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Jimmy Benavides/courtesy Monona Festival
Where are the fireworks in Madison and Dane County?
There are plenty of chances to catch some holiday booms in the greater Madison area on and around the Fourth of July. Read more
What's New
Chris Phelps
What to do in Madison this week: Monona Community Festival, Mike Campbell & the Dirty Knobs and more Isthmus Picks
Isthmus Picks for July 1-4 includes a talk by writer and cartoonist Asher Perlman; a tour stop by Lyle Lovett & His Large Band. Read more
Jul 1, 2024
Jimmy Benavides/courtesy Monona Festival
Where are the fireworks in Madison and Dane County?
There are plenty of chances to catch some holiday booms in the greater Madison area on and around the Fourth of July. Read more
Jun 28, 2024
Liz Lauren
Perfect summer play
APT’s production of ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ balances absurd physical comedy and, in some moments, real tenderness and connection. Read more
Jun 28, 2024
Freepik
Density backlash underway in Madison
The rhetoric against growth in Madison reflects a fundamentally anti-urban, back-to-the-land kind of vibe. Read more
Jun 28, 2024
Michael Rausch
What to do in Madison this weekend: International Festival, Midwest Log Rolling Championships and more Isthmus Picks
Picks for June 27-30 includes the return of fireworks at Breese Stevens with Festival Foods Lights the Isthmus; an album release show by Whippets. Read more
Jun 27, 2024
Graham Brown
MadCity Music has a new owner
A busy Bobby Hussy takes over from longtime owner Dave Zero. Read more
Jun 26, 2024
Liam Beran
Funding requests for Madison school district will be on November ballot
With little public comment and little debate, the Madison school board unanimously approved two measures for the Nov. 5 ballot to cover operating costs and needed repairs for the district’s aging buildings. Read more
Jun 25, 2024
Liz Lauren
Power hungry
The strong cast encourages us to see chaos in the face of change at the highest levels of government as just the latest episode in the continuum of history. Read more
Jun 24, 2024
Tommy Washbush
Attorney shortage worst in Wisconsin’s northern counties
In the last four years, the number of active attorneys in Wisconsin has decreased by over 4% and the number of attorneys in rural Wisconsin has dropped by 7%. Read more
Jun 24, 2024
Elvis Suarez/GlassWorks MultiMedia
What to do in Madison this week: Reverend Raven, Concerts on the Square and more Isthmus Picks
Isthmus Picks for June 24-27 includes a farewell tour stop by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band; a talk by Shane Burley and Ben Lorber on a new book about fighting antisemitism. Read more
Jun 24, 2024
Tommy Washbush / Freepik assets
Chill the Madison referendums
Local governments in Madison have to back off from the referendums they’re considering for the November ballot. Or risk helping elect Donald Trump for president. Read more
Jun 20, 2024
Ailisa Newhall
What to do in Madison this weekend: Make Music Madison, 'Murder!(s)' and more Isthmus Picks
Picks for June 20-23 includes the National Women's Music Festival in Middleton; a one-off team up by Greyhounds and Los Lobos members Steve Berlin and David Hidalgo. Read more
Jun 20, 2024
Liam Beran
Housing shortage drives Madison city council approval of new projects
Projects approved June 18 include an apartment complex on Old Sauk Road, an apartment and hotel proposal near the Capitol, a “tiny village” proposal aiming to house homeless people and a mixed-use proposal on the city’s east side. Read more
Jun 19, 2024
1:15 PM
Robin Shepard
Fruity beers and ciders are on trend this June
There's a startling new radler from New Glarus and ciders from Duluth. Read more
Jun 18, 2024
3:00 PM
Liz Lauren
‘Ring Round the Moon’ is a romp
APT's captivating production is about more than horseplay from identical twins. Read more
Jun 18, 2024
11:30 AM
Rauglothgor / Wikimedia Commons
UW System funding, prison oversight, Milwaukee schools lead Capitol ‘to do’ list
Three major controversies are fodder for candidate forums and next year’s state budget debate. Read more
Jun 18, 2024
10:00 AM
Food trucks are up in Madison this year
Meghan Blake-Horst, the city’s street vending coordinator, says her inbox is flooded with ‘countless’ emails from both new entrepreneurs and established restaurateurs seeking information about opening a cart. Read more
