Front Page
Behind the Isthmus cover: February 2024
Cover illustrator Corey Wimmer evokes warm and fuzzy feelings about winter. Read more
Feb 7, 2024
Behind the Isthmus Cover: January 2024
Emily Maryniak, a skilled multidisciplinary artist, illustrated Isthmus’ first ever WinterTimes issue. Read more
Jan 5, 2024
Behind the Isthmus cover: December 2023
It’s hard to know what to put on the cover in December. Dreams of a white Christmas might just be that. Read more
Dec 8, 2023
Behind the Isthmus cover: November 2023
Graphic designer Camille Davis’ illustration encourages us to 'rethink the notion that birds of a feather must flock together.’ Read more
Nov 3, 2023
Behind the Isthmus cover: October 2023
Graphic designer Matt McCauley celebrates Halloween in the ‘80s with those cheap, plastic masks of yore. Read more
Oct 6, 2023
Behind the Cover: September 2023
For September’s Fall Arts Preview cover, he took a cue from our SummerTimes issue, drawing inspiration from cover artist Hannah Jilk’s use of hand lettering. Read more
Sep 8, 2023
Behind the Isthmus cover: August 2023
Triangulador, a self-taught artist, has earned deserved cult status for turning abandoned mattresses into works of art. For the cover of the August issue of Isthmus, he photographed one of his most recent curb creations. Read more
Aug 4, 2023
2:30 PM
Behind the Isthmus cover: July 2023
See more of July cover artist Poornima Moorthy’s work at Mother Fool’s Coffeehouse in August and Lakeside Street Coffee House in September. Read more
Jul 7, 2023
11:20 AM
Behind the Isthmus cover: June 2023
See more of cover artist Hannah Jilk’s work at her solo show at State Line Distillery, June 5 to July 25. Read more
Jun 2, 2023
1:30 PM
Behind the Isthmus cover: May 2023
Amanda Wood’s cover photo features a spot she passes every day on her commute to work, near the Yahara Heights dog park. 'My inner Ansel Adams has been calling on me to capture he area in black and white with my 4x5 field camera,' she says. Read more
May 12, 2023
10:00 AM
Behind the Isthmus Cover: March 2023
March Madness lands in Madison when cars decorated in school colors start rolling through downtown on the way to the WIAA State Boys Basketball Tournament at the Kohl Center. Graphic designer Megan Bergner captures that scene in 3D. Read more
Mar 17, 2023
8:00 AM
Behind the Isthmus cover: January 2023
Illustrator Kate Thomfohrda acknowledges a cherished Midwest tradition: a stroll on a frozen lake. Read more
Jan 6, 2023
2:45 PM
In the paper
United against Ron Johnson. But who is the best candidate to beat him?
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson faces a reelection bid in one of the nation’s most politically divided states. History tells us Republicans should fare well in the upcoming midterms, but Johnson is unpopular and he’s running in a state won by Joe Biden. Read more
One Madison woman’s trip to Illinois for an abortion
On July 2, a 30-year-old Madison woman left her house to travel more than two hours to a clinic in Illinois to obtain a medication abortion to end her pregnancy. Since the Dobbs decision, she no longer has access to legal abortion in Wisconsin. Read more
Madison's Jacknife embraces an of-the-moment approach to fast-casual sushi rolls, bowls and salads
Jacknife is the fast-casual sibling of Red, one of the more innovative Japanese restaurants in town. So expectations were high when it opened in March. Read more
Wisconsin’s ‘honor’ system for removing guns failed Jesi Ewers
The conditions of his bail for domestic battery should have kept James “J.T.” Budworth from using his guns. They didn’t. Two months after being released from custody, Budworth used one of his guns to murder Jessi Ewers before taking his own life. Read more
The Dane County Farmers’ Market’s 50th anniversary cookbook is still looking to round out the collection
Do you have a yummy parsnip cake recipe passed down to you from your Eastern European mom-mom? This cookbook project is interested. Read more