Culture

Your one-stop love shop 💘

Six & Main is our online store where we show love to local artisans from our sister markets across the nation. | Photo by 6AM City

We’re head over heels for our readers. As we enter the month of love, we want to show our love by helping you choose the sweetest gifts from our online shop, Six & Main, which showcases local artists and small businesses from around the country.

Whether you plan to spend Valentine’s Day with your significant other, friends, or family — or simply by treating yourself — these goods will have you falling in love at first sight.

Taste the love 🍫
Indulge in hand-painted chocolates in this Valentine’s Day 12 Piece Bonbon Gift Box by Marble & Steel Craft Chocolates. Don’t forget to toast to love with a colorful cocktail glass from AlanaKayART, which pairs perfectly with this strawberry lemonade mixer from Simple Times Mixers.

Read the love 💌
Write something sweet to someone special using the “You Make Me Happy” card by Joy Paper Co. If you’re feeling extra smitten, let them know they’re “Quite the Catch.”

Show the love 🎨
No brushes or paint needed for this gift of art. Gift (or keep) this peonies watercolor painting by Kelsey Nichols Art or the “Smiling Faces Beautiful Places” by Dream a little ART SC.

Smell the love 🕯️
Let the mood fill the room with this rosemary sage candle by Resolute Candles, or smell the aroma of Venice with this bellini candle by Wixology Candle Company.

Wear the love ❤️
For the jewelry lovers, check out these heart necklaces from Eleven + Jane. What’s even sweeter? There are matching heart earrings to go with it. If you’d rather don on a love-inspired shirt, this flamingo button-down from Block + Ink is the perfect fit.

There’s more love to go around. Click the button below to explore the entire Valentine’s Day Gift Guide.

START SHOPPING

Click here to have your event featured.

Today, Jan. 30

Clean Lakes 101: Women in Water & Sustainability | Monday, Jan. 30 | 4-6 p.m. | The Edgewater, 1001 Wisconsin Pl., Madison | Free | Learn from women leading water and sustainability efforts in Wisconsin. 🌊
Pinney Playdate | Monday, Jan. 30 | 10-11:15 a.m. | Pinney Library, 204 Cottage Grove Rd., Madison | Free | Join other neighborhood families for a casual library playdate featuring open-ended play materials and lots of books. Ages 0-5.

Tuesday, Jan. 31

Upcycle Studio | Tuesday, Jan. 31 | 1:30-3:30 p.m. | Sequoya Library, 4340 Tokay Blvd., Madison | Free | Join local artist Poornima Moorthy to upcycle old materials into cool new projects during this adults-only crafting sesh.
Delta Beer Lab Vinyl Night | Tuesday, Jan. 31 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Delta Beer Lab, 167 E. Badger Rd., Fitchburg | Free | BYOV. Bring your favorite vinyl from home and spend the night jamming out to everyone’s favorite music while sipping brews. 🍺

Wednesday, Feb. 1

Wisconsin Badgers vs. Ohio State Women’s Basketball | Wednesday, Feb. 1 | Kohl Center, 601 W. Dayton St., Madison | 6:60 p.m. | $14+ | Cheer on our girls as they go head to head with the Big Ten’s No. 3 team. 🏀
Mad Can Food Drive | Wednesday, Feb. 1-Thursday, Feb. 28 | Various locations | Free | Support Badger Prairie Needs Network this February by bringing non-perishables to one of the participating member businesses.

Thursday, Feb. 2

Groundhog Prognostication Event | Thursday, Feb. 2, Thursday, Feb. 2 | 6:30-8 a.m. | Cannery Square, 1 Cannery Sq., Sun Prairie | Free | In addition to a color guard performance and local shop specials, the all-knowing Jimmy the Groundhog will be determining our fate for the remainder of the winter season. 🔮
Protecting the Black Woman Art Exhibit | Thursday, Feb. 2 | 6-8 p.m. | The Gallery at Truax, 1701 Wright St., Madison | Free | The exhibition includes work from multiple artists who highlight the experience of Black women through multiple mediums and lenses.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather

