November 20, 2023

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Today’s Forecast

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

Y’all want some good Southern food?

Madison has their fair share of places to find Southern food. | Photo by Marie’s Soul Food

Madison doesn’t have a lot of Southern-inspired restaurants. You’re more apt to find cheese curds here than chittlins; pretzels more than pimento cheese; hopped-up beer over sides of hoppin’ john.

Yes, there’s Cracker Barrel, Popeye’s, and Chick-fil-A, but, thankfully, there are a handful of local restaurants in the area serving up good ol’ fashioned soul food, barbecue, and New Orleans favorites.

House of Flavas, 4903 Commercial Ave., Madison
Tucked inside an east side gas station is a Chicago-infused soul food restaurant. Owned by Jodie Jefferson, the fried chicken and fried fish meals are bestsellers.

Classic dish: Catfish dinner
New twist: Swamp punch

Madison’s House of Flavas is tucked inside a gas station. | Photo by House of Flavas

Marie’s Soul Food, 1637 Monroe St., Madison
“We’ll make you feel like family,” its slogan says, and the family will not go hungry. With pork rib meals, baked chicken, collard greens, and more, the eatery has been dishing comfort food since 2018.

Classic dish: Baked macaroni and cheese
New twist: A late night menu on Friday and Saturday from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

North of the Bayou, 802 Atlas Ave., Madison
With a goal to “bring the world together,” the family-owned Cajun restaurant serves up all the classics in its spacious location.

Classic dish: Étouffée
New twist: Jambalaya chimichanga

Primal ‘Cue, 836 Grove St., Sun Prairie
Primed to heat up Madison’s barbecue scene, Sun Prairie’s new Primal ‘Cue has got juicy brisket and fall-off-the-bone ribs.

Classic dish: St. Louis-style ribs
New twist: Bourbon apples

Rue Bourre, 4692 Cottage Grove Rd., Madison
Madison’s newest entry to the Cajun food scene opened in late October. Owner Rebekah Ulrich, who grew up in NOLA, learned to cook from her mother.

Classic dish: Shrimp and grits
New twist: Voodoo egg rolls

Smoky Jon’s has been a Madison institution for over 40 years. | Photo by 608today

Smoky Jon’s, 236 Packers Ave., Madison
It’s been in Madison for over 40 years, winning numerous world and national barbecue championships. The establishment has brisket, hot links, ribs, and paper towels to clean your fingers.

Classic dish: Smoked chopped pork shoulder dinner
New twist: Sugar fried biscuits

Asked

What Southern food have you always wanted to try but haven’t yet?

A. Étouffée
B. Shrimp and grits
C. Collard greens
D. Other

Dig in

Events

Monday, Nov. 20

Teejop & Beyond: Decolonizing Gender and Sexuality | Monday, Nov. 20 | 6 p.m. | Central Library, 201 W. Mifflin St., Madison | Free | Rethink gender and sexuality through an Indigenous lens.

Tuesday, Nov. 21

Open Mic | Tuesday, Nov. 21 | 6-8 p.m. | Java Cat, 4221 Lien Rd., Madison | Free | Have a poem you want to share? Maybe you’ve been practicing a flute concerto in your laundry room? Share it with others.
Smarty Pints Trivia | Tuesday, Nov. 21 | 7 p.m. | High Noon Saloon, 701 E. Washington Ave., Madison | Free | Be a whiz with a weizenbock.

Wednesday, Nov. 22

Tree-Ripe Fruit Co. Citrus Stop | Wednesday, Nov. 22 | 12 p.m. | Capital Brewery, 7734 Terrace Ave., Middleton | Orange you glad you picked up some produce at the brewery?
Drinksgiving | Wednesday, Nov. 22 | 8-11 p.m. | Lone Girl Brewing Co., 14 E. Main St., Waunakee | Free | Thanksgiving can be pie, but it can also be pints. Enjoy live music by Finding North.

Thursday, Nov. 23

Free Thanksgiving Meal | Thursday, Nov. 23 | 12-3 p.m. | First Congregational United Church of Christ, 1609 University Ave., Madison | Free | Celebrate the holiday with your neighbors.

Friday, Nov. 24

Madison Makers Black Friday Market | Friday, Nov. 24 | 12-5 p.m. | The Sylvee, 22 S. Livingston St., Madison | Free | Holiday arts and crafts vendors, plus alcohol.
Celebration of Tom Petty | Friday, Nov. 24 | 8 p.m.-12 a.m. | Majestic Madison, 115 King St., Madison | $15-$30 | Be freeeeeeee, freeeeeeee fallin’ for a Tom Petty tribute show.

Saturday, Nov. 25

FUN Walk | Saturday, Nov. 25 | 1:30-3:30 p.m. | Pheasant Branch Conservancy, 4864 Pheasant Branch Rd., Middleton | Free | Burn off some of that holiday feast.
Jokes and Jazz | Saturday, Nov. 25 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | The Caspian Grill, 610 Junction Rd., Madison | $5-$15 | How do you fix a broken tuba? With a tuba glue.

