Events

• Jan. 28 | Flying Through The Air
• Feb. 4 | Waltzing With Bears
• Feb. 11 | Just Clowning Around
• Feb. 18 | Music In The Air
• Feb. 25 | Riding The Elephant

Open mics

• A Room of One’s Own Bookstore, 2717 Atwood Ave., Madison
• Cargo Coffee, 750 E. Washington Ave., Madison
• Java Cat Coffee, 4221 Lien Rd., Madison
• Mother Fools Coffeehouse, 1101 Williamson St., Madison

Love poem to Madison contest

• American Girl Tea Party | Thursday, Jan. 25 | 3-4 p.m. | Sun Prairie Public Library, 1350 Linnerud Dr., Sun Prairie | Free | Bring a doll and have some tea.
• Lights Out! | Thursday, Jan. 25, Thursday, Jan. 25 | Times vary | MMSD Planetarium, 201 S. Gammon Rd., Madison | $6-$9 | Hear fascinating eclipse stories and learn about satellite monitoring.

• Disney’s The Little Mermaid | Friday, Jan. 26-Sunday, Jan. 28 | Times vary | Sun Prairie East High School , 888 Grove St., Sun Prairie | $12-$15 | Go see “Under the Sea” sung at Sun Prairie.
• Michael Charles | Friday, Jan. 26 | 8 p.m. | North Street Cabaret, 610 North St., Madison | $10 | Listen to a Chicago blues maestro.

• EMO Nite | Saturday, Jan. 27 | 9 p.m. | Crucible, 3116 Commercial Ave., Madison | $10-$15 | Prepare to get in your feels with your favorite emo throwbacks.
• Family Winter Prom | Saturday, Jan. 27 | 6-8 p.m. | Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, 1 John Nolen Dr., Madison | $5 | Family fun with DJs, cupcakes, and inflatables.

• Madison College Spring Training Baseball Camp | Sunday, Jan. 28 | 3:30-8 p.m. | H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium, 1701 Wright St., Madison | $105-$140 | This four-session camp will teach youth players in grades 1-9 new baseball skills and techniques.
• Candlelight: A Tribute to Taylor Swift | Sunday, Jan. 28 | 8:30-10:30 p.m. | Monona Terrace - Lecture Hall, 1 John Nolen Dr., Madison | $33.76 | Swifties rejoice.

• Frozen Fest: Puzzle Contest | Monday, Jan. 29 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Westside Community Services Building, 2598 W. Main St., Sun Prairie | Who can complete a 500-piece puzzle the quickest?

• Discounts: Shop food and products for up to 30% less than traditional grocers
• Perks: Snag 30% off your order when you become a member
• Gifts: Receive a complimentary gift, valued up to $60, upon joining
• Free shipping: Spend $49+ and get groceries delivered for free

• The semifinalists for the 2024 James Beard Awards were revealed yesterday, and three local names made the cut — Syovata Edari, for Outstanding Pastry Chef; Sean Pharr, for Best Chef, Midwest; and Pasture and Plenty for Outstanding Hospitality. Finalists will be announced on April 3 with winners announced on June 10.

• A vacant lot downtown might not be much longer. Madison Common Council unanimously approved a zoning change for the site, making a new 11-story hotel one step closer to reality. The site, at 33 W. Johnson St., was the Madison College’s former downtown campus. (Channel 3000)

• The Madison Metropolitan School District is eyeing a referendum for fall 2024. District administrators are considering it, as the district’s finances grow more strained with COVID relief funds ending in 2024, leaving the district a $40.6 million budget hole to fill. (Wisconsin State Journal)

• The Madison City Council unanimously chose John Guequierre to take over for Kristen Slack in representing District 19, which includes parts of the city’s West and Far West sides. Slack resigned due to an illness in her family. (Wisconsin State Journal)

• Dane County Parks recently hosted a meeting to promote its Parks and Open Space Plan, highlighting the Great Sauk-Walking Iron Trail project. The trail will turn three miles of railroad track, near Mazomanie, into a multi-use trail paired with the construction of a new bridge. (Daily Cardinal)

• Blood was needed before the winter storms. Now, the need for blood has become critical. The American Red Cross recently said the national blood supply is at “critically low levels.” There are several donation centers locally. (WKOW)

• The Wisconsin Film Festival, running April 4-11, will have new venues this year. With the closing of the AMC6 at Hilldale, one of the fest’s primary locations, staff had to find different locations. New venues include the Barrymore Theatre, the Bartell Theatre, Flix Brewhouse, and UW-Madison’s Music Hall. (Isthmus)

• You scream, I scream, we all scream for National Ice Cream for Breakfast Day. It takes place on Saturday, Feb. 3. Local favorite Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream will be participating. (Madison Mom)

• Perfect for a cleaner, healthier home: this extra-large maple cutting board, which is BPA and phthalate-free and conditioned with beeswax, flaxseed, and lemon oil.*

• MMSD Planetarium, 201 S. Gammon Rd., Madison
  The Madison Metropolitan School District has public events during the school year.
  
• Washburn Observatory, 1401 Observatory Dr., Madison
  The public is regularly invited to peer through the telescope.
  
• Yerkes Observatory, 373 W. Geneva St., Williams Bay
  Wisconsin’s most famous observatory.