Plus, Nick‘s Restaurant is closing.
 
April 23, 2024 6AM-Top banner logo-small.png

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Today’s Forecast

67º | 19% chance of rain | Sunrise 6:01 a.m. | Sunset 7:49 p.m.

 
🎨 Paint the town
A woman and child working together to paint a large street mural
Take a stroll down State Street to see the new murals. | Photo via City of Madison
The 400 to 600 blocks of State Street have a new look. In preparation for this summer’s pedestrian mall experiment, over 600 Madisonians helped city staff spruce up a chunk of State Street with vibrant murals this past weekend.

The experiment

Stretching from Gorham Street to Hawthorne Court, the pedestrian mall experiment launches on Wednesday, May 8. This six-month trial will explore the potential of State Street as a car-free public space. “We hope it will encourage others to come downtown and experience the amazing things our Downtown has to offer,” said Urban Design Planner Rebecca Cnare.

608 pedestrian mall

The experimental pedestrian mall will span the 400-600 blocks of State Street. | Rendering via City of Madison

The City initially presented the concept to the public in December 2023. Over 300 Madisonians unanimously voted in favor of the experiment.

Some excited thoughts from the public poll included:
  • “As European cities have shown us, spaces where people are free to casually gather and socialize are vital to people’s mental health.”
  • “Less cars! More people-centered structure.”
  • "[This] will be a gateway to making the city more pedestrian-friendly...”
  • “Opportunity to make it more community-based and inclusive for everyone.”

The murals

From afar, this area of State Street now looks filled with polka dots. Take a closer look to see the details of the many circular murals.

A group of people working together on a street mural

Hundreds of Madisonians volunteered to help paint State Street. | Photo via City of Madison

Some larger designs include flamingos (Madison’s official bird) and a hopscotch court, while some smaller designs include Madison-specific items like a sailboat, ice cream, Madison’s flag, and the Winter Carnival’s Lady Liberty.

The following local artists contributed designs for the stencils used during the community mural day:
Now that the street murals are finished, the city will begin adding 18 new benches, 23 planters, and a few flamingo sculptures to the area over the next few weeks.
 
Events
 
Tuesday, April 23
  • Themed Trivia: “Harry Potter” | Tuesday, April 23 | 7-9 p.m. | The Rigby, 119 E. Main St., Madison | Cost of purchase | Prizes will be awarded for the best costume and team name during this themed trivia night where Hufflepuffs and Slytherins alike are welcome.
Wednesday, April 24
  • Just Bach | Wednesday, April 24 | 12-12:30 p.m. | Luther Memorial Church, 1021 University Ave., Madison | Free | Like Schwarzenegger, the famed Baroque composer is Bach with a selection of pieces performed by local musicians.
  • Third Space Open Day | Wednesday, April 24 | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Ethical Trade Co., 3565 Tulane Ave., Madison | Free | Come to this communal space to work, read, or just look around while enjoying free coffee.
Thursday, April 25
Friday, April 26
  • Bicycles and Brews | Friday, April 26 | 4-7 p.m. | Starkweather Brewing Co., 2439 Atwood Ave., Madison | $99 | RSVP to get a bike tune-up from Curbside Bicycles while enjoying award-winning beer and food.
  • Burgers on the Bay | Friday, April 26 | 5-8 p.m. | Brittingham Boats, 701 W. Brittingham Pl., Madison | $28-$60 | Rent a paddleboard or kayak to venture out to the burger barge while enjoying live local music.
Click here to have your event featured.
 
 
▼SPONSORED▼
Drink
 
🍷 Sip and savor local samples at Uncork Me Wisconsin
A hand pouring a can of cider into a glass.
Pro tip: Designated driver tix are just $10. | Photo provided by Brothers Molloy Events
Sip, sip, hooray! Uncork Me Wisconsin returns for its third year on Saturday, May 11.

The expansive wine tasting festival, happening downtown at Breese Stevens Field, features:
  • Unlimited wine, mead, and cider samples (all from Wisconsin vendors)
  • Bites from Bob’s BBQ Emporium + Cafe Costa Rica
  • Drag performances by Bianca Lynn Breeze + more fabulous queens
  • Aerial shows by Elemental Aerial Arts
  • Music by DJ Nick Nice
  • Cornhole + giant Jenga
Pro tip: All tickets include endless sampling.
 
News Notes
 
Closing
  • In 1959, Nick and Serena Christakos opened Nick‘s Restaurant. On Saturday, May 11, it will close for good. In a Facebook post, the owners said that a new restaurant is slated to open at the same location in July. We’ll keep you posted as we learn more.
Civic
  • The Madison City Council voted to change zoning codes. Accessory dwelling units (think: garage apartments, in-law suites, granny flats) can now be built on more properties without the owners having to live on-site. (Cap Times)
Sports
Outdoors
  • A new, sturdier pier is replacing the one that collapsed last year on Lake Mendota, which sent 30 people into the water and two for medical care. The $160,000 pier will be installed in early June. (Wisconsin State Journal)
Development
  • A new 15-story student housing project at 306 N. Brooks St. and an eight-story building with units for Dane County’s unhoused population at 521 E. Washington Ave. are coming to fruition through a partnership between LZ Ventures of Madison and Porchlight Inc. (Wisconsin State Journal)
State
  • On Monday, Gov. Tony Evers and Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources announced raising the state’s tree-planting goal from 75 million to 100 million trees by 2030. Find out how you can get in on the arbor action via the DNR. (Channel 3000)
Number
  • $27,000. That’s the revenue garnered from new tours booked for Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin after it appeared on a recent episode of “Top Chef.” (Wisconsin State Journal)
 
 
History
 
⌛ Elmside’s history
The front of an Italian vila-style sandstone mansion in Madison, Wisconsin.JPG
Simeon and Maria Mills built this mansion in 1863. | Photo by 608today
The elegantly named Elmside, was once not so elegantly named.

When the Italian villa-style sandstone mansion was built in 1863 on 191 acres, it was called “Mills Folly,” since the property was comically far away from Madison’s town center (at the time). Located at 2709 Sommers Ave., it’s now not far from Atwood Avenue’s bustling thoroughfare of bookstores, breweries, and eateries.

Who thought it wasn’t a folly at all? Its owner, Simeon Mills. Simeon, and his wife Maria, came to Madison from Ohio in June 1837, when Madison was only a year old.

Mills would be Madison’s first storekeeper, justice of the peace, newspaper publisher, and insurance company owner in addition to:
  • A member of the first UW-Madison Board of Regents
  • Dane County’s first state senator
  • A railroad tycoon
  • A real estate developer
  • Bank owner
In other words, he was busy and had the means for the palatial estate. His wife disliked it, however, so they moved closer to town. Decades ago, it was made into the apartments that remain to this day.

Is there a Madison mansion in your neighborhood that you’ve been curious about? Let us know.
 
The Buy
 
The Maizie Clarke Collection. If you’re looking for ways to prepare for the Kentucky Derby, this brand has the sweetest derby-inspired products.
 
 
The Wrap
 
Ally Geiger.jpg Today’s edition by:
Ally
From the editor
Fun fact: Madison’s official bird isn’t just the flamingo, it’s a plastic lawn flamingo. This stems from a UW-Madison student prank back in 1979.
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