Jun 17, 2024
3:00 PM
Grace Florence
Wisconsin College Democrats push Biden to adopt stronger policy toward Israel
Organizers working to rally young voters behind President Joe Biden have had to navigate significant resistance to the administration’s response to the war in Gaza. Read more
Jun 17, 2024
10:00 AM
Beth Kille
What to do in Madison this week: Cathy Couture album release, Natalie Foster and more Isthmus Picks
Isthmus Picks for June 17-20 includes a tour stop by kora duo Madou Sidiki Diabaté & Salif Bamakora at Gamma Ray; the annual free concert by Madison Marimba Quartet at Rennebohm Park. Read more
Jun 17, 2024
5:07 AM
Submitted photos
Madison tenants net small wins in fight against large rent increases
Rent increases of 20% or more at one west-side complex mostly have not budged, but tenants who fought against the increases have notched some victories. Read more
Jun 14, 2024
9:30 AM
Courtesy State Line Distillery
State Line attracts the attention of former NFL QB Drew Brees
Retired NFL quarterback Drew Brees loves coffee liqueur. And he particularly loves the coffee liqueur made by Madison’s State Line Distillery. Read more
Jun 13, 2024
3:00 PM
The mess at the Wisconsin Department of Corrections
The Dodge County Sheriff has filed charges against recently retired Waupun prison warden Randall Hepp and eight of his staff members in the deaths of two inmates. But the state’s top administrators need to explain how the alleged abuse happened. Read more
Jun 13, 2024
9:30 AM
courtesy Jane Hobson
What to do in Madison this weekend: The Pursuit of Happiness, Madison Night Mares debuts and more Isthmus Picks
Picks for June 13-16 includes the inaugural Harry Whitehorse International Wood Sculpture Festival at San Damiano in Monona; Madison's Juneteenth celebration returns to Penn Park. Read more
Jun 13, 2024
5:06 AM
Eric Murphy
Madison looks to build new new north-side bike path
Madison is hoping to apply for nearly $1 million from a Federal Highway Administration program to help plan and design a new north side bike path. Read more
Jun 11, 2024
6:00 PM
In the June/SummerTimes issue
Pedal, paddle, proceed to Paoli
Investments in restoring this historic Dane County community are paying off Read more
Journalist scores win in lawsuit over public employee gag rule
In an apparent first, a journalist has successfully sued a public agency over its policy prohibiting employees from speaking to reporters without permission. Read more
Election denialist ties up courts
Peter Bernegger has filed some 20 cases charging elections officials with fraud. All that have been adjudicated have been dismissed in court. He also faces a $10,000 fine or more than three years in prison in an ongoing criminal case. Read more
Get thee to an outdoor theater production
Despite the possible impediments of unexpected downpours, swarms of mosquitoes, and the occasional threatening bat, there is something magical about watching the (metaphorical) curtain rise as the sun sets. Read more
Behind the Isthmus cover: June 2024
Madison-based designer and illustrator Christina King says she has an ‘unhealthy obsession with chairs,’ with two vintage lawn chairs among her collection. The humble lawn chair stars in her June 2024 Isthmus cover illustration. Read more
Art For Humanity's Sake: A Silent Art Auction for Gaza
Madison-Rafah Sister City Project features work by more than 25 artists, 6/21-7/8, Java Cat (reception 5:30-7 pm, 7/2); silent auction of the art to benefit Middle East Children’s Alliance begins 6/28 and ends at 5 pm, 7/8. Read more
Jul 2, 2024
7:00 AM5:00 PM
Monona Community Festival
7/3-4, Winnequah Park, with carnival (opens 7/2), kids’ activities, food carts, music, fireworks 9:20 pm, 7/4. Click through for schedule. Read more
Jul 2, 2024Jul 4, 2024
Columbus Fourth of July
7/2-7, Fireman's Park, Columbus, with carnival, entertainment, parade at noon and fireworks at dusk on 7/4. Free admission. Click through for schedule. Read more
Jul 2, 2024Jul 7, 2024
Art For Humanity's Sake: A Silent Art Auction for Gaza reception
Madison-Rafah Sister City Project features work by more than 25 artists, 6/21-7/8, Java Cat (reception 5:30-7 pm, 7/2); silent auction of the art to benefit Middle East Children’s Alliance begins 6/28 and ends at 5 pm, 7/8. Read more
Jul 2, 2024
5:30 PM7:00 PM
