Two thousand ten, twenty-ten - however you choose to say it, this issue marks the first foray into the New Year. It may be hard to realize, but the 21st century is already 10% done.
But if you're reading this before the crystal ball drops, you're in luck - there's still some helpful 2009 stuff to be had. Feature editor Linda Falkenstein's provides a roundup of restaurant openings and closings in the past year. Also helping you out are listings of special New Year's Eve dining options, as well as New Year's Eve entertainment choices. Beyond those remnants of 2009, our gaze has turned to the future.
This first issue of the year is, of course, the first issue of the month, which is when we run our Kids & Parents section. In this edition, editor Dean Robbins does the honors with his preview of arts options for your young aesthete. You know, we've been doing the Kids & Parents thing for a long time, and we have quite a stockpile of stories that continue to have relevance to folks trying to get a handle on parenting. In 2010 you can look for a website aggregating our kid-related articles, which will also provide a venue for direct parental input.
We're even getting our promotion ball rolling early with the first rendition of the Isthmus Beer & Cheese Fest, a tribute to two of the things that make Wisconsin famous. This event, scheduled for 1 to 5 p.m. on Jan. 30 at the Alliant Energy Center, will feature Wisconsin craft beers and cheeses. Tickets in advance are $40. Information about where to get them and other details of the event can be found on the back page of this issue.
In this issue we also begin the serious journalism work of 2010 with Sally Franson's "Hello, Cancer." This story is the first-person account of reality rudely intruding in a 25-year-old woman's life, and it teaches us that reality can happen to anyone.
