One of the stated intentions of this newspaper is to reveal Madison to Madisonians. We do this every week, but sometimes more pointedly than others. A case in point: A couple of weeks ago we presented "#MeetMadison," an introduction to some folks in town and what they do here. Nothing extraordinary, but interesting glimpses into how other people fill their days in our fair city.
Now we're doing it again, opening another window into life in Mad Town. This time we answer the question, "What goes on in there?" Isthmus staff members knocked on the doors of some places you might have wondered about. Just what is going on in there?
Intrepid, and broad-minded, editor Dean Robbins braved entry into Red Letter News. Most people can only imagine what goes on in there, and I bet they imagine a lot. Robbins relieves some of the mystery.
Creative director Ellen Meany visits Simm's Place, the family-owned bar inside the fence at Oscar Mayer. It's been a thumb in Oscar's eye for a long time, though maybe not much longer. The hidden life of penguins is revealed as staff writer Joe Tarr visits the zoo, from the inside. A&E editor Jessica Steinhoff discovers a treasure of wearable history at the Madison Theatre Guild's costume shop on Monroe Street.
There's a reason they call it Fish Hatchery Road. It leads to a fish hatchery, and has for a long time, as we are informed by associate editor Michana Buchman. Features editor Linda Falkenstein looks into an anonymous blue building on the old Truax air base. Is it a cold war relic? Nah.
Uff da! News editor Judith Davidoff checks out the Norwegian American Genealogical Center and Naeseth Library located in Madison. Eat your heart out, Stoughton! Mercifully, she comes away with no Ole and Lena jokes.
Enjoy the tour.
