, in kiosks and in a bundle in the doorway of coffeshops, etc...The new issue comes out every wednesday afternoon. free.

http://www.theonion.com/content/

Favorite thing: Usually the nearest Saturday to Halloween State St. literally fills with drunken costumed revelers. This is an amazing event where all cross streets are blocked and nearly 60,000 people fill the six blocks from the capital to Library Mall. It is a lot of fun and a huge draw for non-natives and natives alike, however there are a few problems associated with it. There have been threats by the city to stop this party because some disrespectful losers think that this is ticket to trash our fine city. The majority of incidents are caused by out-of-towners. If you come to this party please don't break windows or throw things. We don't want to give the police a reason to use the pepper spray and we certainly don't want this tradition to be killed. Think of it like going to someone's house party and breaking their television because it would be funny.

Favorite thing: Glass-walled office buildings are often annoying - but this once has a good reason for its design: it is immediately opposite Wisconsin's magnificent State Capital. This is the US Bank Building, right on Capital Square - 1 S. Pinckney Street. The architectural use of plain glass was probably intended as a kind of deference to its imposing neighbor.

Favorite thing: One of the landmark buildings in the "Mansion Hill" neighborhood, the Kennedy Manor is a classic Madison address, home to a venerable restaurant and bar, and right across the street from the desirable Edgewater Inn. I recently stayed in an apartment here - I was visiting a friend who has an apartment here. Finding on-street parking was a chore, but it was worth the effort if only to be able to catch the tremendous views of Lake Mendota and the Capital from the Kennedy's rooftop.

Favorite thing: A Frank Lloyd Wright design from the 1950s - when Wright was in his 80s. The first sermon at the Meeting House was delivered by Wright himself. (It's actually in Shorewood Hills, a close-in suburb a few miles to the west of the University of Wisconsin campus.)

(For a similar Wright design from this period, check out his William H. Danforth Chapel on the campus of Florida Southern College. It's on my Lakeland FL page.)

Favorite thing: Wright's "trick" here is the use of the rounded curves of the building to reflect and enhance the natural "circularity" of Lake Monona. FLW was always looking for ways for his buildings to be based in and growing out of their environments. Here, on the shore of a round lake, he devised a conference center that minimizes the use of right angles. For my $0.02 worth, this is another one of his Wisconsin masterpieces. (But the orange carpet in the lobby HAS to go.)

Favorite thing: Frank Lloyd Wright was rather short, and he liked his building to have a low-rising, short-person's perspective. At least that's my understanding. (I'm five foot six, about an inch taller than Wright had been.)