Fiction

• “The Sorrow of Others” by Ada Zhang | Release date: May 9, 2023 | Set shortly after the Cultural Revolution, the stories illuminate the lives of immigrants and revolutionaries.
• “Wine People” by Michelle Wildgen | Release date: Aug. 1, 2023 | Two ambitious young women enter the male-dominated wine industry in this acclaimed novel.

Learn something new

• “Madison Chefs: Stories of Food, Farms, and People” by Lindsay Christians | Release date: Dec. 21, 2021 | The food editor and arts writer for The Capital Times takes an in-depth look at nine local chefs.
• “We Had Fun and Nobody Died: Adventures of a Milwaukee Music Promoter” by Amy Waldman | Release date: June 25, 2024 | This biography follows Peter Jest as he rubs elbows with the likes of John Prine, Arlo Guthrie, and the Violent Femmes.
  

Personal stories

• “From Hardship to Hope: Crossing the great divides of age, race, wealth, equity, and health” by Judith Gwinn Adrian and Jaylin M. Stueber | Release date: Oct. 8, 2023 | Autobiographical but fictionally woven together, this book follows an older white woman and a young Black teenager who end up living together during the pandemic.
• “Moments of Happiness” by Mike Leckrone and Doug Moe | Release date: Sept. 10, 2024 | Leckrone makes note of his 50-year career as director of bands at UW-Madison.

• Drawing in the Galleries | Thursday, June 27 | 3 p.m. | Chazen Museum of Art, 750 University Ave., Madison | $20 | With materials provided, all skill levels are invited to make fine art amidst fine art.
• Capitol City Band | Thursday, June 27 | 7-8 p.m. | Rennebohm Park, 115 N. Eau Claire Ave., Madison | Free | Enjoy the symophonic band’s first concert of the season under the stars.

• Level Six Class Show | Friday, June 28 | 7:30 p.m. | Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center, 504 S. Brearly St., Madison | $10 | Giggle with a group of improv students from the Monkey Business Institute.
• Star 67 | Friday, June 28 | 8-11 p.m. | The Bur Oak, 2262 Winnebago St., Madison | $5-$10 | Come dance to one of the raddest ‘90s-'00s cover bands in town.

• Madison Public Library BIG Book Sale | Saturday, June 29 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. | Goodman South Madison Library, 2222 S. Park St., Madison | Cost of purchase | Book it on over for one of the biggest book sales of the year.
• Kellymoss Car Show | Saturday, June 29 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Agora Fitchburg, 5511 E. Cheryl Pkwy., Fitchburg | Free | See cool cars up close with food and fun for the whole family.

• Trek Madison West Pride Ride | Sunday, June 30 | 12-3 p.m. | Delta Beer Lab, 167 E. Badger Rd., Fitchburg | Free | Go on a bike ride with local LGBTQ+ folk and allies.

• Developers broke ground on more than 500 new affordable housing units are being built near the former Oscar Mayer plant on Roth Street. The Huxley Yards development that will include The View, a building serving families and individuals, and The Victoria, offering units for older adults.

• Middleton launched free public WiFi access at Lakeview Park to ensure visitors can stay connected while enjoying the outdoors. Visitors can select the “XXXX Free Wi-Fi” to log on. (Channel 3000)

• Middleton’s Sun Nuclear Corporation facility is closing. The layoffs, beginning the end of August, will affect 39 employees. Sun Nuclear provided patient safety solutions for diagnostic imaging and radiation therapy centers. (In Business)

• Exploring Wisconsin’s natural areas just got easier thanks to the Wisconsin DNR’s new Public Access Lands (PAL) app. PAL allows users to locate and find information on properties open for public use.

• See the Green Bay Packers practice on Lambeau Field for just $10 on Saturday, Aug. 3. The team’s Family Night will include giveaways, concessions, and a fireworks show. Tickets are on sale now.

• Registration is now open for the National Inventors Hall of Fame’s Camp Invention summer programs. Children in grades kindergarten through sixth grade will immerse themselves in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

• Raise a glass, drop a deal. We’ll be toasting to Drink Up Week — a celebration of Madison’s vibrant beverage scene — from Monday, July 22 to Friday, July 26. If you own a local business that serves beverages, join us by offering a fun drink deal to our readers. The last day to submit is tomorrow, June 28.

• Culver’s is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a “40 Years of Delicious” sweepstakes during July. Diners have the opportunity to win daily prizes (think: free frozen custard, gift cards, plushies) and be entered to win $40,000. Culver’s will also be serving a limited-time Berry Happy Birthday Concrete Mixer.

• Looking to dine out this weekend? According to OpenTable, top-loved restaurants this month include Lucille for food and The Statehouse for ambience.*

• When: Saturday, June 29
  
  • 10 a.m.: Amateur competition
  • 12 p.m.: Celebrity log rolling
  • 1 p.m.: Elite competition
• Where: Wingra Park and Boat Livery, 824 Knickerbocker St.
• What: Some of the greatest lumberjack athletes in the world will vie to become champion. Donations will be given to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America Wisconsin Chapter.

Can you participate?