Wellness

Symptoms of dry eyes

• A burning or scratchy feeling in your eyes
• Eye redness
• Watery eyes (the body’s response to the irritation of dry eyes)
• Mucus in or around your eyes
• Light sensitivity
• Feeling like you have something in your eyes
• Difficulty wearing contact lenses
• Difficulty driving at night
• Blurry vision
• Eye fatigue

Six ways to manage dry eyes

1. Add over-the-counter artificial tear drops (like Refresh, Systane, or TheraTears) to your routine
2. Place warm compresses on the eyes to help your glands produce more oil to cover the eye
3. Consider prescription anti-inflammatory drops
4. Reduce screen time
5. Talk to your primary care provider to rule out other reasons for dry eye
6. Schedule an appointment with an optometrist to discuss other treatment options as needed

• Bark, Scoot and Boogie | Saturday, Sept. 28 | 5-8 p.m. | Wisconsin Community Veterinary Center | $23+ | Bring your pups for a day of live entertainment, games, food, and drinks — proceeds benefit Shelter From the Storm Animal Rescue.
• Marcus King: “Mood Swings The World Tour” | Saturday, Sept. 28 | 8 p.m. | The Sylvee | $46+ | Catch the Grammy-nominated Americana singer in action.
• Fiery Flavor Fest | Sunday, Sept. 29 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Breese Stevens Field | Free | Samples hundreds of spicy sauces from across the globe + take home a free bottle of hot sauce.
• Nature Hike: Stormwater at the Arboretum | Sunday, Sept. 29 | 1-2:30 p.m. | University of Wisconsin-Madison | Free | Strap up your hiking books and get ready to learn about the Arboretum wetlands.

• First Friday Films | Friday, Oct. 4 | 6-8 p.m. | Madison Public Library | Free | Watch the PG-rated classic “Stand and Deliver” with snacks and drinks provided.
• Kip Moore | Friday, Nov. 15 | 8 p.m. | The Sylvee | $35 | Don’t miss your chance to see the country star with hits like “Last Shot” and “Somethin’ Bout a Truck.”

• A master plan was proposed for the Park Badger redevelopment site. The project includes plans for affordable housing and homes for older adults, a fire station, and a health clinic. Public feedback is still being accepted — share your thoughts.

• The nationally-acclaimed, Tony Award-winning musical comedy “Shucked” is coming to Overture Center from Tuesday, Feb. 4 through Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. “The Wall Street Journal” praised the show for its humor. Tickets are on sale now.

• Tofu anyone? Madison ranked No. 17 on WalletHub’s list of “Best Cities for Vegans & Vegetarians” based on metrics like cost of vegetarian groceries + number of salad shops. This should come as no surprise to anyone who has used our guide to vegetarian and vegan fare.

• Bring the family to Fall Fest at Aldo Leopold Nature Center on Friday, Oct. 18 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The free seasonal festival will have a costume parade, bonfire, bone yard, murder mystery, and science experiments.

• The online publication “Wealth of Geeks” polled America to find its favorite fall dishes, and Wisconsin’s beer cheese soup came in at No. 21. Want all the food news in our area? Read more on our website.

• Drum roll, please… Congratulations to the talented winners of the Madison Public Library and Wisconsin Book Festival WE READ Youth Voices Writing Contest. Book it to the Youth Voices page to read “Speak English” by grand prize winner + Madison West High School senior Grace Huang (plus more top entries).*

• Experts say thousands of folks with credit card debt are flocking to this leading card, which now offers 0% interest on balance transfers and purchases until nearly 2026. Pay down debts + avoid fees? Sounds like a fall must-do.*

• Advertising doesn’t need to be complicated. Our self-service portal puts your message in front of 37,890+ local eyes in as little as five minutes. See how easy it is to grow.

• Ready to silence the chaos and hear what matters? These next-gen hearing aids are here to crush the noise and put you back in control. With razor-sharp sound and a stealthy design, they’re your little secret. Hear the difference.*

• Rates just dropped. Now could be the perfect time to tap into your home equity — calculate your payment.*

Mural Alley | By The Bubbler + various artists

• “Better Together” | Zimbardi + Calomino and Henrique Nardi created a mural promoting unity, inspired by workshops with teens at the Dane County Juvenile Detention Center.
• “East Side of Madison” | Pete Hodapp collaborated with Capital High teens to create a mural showcasing Madison’s East Side history, including notable figures and businesses.
• “Canto a Madison” | Richie Morales collaborated with teens from the Dane County Juvenile Shelter Home to create this celebration of Madison summers.
• “Squeeze the Life Outta Lemons” | Amos Kennedy, Jr. sourced the text on this mural from Teen Bubbler songwriting and letterpress workshops.
• “Run the World” | Lesley Numbers collaborated with Goodman Community Center Girls Inc. to create a mural inspired by various sources — including Beyoncé — to discuss self-care + empowerment.