5º | Partly cloudy | 14% chance of snow
City officials are requesting that all public sidewalks be shoveled today by 12 p.m. Madison homeowners are responsible for clearing all sidewalks that border their property. In addition to shoveling, residents can visit nearby parks that offer free sand to sprinkle on sidewalks. (NBC 15) ⛄

Job

Madison Public Library’s Bubbler Program is seeking to fill short-term artist positions for a new community project. For a monthly $1,000 stipend, artists will be expected to spend a few hours a week contributing to the “Our Town Everywhere” project focusing on self-portraits of locals. 🎨

Opening

Rebecca M. Blank’s Center for Campus History opens this summer. The Public History Project’s “Sifting and Reckoning” exhibit inspired this center via its commentary on UW’s history of exclusion. The goal is to confront unsavory aspects of the school’s past in order to learn and grow as a community. (Cap Times)

Cause

The Wispact Foundation has donated $30,000 to a local nonprofit geared toward supporting individuals with Down syndrome. With three locations, Gigi’s Playhouse will allocate $10,000 to each in order to keep their services completely free to the families they work with. 💰 (NBC 15)
To raise money for affordable housing in Dane County, UW-Madison and Habitat for Humanity are hosting Madison’s 25th annual Souper Bowl. Stop by West High School on Saturday, Feb. 4 from 12-6 p.m. for soup, raffles, and a silent auction. (Isthmus)

Civic

Previously offered four days a week, Madison Police Department is cutting its fingerprinting service hours down to just Wednesdays and Fridays. Those applying for professional licenses can stop by from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. and pay $10 to get a fingerprint card issued.

Health

The All of Us Research Researcher Workbench offers researchers the ability to make associations within an integrated dataset by cross-referencing data from participants’ genes, environments, and life circumstances from across the country. Read: It makes researching diseases easier. Learn more about the project.*

Finance

Erase credit card interest until nearly 2025? Sounds good to us. This balance transfer card can do just that, providing you up to 21 months for the important stuff: travel, education, good food, time with family, or paying off debt. Apply today in minutes.*

Wellness

If one of your 2023 goals is to create more time for self care and relaxation, an acupressure mat is a must. The mats are designed to stimulate pressure points to relieve tension, decrease stress levels, and increase circulation. This ProsourceFit full body mat includes neck support.*

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

Getting bizzy 💼

Madison’s presence on Wisconsin 275 List

The Capital grounds have plenty of lawn and bench seating. | Photo by 608today

Wisconsin’s most influential business leaders have been recognized in BizTime Media’s “Wisconsin 275" list.

Here are just a few Madisonians recognized:

Missy Hughes | Secretary/CEO of Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.
When she’s not enjoying time on her farm, Missy helps businesses grow via grants and tax incentives.

Rev. Alex Gee | CEO, Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership Development
A keystone of Black excellence in Madison, this leader brings attention to racial disparities and is opening a $38 million cultural center next year.

Jennifer Mnookin | Chancellor, University of Wisconsin-Madison
With degrees from Harvard, Yale, and MIT, UW’s Chancellor oversees nearly 50,000 students.

Jason Fields | President/CEO, Madison Region Economic Partnership
Inspired by Warren Buffett, this CEO manages a venture capital fund supporting underserved entrepreneurs.

Emily Gruenewald | Chief Development + Communications Officer, Overture Center
A firm believer that life is all about taking risks, Emily and her team ushered the arts center through the pandemic.

Check out BizTime’s full list and digital magazine for more.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Ally.

Editor’s pick: I persevered through the ultimate Dry January test this weekend catching a show at Comedy on State. While the Diet Pepsi was good, Annie Lederman’s set was far better. I’ll be back twice in February for Stavros Halkias and Atsuko Okatsuka. I always look forward to the custom specialty drinks the comedy club makes for each special act that visits.

Missed our last newsletter? We checked out Madison’s James Beard semifinalists.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Ally Geiger, Josh Kranzberg, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Ana Gibson | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

ADVERTISE | SHOP | CAREERS | ETHICS

Did a friend forward this free newsletter to you?

Content marked with an * is paid advertising. Content marked with an ^ is created by our content studio. The company may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter.

Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.

P.O. Box 2505, Greenville, SC 29602

ADVERTISE | CAREERS | ETHICS | PRIVACY | THE BUY