12.21.2023

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Today’s Forecast

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

🌏 Explore the world — digitally

Try This: Explore the world with Google Arts & Culture

Don’t worry, there’s no map required. | Photo via Pexels

Whether you’re eager to learn more about different cultures across the globe without stepping foot in an airport, or you want to spend your lunch break doing something other than scrolling social media — we’ve got a pretty neat activity for you to try.

Google Arts & Culture, a digital initiative to make the world’s art and culture more accessible, has partnered with 2,000+ cultural institutions and artists to create a free online platform with high-resolution images and videos of art and artifacts.

608today aerial — One isthmus, 100+ neighborhoods, and endless personality. | Photo by @egorchels

Madison, WI

There’s no place like Madison. Explore our isthmus through Google Arts & Culture’s 750+ photos that date back to the late 1800s. Plus, view exhibits from the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art.

Bonus: Visit some 608 museums in person.

Mexico City, Mexico

Fun Fact: Mexico City is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world. Visit it virtually through 5,500 historic photos and 25 digital collections, including Museo Frida Kahlo and the Museum of the Purpose of the Object.

Nashville, TN

Check out photos that date back to the mid-1800s and view a digital collection by the Country Music Hall of Fame that explores everything from Nashville’s music scene from 1945 to 1975, to a story about Loretta Lynn.

New York, NY

View some of the Big Apple’s most iconic museum collections like:

Want more? There are 63 more collections available on Google Arts & Culture, and ~150,000 photos.

Paris, France

See the Eiffel Tower over the decades and more via 30,000 historic images. Plus, view 40 different collections, including the Musée d’Orsay and the Paris Opera.

Seattle skyline — There’s so much to *sea* in the Queen City. | Photo via @viajes1941

Seattle, WA

The other isthmus, we never tire of learning about the Emerald City. Check out this shot from the Seattle World’s Fair in 1962.

Explore more cities

Events

Thursday, Dec. 21

Free Mending | Thursday, Dec. 21 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Central Library, 201 W. Mifflin St., Madison | Free | Members of the Sewing Machine Project will be available to mend your things for free.
The Whiskey Farm | Thursday, Dec. 21 | 8-11 p.m. | The Bur Oak, 2262 Winnebago St., Madison | $10-$12 | Support this local Americana and folk rock band.

Friday, Dec. 22

Silent Night | Friday, Dec. 22 | 7-10 p.m. | Forward Craft & Co., 2166 Atwood Ave., Madison | Cost of purchase | A silent disco dance party and winter solstice beer release.
Wisconsin Men’s Basketball vs. Chicago State | Friday, Dec. 22 | Kohl Center, 601 W. Dayton St., Madison | $15-$25 | Cheer on the Badgers as they face off against the Cougars.

Saturday, Dec. 23

Mediterranean Brunch | Saturday, Dec. 23 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | The Deliciouser, 931 E. Main St., Madison | $47 | Delight in handcrafted cocktails and a menu featuring the Deliciouser’s Mediterranean spice collection.
Holiday Meat Raffle | Saturday, Dec. 23 | 3-5 p.m. | VFW Post 1318, 2740 Ski Ln., Madison | $2+ | Wear your ugliest holiday sweater for the VFW’s last meat raffle of 2023.

Sunday, Dec. 24

My Favorite Places | Sunday, Dec. 24 | 1:30 p.m. | Picnic Point, 2000 University Bay Dr., Madison | Free | Join Naturalist Paul Noeldner and other friends of the UW Lakeshore Nature Preserve for a guided walk.
The Nutcracker | Sunday, Dec. 24 | Overture Center, 201 State St., Madison | $19-$95 | Get in the holiday spirit while enjoying this classic performance.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Traffic

Monona will be switching from Monona Express to Madison’s more extensive Metro Transit Lines. The new Metro route is expected to run through the heart of municipal Monona, and should start by early 2025. (Wisconsin State Journal)

Health

For those eager to learn a new skill in the coming year, the Madison Fire Department will be offering free hands-only CPR and AED training in January. The 90-minute class can help save a life. They take place at Fire Station 13 (6350 Town Center Dr.) on Jan. 31. (WKOW)

Opening

Middleton residents may be saying “Yes, sirree,” to patisserie when Le C’s patisserie and tea house opens a new location there in February. The business, currently in the 400 block of State Street, will have a new shop on Elmwood Avenue in Middleton, serving bubble teas, cheesecakes, and more. (Cap Times)

Family

New exhibits are being shown at Sun Prairie’s Explore Children’s Museum including a Zen Den for guests with sensory issues. The museum, celebrating its second anniversary in January, is geared towards kids ages 0-8. (WMTV)

Wellness

Winter can make one blue, that’s why the library is making available HappyLights light therapy lamps for checkout from all its locations. HappyLights lamps mimic natural daylight and can be checked out for 14 days. (Wisconsin State Journal)

Travel

For those wanting to cross the Wisconsin River, you won’t be able to by ferry until next year. The popular Merrimac Ferry is closed for the season. The ferry made 34,000 crossings this year, carrying more than 176,000 vehicles and 2,700 bicycles. No timeline has been set for when it will reopen in 2024. (WMTV)

Art

We’ve been laughing it up this week at 608today, and the laughs keep on coming. Comedy on State will be hosting the “Best of the Midwest” from Dec. 21 to Dec. 23. It’ll showcase some of the best comics in our region including Olivia Witt, Jeff Brumfield, and Mike Jonjak.

Sports

Madison Forward FC has not one reason to buy soccer tickets, but six. Buy a six-pack of tickets and receive a six-pack of assorted beers delivered to your home. Hurry, the offer ends today.

Biz

For those Etsy types, time’s almost up to apply to be part of the Madison Makers Winter Market, which takes place on Feb. 17. Applications are due by midnight this Sunday, Dec. 24. The Madison Makers Winter Market and Pub Crawl has over 80 makers selling their wares.

Culture

📆 Keep your kids busy

Keep your kids busy during winter break in Madison

Experience all ALNC has to offer online, or in person. | Photo by ALNC

Madison Metropolitan School District students are on winter break through Tuesday, Jan. 2. Here are some ways to keep them busy — and keep yourself sane — in the coming week.

Camp Pawprint | $80-$95
Dane County Humane Society, 5132 Voges Rd., Madison

Activities include animal interactions, crafts, and educational lessons.

Coding session | Free
Code Ninjas, 743 N. High Point Rd., Madison

The organization is presently offering free sessions to newcomers.

Virtual Field Trips | Free
Aldo Leopold Nature Center (ALNC), 330 Femrite Dr., Monona

These videos — all under 15 minutes long — give an up-close look at the ALNC habitats and the critters who reside in them.

Winter Baking Adventure | $199
Sur la Table, 712 N. Midvale Blvd., Madison

Over four days — Tuesday, Dec. 26-Friday, Dec. 29 — kids ages 7-11 will learn basic baking and kitchen safety skills while whipping up wintry baked goods.

Need more ideas? We got you covered.

The Buy

The Buy 12.21.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

Goofy light up headbands or light up beanies to bring holiday cheer (and hilarity) to your seasonal gathering.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Ally

From the editor

My favorite part about winter break as a kid was getting to stay home and watch daytime TV. While I’m sure my parents wished I was tuned into PBS Wisconsin, I was partial to “The Wendy Williams Show,” and “The Tyra Show.”

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