Faves of yesteryear

Among the winners in voting by Isthmus readers for their favorites 20 years ago: Ovens of Brittany, in the categories of Soup, Desserts and Bakery; Cafe Palms (Late Night Restaurant); Wilson Street Grill (New Restaurant); Fess Hotel (Outdoor Dining, Sunday Brunch, Wine List); Porto Bananas (Carry-Out Food); Mother's Willy Street Pub (Jukebox); Ark Improvisational Theater (Comedy Venue); state Rep. David Clarenbach (Local Public Official); Ursula (Local Columnist); Elroy Hirsch (Favorite Madisonian); Pic-A-Book (Newsstand); and Fur, Fin & Feather (Pet Store). Times change: Cafe Palms was consumed by the fire that destroyed the Hotel Washington in February 1996; Wilson Street Grill closed in January 2002 to make way for a new county courthouse; the Fess has been replaced by the Great Dane Pub & Brewing Co.; the last Ovens of Brittany restaurant closed in 2000; Hirsch died in 2004 and Kathy Foster, who wrote Ursula's advice column, died in 2002; Clarenbach lost a congessional bid in 1992; and Mother's, Porto Bananas, Ark Improv and Fur, Fin & Feather have also faded from the scene.