Embrace the holiday giving season with this guide that’s got something for everyone, including local finds. | Graphic by 6AM City
Season’s greetings, Madison. Holiday shopping time is upon us — look no further than these 90+ gift ideas, including unique local treasures and the season’s hottest items.
Gifts for singles
Local pick:Ultimate Cheeseboard Gift Set | $150-$275 | Forget the cheesy love stories and gift them cheese they’ll actually use with this Fromagination set.
Melissa Clark’s “Dinner in One” | $29.99 | A New York Times bestseller + a best cookbook of the year by Food & Wine, Melissa Clark’s recipe collection serves up delicious, one-pot meals for dinner.
Local pick:Muslin swaddle | $26.99 | Perfect for any new parents, these swaddles from Good Day Shop come in a variety of patterns.
Ceneda large cooler bag | $24.99 | This insulated, leak-proof tote is perfect for family road trips, beach trips, and everything in between.
Car backseat organizers | $34.99 | Speaking of road trips, these backseat car organizers are every parent’s best friend + come complete with a tablet holder.
Gifts for young people
Local pick:Farmer’s Market Color-in Tote | $16 | The only thing better than a reusable tote bag? One that you get to color in yourself.
Women’s cropped quarter zip | $52.99 | A bestseller in women’s fashion sweatshirts, this cropped sweatshirt comes in multiple colors and includes a thumb hole.
Spikeball set | $67.99 | A popular yard game they’ll want to play immediately after unwrapping.
Gifts for homebodies
Local pick:Unscented Sculpted Taper Candles | $12 | A design trend we’re loving? Long sculpted candles + unique candlesticks. This set from Linen & Clove is the ideal homebody gift.
Teabloom flowering tea set | $69.95 | A beautiful glass teapot and a set of flowering teas that bloom right in the pot.
Indie Sleaze Night | 10:30-11:30 p.m. | The Rigby | Free | Bust out your beanies + ripped skinny jeans — it’s time to jam out to your old Tumblr-era favorites.
Private Access Fish Hatchery Tour | | 2-3 p.m. | Nevin Springs Fishery | Free | Go tour the oldest Department of Natural Resources-managed land while learning about our local fish populations.
Beer and Cheese Pairing | | 3 p.m. | WineStyles Tasting Station - Sun Prairie, Sun Prairie | $20 | You’re just doing research for all of those incredible charcuterie boards you’re going to make — go enjoy some snacks.
Sunday, Nov. 17
Holiday Market | 12-4 p.m. | The Boneyard | $0+ | Bring your pup and shop goodies like dog treats + bandanas for your best friend.
Cooking Class: Retro Boozy Pies | 2-4 p.m. | Delectable | $79 | Sometimes you just need to take the edge off with a slice of cranbrandy pie — learn how.
Tuesday, Nov. 19
Sowing Native Seeds Over Winter | 2-3 p.m. | Pinney Library | Free | Learn how to make a mini greenhouse and then fill it with seeds for some winter-long green.
Themed Trivia: “Schitts Creek” | 7-9 p.m. | The Rigby | Free | Ew, David — you really think you know everything about the popular TV series? As if.
Wednesday, Nov. 20
MMoCA Cinema: “Richland” | 7 p.m. | Madison Museum of Contemporary Art | $7 | This documentary follows a rural Washington town as it grapples with its history of helping create the atomic bomb.
Lone Girl Line Dancing | 6-7:30 p.m. | The Lone Girl Brewing Company, Waunakee | $2+ | Get a quick lesson on some moves and then hit the floor for some rootin’ tootin’ fun.
Get ready for your stomach to start grumbling. “Top Chef: Wisconsin” finalist Dan Jacobs gave his list of his favorite restaurants in Wisconsin, and four Madison spots got mentions. Tornado Club Steak House, Mint Mark, Ogden’s North Street Diner, and Ha Long Bay (which has been closed for renovations) all received shoutouts. (Wisconsin State Journal)
Coming Soon
Let us float this to ya — the A&W restaurant chain is planning to open two to four new locations in Madison in the next five years. The company cited Madison’s status as the fastest growing area in the state as a main component for its expansion decision. (Wisconsin State Journal)
Development
Construction has started on a new Amazon fulfillment center in Cottage Grove after two years of delay. The new, five-story warehouse is set to span more than 3 million sqft, create up to 1,500 jobs, and contribute ~$245 million to the local economy. (Wisconsin State journal)
Outdoors
Keep an eye out. Two coyotes were recently spotted during the daytime in a few west Madison neighborhoods. Officials have encouraged locals to scare the animal away using noisemakers or by waving their arms around in order to encourage them to leave populated areas. (WMTV 15)
Traffic
A proposal to incorporate paid parking in some public parks lots is getting closer to final approval. The initiative, which is part of Madison’s 2025 Operating Budget, would make this addition as part of a short-term pilot in an effort to raise revenue for the park system. (Channel 3000)
Weather
Good news for Madisonians with weekend plans — it looks like we’re up for dry, breezy weather with highs in the mid- to upper-50s. However, expect some storms to move in by Tuesday. (Channel 3000)
Pets
Furniture gets scratched, shoes get chewed, toys go missing. These are regular occurrences in life with pets. But a $10,000 emergency surgery? That’s a whole other ball game. Fetch Pet Insurance could help you offset some of these nightmare scenarios by providing comprehensive coverage and up to 90% reimbursement.*
Finance
High interest rates are a major concern, and paying down debt is a top priority for many Americans. If we told you there was a trending card that now has 0% intro APR on balance transfers into 2026, would you believe us? You should.*
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Does anyone else refer to this as “the flamingo laundromat”? | Photo by Oh Ya Studio
We all know that Madison has a vibrant arts scene — and we’re not just talking about The Chazen or MMoCA. One of our all-time favorite galleries? Mad City itself.
The 608 is home to a number of meaningful murals and outdoor art pieces. Today, we’re sharing where to find art that really paints a picture of our city.
“Flamingo Swirls,” 701 E. Johnson St. | By Triangulador, Oh Ya Studio, Emily Balsley, and Ray Mawst Did you know that the official bird of Madison is the pink lawn flamingo? This mural pays homage to the bird and can be seen from five blocks away thanks to its vibrant colors.
“Sweet Frolic,” 2531 Monroe St. | By Emily Balsley This adorable work, with its bright bold color palette and smiling creatures, is the perfect pairing for the equally sweet Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream.
“Love Your Neighbor,” 1920 Parmenter St. | By Oh Ya Studio This positive message was inspired by Middleton’s nickname, “the Good Neighbor City.”
Hi Madison — Nice to meet you. I’ll be taking over these newsletters for a while, so I thought I’d introduce myself a bit with a couple of fun facts.
I’m named after my Finnish great great grandmother who used to herd reindeer in Kemijärvi.
I’m a big-time sailor thanks to my Dad’s side of the family — I usually stick to my cute little Laser during the summer.
I’m only just now making my way through “Game of Thrones,” and it turns out what I thought happened at the Red Wedding was very, very wrong, much to my dismay.
