05.30.2024

Today’s Forecast

73º | 3% chance of rain | Sunrise 5:20 a.m. | Sunset 8:29 p.m.

📖 Buy the book

Madison’s Grimm Book Bindery has been in operation since 1854

Tracy Seyfert, president of Grimm Book Bindery handling paper in the manufacturing building.JPG

Tracy Seyfert has been employed at Grimm Book Bindery for over 40 years. | Photo by 608today

Tracy Seyfert, president of Grimm Book Bindery, is surrounded by history. In her workspace, she’s surrounded by sewing machines, rolls of leather, reams of paper, and even a guillotine, for restoring and making books.

Founded in 1854, Grimm Book Bindery is one of the oldest businesses in Wisconsin. We recently visited the shop at 6880 Gisholt Dr. in Monona.

The inside of a book bindery company including old books, photos, and memorabilia on the walls.JPG — Gottleib Grimm learned the bookbinding trade while living in the Kingdom of Württemberg, Germany. | Photo by 608today

Chapter One

Gottlieb Grimm immigrated to Madison from Germany in 1850. Learning bookbinding from his father, Grimm bound the first book ever in Madison for Simeon Mills, one of the city’s first residents.

The business stayed in the family until Bill Grimm’s passing in 2020. Seyfert, who had been Grimm’s bindery manager, soon took over the business with her son, Matt Sebastian.

A book restorer amidst piles of books, papers, and tools.jpg — Grimm Book Bindery repairs and restores books of all kinds, as well as printing new books. | Photo by 608today

Chapter Two

Grimm’s is currently hiring for help on all sorts of projects, from ancestral family Bible repairs to spaghetti-stained family cookbook restorations.

But the business’s primary service is making books. Someone’s written a novel about a yachtsman and wants it bound in sailcloth? Seyfert can do that. Someone’s written a love poem for their spouse and wants a single copy made for their anniversary? Seyfert can do that, too.

She’s made it easy for clients to work with her:

Make-a-Book | You can design every part of your new book online.
Young Authors Digital Bookmaking Kit | Children can write and illustrate their own book and have it bound.

It’s been 170 years since Gottlieb Grimm started bookbinding in Madison, and Seyfert is hoping for another 170 years. As long as there’s a creative impulse and a desire to tell a story, there will be people like Seyfert, surrounded by sewing machines, leather, and guillotines, ready to make those thoughts last for generations to come.

Book on over for more

Events

Thursday, May 30

Messy Art: Spin Art Flowers | Thursday, May 30 | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton St., Madison | Free with museum admission | Create nature-inspired art with your tots and don’t worry about cleaning up.
Let’s Talk Saving Our Songbirds | Thursday, May 30 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Sequoia Library, 4340 Tokay Blvd., Madison | Free | Birders can flock to this discussion about local bird conservation efforts.

Friday, May 31

Fitchburg Center Farmers’ Market | Friday, May 31 | 3-6 p.m. | Agora Fitchburg, 5511 E. Cheryl Parkway, Fitchburg | Free | Find what you may need for your fridge or pantry by visiting with two dozen local vendors.
Taylor vs. Emo Night Party | Friday, May 31 | 9 p.m. | Majestic Theatre, 115 King St., Madison | $14-$35 | This dance party mashup will feature Swifties bopping along with Fall Out Boys.

Saturday, June 1

Dragon Art Fair | Saturday, June 1 | 9 a.m.-4 p.m. | Fireman’s Park, 300 Jefferson St., DeForest | Free | Listen to music, watch dance performances, and peruse over 125 artist vendor booths all to support area art students.
Family Opera Day | Saturday, June 1 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Overture Center, 201 State St., Madison | Free | The best family-friendly opera event in the aria includes a performance of “Beauty and the Beast.”

Sunday, June 2

Race For Agrace | Sunday, June 2 | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Agrace Madison, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Fitchburg | $15 | Stretch your legs on this short one mile walk or 5K run to benefit Agrace’s Care for All Fund.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Outdoors

On Saturday, June 1-Sunday, June 2, the City of Madison will waive permits and fees for its disc golf courses, dog parks, and lake access points. Additionally, the Wisconsin DNR’s Free Fishing Weekend allows you to fish without a license.

Traffic

A new traffic light will be installed at Northport Drive and School Road to address safety concerns. In the past five years, there have been 14 crashes at the intersection. Construction will begin in June. (WKOW)

Opening

The owner of Rude Brew Kombucha has something brewing. Lacy’s Cafe, a new snack bar, will be opening at the Bur Oak (2262 Winnebago St.) in June.

Sports

Frozena Jerro is the new assistant coach for the Wisconsin Badgers women’s basketball team. Jerro has spent the last six seasons as an assistant coach at Cleveland State University, winning the Horizon League championship last season.

Film

Madison native Alex Jacobs is ready for his close up. The Memorial High grad edited “In a Violent Nature,” a film that was at the Sundance Film Festival this year. It is getting its local release this Friday, May 31 at AMC Fitchburg 18 and Marcus Point Cinema. (Cap Times)

Award

Madison Police Department Sergeant Jared Prado was named Crisis Intervention Team Officer of the Year by NAMI Dane County. Overseeing the department’s mental health unit, Prado was honored for his efforts in improving the quality of life of Madisonians affected by mental illness.

Biz

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Eat

Looking to dine out this weekend? According to OpenTable, top-loved restaurants this month include D’Vino for food and Eno Vino Downtown for ambience.*

Outdoors

🌳 Park it here

Madison’s parks score with ParkScore

Sunset glows over Glacier Hill Park in Madison.jpg

Glacier Hill Park is but one of hundreds of parks in Madison. | Photo by 608today

We have over 270 parks to enjoy in Madison. Whether we’re playing pickleball, kayaking, or walking the dog, Madisonians love spending time outdoors.

In a recent survey, the Trust for Public Land ranked the 100 most populous cities in America on its parks, and Madison landed the No. 18 spot.

The key metrics used to score each city were access, acreage, amenities, equity, and investment.

How Madison fared

Access: 93 points
About 95% of Madisonians live within a 10-minute walk to a park.

Acreage: 53 points
More than 13% of the city’s area is made up of parkland.

Amenities: 71 points
We have 191 playgrounds and 11 dog parks.

Equity: 68 points
Low-income neighborhoods have 69% less park space than high-income neighborhoods.

Investment: 36 points
The annual park investment is $112 per resident.

Read the full report to learn more.

The Buy

The Buy 5.30.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

A bristle-free grill brush — so you can clean your grill until it’s like new without bristles shedding onto your cooking surface.

Answered

What is your favorite genre of Shakespeare plays?

With Shakespeare productions taking place throughout the 608 this summer, we recently asked what your favorite genre of Shakespeare plays is.

Comedies: 60%
Tragedies: 36%
Histories: 4%

You like to giggle.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Jonathan

From the editor

I am a self-proclaimed book nerd. My shelves are deeply laden with all manner of books. One of my favorite recent finds, a reprint of The Emigrant’s Handbook and Guide to Wisconsin, originally published in 1851.

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