07.17.2023

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Today’s Forecast

35º | Cloudy | 15% chance of sleet | Sunrise 7:28 a.m. | Sunset 4:39 p.m.

🎼 Open air opera

Don’t miss this year’s Opera in the Park performance in Madison

Enjoy a serenade under the sky. | Photo by Satya Rhodes-Conway

Madison Opera, originally known as The Opera Workshop, was established in 1961 as part of the Madison Civic Music Association, which also included the Madison Symphony Orchestra. It was led by stage director Arline Johnson and conductor Roland Johnson. The first production, “La Bohème,” took place in 1963. Initially, the company staged one opera annually with a modest budget of $6,000.

608 madison opera 1961.jpeg — The Madison Opera Workshop (1961) | Photo via Madison Opera

Over time, Madison Opera expanded alongside the growth of the city and became independent from the Madison Civic Music Association and Madison Symphony.

When the Overture Center for the Arts opened in 2004, Madison Opera became a resident company in Overture Hall. This move allowed for larger-scale productions and the addition of a third production in the Capitol Theater.

Madison Opera has showcased over 70 operas in the past six decades from the 18th to the 21st century, performed in seven different languages.

Opera in the Park

This Saturday, July 22 is Opera in the Park. The free outdoor concert is held in Garner Park and features soloists, the Madison Opera Chorus, and the Madison Symphony Orchestra.

Schedule | The concert runs from 8 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. with a 20-minute intermission following a rendition of Poscini’s “Te Deum.” Check out the full repertoire of the evening’s performances.

Parking | Free parking will be available at TruStage and University Research Park.

Accessible parking | There will be a drop-off point at the Garner Park walking path on Rosa Road. Find accessible parking spots on Rosa Road, Driftwood Avenue, and South Hill Drive. Golf cart shuttles will also be offered to those with limited mobility before + after the show.

Food | Soda, water, and ice cream will be available for purchase on-site. Otherwise, attendees are welcome to pack a cooler with their favorite picnic fare — booze included.

Rain check | Sunday, July 23 at 8 p.m.

Events

Monday, July 17

Concerts At McKee | Monday, July 17 | 6-9 p.m. | McKee Farms Park, 2930 Chapel Valley Rd., Fitchburg | Free | Catch a free outdoor performance by The People Brothers Band.

Tuesday, July 18

East Side Farmers’ Market | Tuesday, July 18 | 4-7 p.m. | McPike Park, 202 S. Ingersoll St., Madison | Free | Shop your favorite local vendors at this outdoor market.
Open Mic | Tuesday, July 18 | 6-8 p.m. | Java Cat, 4221 Lien Rd., Madison | Free | Spotlight artists, musicians, readers, writers, theater + comedy bits.

Wednesday, July 19

Porch Pups | Wednesday, July 19 | 6-8 p.m. | Thirsty Goat, 3040 Cahill Main, Fitchburg | $75 | Dogs and their owners will learn about proper outdoor dining etiquette.
Madison Mallards vs. Wisconsin Rapids | Wednesday, July 19 | 6:35 p.m. | Warner Park, 2920 N Sherman Ave, Madison | $6.08 | Bring your furry friends to join Underdog Pet Rescue of Wisconsin.

Thursday, July 20

Adult Board Game Night | Thursday, July 20 | 6 p.m. | Goodman South Madison Library, 2222 S. Park St., Madison | Free | Revisit old favorites or try something brand new from the library’s collection.
Dane County Fair | Thursday, July 20-Sunday, July 23 | Alliant Energy Center, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Wy., Madison | $10 | Enjoy live music, fair food, animal exhibits, and more.

Friday, July 21

Cocktails and the Cosmos | Friday, July 21 | 9 p.m.-12 a.m. | Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, 1 John Nolen Dr., Madison | $20-$25 | Spend a star-studded evening sipping cocktails, searching for constellations, and surveying the galaxy through telescopes.