Tuesday, Dec. 12

Trivia Night at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum | Tuesday, Dec. 12 | 7-8 p.m. | 30 W. Mifflin St., Madison | Free | Test your historical knowledge as an individual or with a team at Wisconsin Veteran’s Museum virtual event (free, but RSVP in advance).*

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Shop

Ring in the holidays with these gifts

This holiday season shop for unique gifts from our small business partners. | Photo by 6AM City

Our online shop (Six & Main), a site that celebrates small businesses locally and in our 25 sister markets, is dishing out major deals this holiday season. From coffee to artwork and apparel, there’s a gift for everyone.

Black Friday

30% off items included in our gift guides for her + him

Cyber Monday

30% off Treat Yourself Gift Guide

There are more savings this weekend for the foodies, pet parents, and more…

Unwrap more gifts

News Notes

Development

It’s really happening. The long-discussed public market will officially break ground at the end of the month. The Madison Public Market project has been discussed locally for years, plagued by rising construction costs and budget shortfalls. It has a planned 2025 open date. (Channel 3000)

Sports

Braelon Allen’s 3-yard touchdown run in overtime sealed the deal for the Wisconsin Badgers football team. This weekend’s 24-17 victory over Nebraska has made the team bowl eligible for the 22nd straight season. (Channel 3000)

Closing

You won’t be able to cozy up to the bar at the Silver Dollar Tavern much longer. The downtown drinking hole on Mifflin Street will be closing early next year to make way for redevelopment. The tavern is the oldest family-owned bar in the city. The owners might relocate. (Wisconsin State Journal)

Cause

Literacy Network and Centro Hispano, two nonprofits offering services for the Madison Latinx community, have both been awarded a grant from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service for their collaborative citizenship programming. (Madison365)

Holiday

Take a bough, Wisconsin State Capitol. The 2023 State Capitol Holiday Tree went up in the rotunda this week. Decorations will come later when children across the state send in ornaments representing this year’s theme: “Celebrating 175 Years of Wisconsinites.” (Fox 47)

Development

A new child care center is to be built in south Madison. Madison College will acquire the city’s Fire Station No. 6 for $1 and build the center to serve the community. Expected to accommodate 100 children, construction is set to begin next year with a 2025 opening date. (Blueprint365)

Biz

A Janesville-based nuclear technology company, with Madison-area facilities, is getting a pro-TON of money to expand their business. SHINE Technologies received a $70 million investment for applications of nuclear fusion technology used in the defense, industrial, and healthcare sectors of the economy. (Wisconsin State Journal)

Travel

Pack your patience. AAA anticipates that this year will mark the third busiest Thanksgiving travel season since 2001. Over a million Wisconsin residents are predicted to journey at least 50 miles for the Thanksgiving holiday. (WKOW)

Food

Chef Dan Fox, of Madison’s Heritage Tavern, is looking sharp on the Food Network’s “Chopped,” part of a “Julia Child’s Kitchen” competition series. Fox opened Heritage Tavern in 2013, and also owns Willow Creek Farms. (Cap Times)

Award

Good Housekeeping thinks Madison is good, thank you very much. As part of its 2024 Family Travel Awards, Madison was listed as a “Must-See” city, highlighting our exceptional value to travelers. (Good Housekeeping)

Family

Let’s go LEGO. Brick Fest Live is one of the largest LEGO festivals in the country and will be coming to Madison’s Alliant Energy Center Saturday, Jan. 27-Sunday, Jan. 28. Tickets go fast.

Health

During Family Health History Month one proactive measure you can take is asking your family about their health history. Why? Because genetic variants that cause specific diseases can be hereditary. By knowing your family’s health background, you can take steps to manage and reduce your risk. Learn more.*

Shop

Have you heard of the “Target Phenomenon” — why people can’t leave Target without a cartful of goodies? Brad’s Deals explains 11 reasons to love Target.*

Transit

🚌 The city’s BUS-y rapid transit line

The city of Madison was recently awarded over $110 million to help with its BRT project. | Photo via City of Madison | City of Madison

The city of Madison recently received a busload of money to help fund the city’s bus rapid transit (BRT) project.

The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration awarded the city a $110.6 million construction grant to support the city’s planned East-West BRT line.

The system is set to run 15 miles from Junction Road to Sun Prairie, with stops at the UW-Madison campus, Capitol Square, and the East Towne Mall.

Construction of the line began earlier this year with an expected completion date at the end of 2024.

Discussions have been had about the North-South BRT line as well. The line, expected to be completed in 2027, will run from the north side of Madison, through the downtown and UW-Madison area, to the south side of the city, ending in Fitchburg.

The Buy

A Black Friday deal on the ultimate gift: A Bwine F7 GPS Camera Drone. They’ll have fun flying it and capturing incredible footage. Get it for ~~$529.99~~ $370.99.

Answered

Last week, we asked what your favorite retro arcade game is. Here’s what you said:

Game on, 608today readers. We’ll see ya at NerdHaven.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Jonathan

From the editor

The Capitol Holiday Tree has risen in the Wisconsin State Capitol. This is exciting. That means, I hope, TubaChristmas will return.

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