Events calendar here

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Community

Your ultimate guide to Madison has arrived

Fall in love with the city even more with our Ultimate City Guide. | Graphic by 6AM City

We all know that Madison is a special place with a never-ending supply of things to do, see, and experience. That got us thinking — we already spend our days helping you get the most out of our city. So what if we curated a collection of guides that will be updated and available anytime to help you navigate all our great city has to offer?

That’s just what we’ve done. Say hello to 608today’s City Guide, your ultimate digital destination for the best ways to get out there and learn about the city you love.

We’ve broken the guides into three categories:

LIVE — Schools, neighborhoods, and unwritten rules of the city
WORK — Top industries, startups, and great spots to work outside
PLAY — Parks, festivals, hikes, and date nights

That just scratches the surface. We’ve got guides to local Airbnb and Vrbo rentals, navigating the airport, volunteer opportunities around town, and even where you and your pooch can grab a drink together.

Ready to get to know your city even better? Check out the link below. And if there’s a guide you’d love to see, send us a suggestion because this list of guides will just keep growing.

Oh, and one more thing. For all you marketing folks out there, we have one exclusive sponsorship available. We will feature your brand next to everywhere the guides appear in the newsletter, website, and social media. It’s an opportunity that won’t last long, so drop us a line.

Start exploring now

News Notes

Community

Get involved in the West Area Plan by attending an upcoming meeting. Two virtual meetings will be held this month — one tomorrow, July 18, and one on Wednesday, July 26.

Madisonian

Dr. Shon Barnes, the Chief of the Madison Police Department since 2021, is among the three finalists for the position of Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson will make the final decision in the next 30 days. (Madison 365)

Drink

Check out Ale Asylum’s beer release calendar for the remainder of 2023. Hopalicious and Ambergeddon will be continuously available while some seasonal releases include Velveteen Habit in the fall and Bedlam in winter.

Festival

While food vending is invite-only, Madison Vegan Fest is accepting applications for exhibitors at this year’s fest. Learn more about the requirements and application process to get your vegan-friendly business involved.

Home

Refinance rates are skyrocketing. But home equity rates remain relatively low — which means that now is a great time to borrow against your home. Calculate your payment.*

Finance

Everyday investors profit from a $45 million Banksy collection (yes, the Banksy) thanks to Masterworks, who last sold one of the artist’s works at a 32% net gain. Masterworks has completed 13 exits (all profitable), with three recent sales delivering net annualized returns of 17.8%, 21.5%, and 35%. 608today readers can skip the waitlist to join.†*

Featured Deal

Been eyeing a new pair of sunnies? Now through Saturday, July 29, SSM Health is offering $100 off a pair of prescription sunglasses (frame and lenses), or 25% off a pair of non-prescription sunglasses. Snag the deal.*

† See important Masterworks disclosures.

Event

🦋 The butterflies are back

Madison’s Blooming Butterflies are back at Olbrich Gardens

Stop by Olbrich Botanical Gardens before Sunday, August 6 to see the butterflies. | Photo by Olbrich Botanical Gardens

Stop by Olbrich Botanical Gardens before Sunday, Aug. 6 to check out the Blooming Butterflies exhibit, where 19 different species of free-flying butterflies have taken over the Bolz Conservatory.

Admission is priced by age:
13 and up — $8
6-12 — $5
5 and under — Free

Bike for Butterflies

To encourage bike transportation in Madison, Olbrich is offering various perks + activities for bikers who love butterflies.

Giveaway | Bike to Blooming Butterflies to receive a milkweed seed packet or custom Bike for Butterflies sticker.
Free passes | Participants of Free Bikes 4 Kidz, Wheels for Winners, or Bike Fed Camp will get free Blooming Butterfly passes.
Free tune-ups | From 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Thursday, July 20 + Friday, Aug. 4
Bike Parade | Don your best butterfly garb and spread milkweed seeds — 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 22 at Unity Park.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Ally

From the editor

We’ve received a ton of great feedback on our “Top Chef” survey from last week. Get your submissions in today and stay tuned to see what the 608today subscribers are envisioning for Season 21 of “Top Chef.”

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