Find the perfect gift to express gratitude and love for the role models in your life. | Graphic by 6AM City
Shopping for a loved one? With Mother’s Day falling on Sunday, May 11, it’s a great time to give to parents, grandparents, neighbors, mentors, and life-long friends. Browse the gifts we think will do the trick:
Weighted silk lavender eye pillow | $19.99 | A silk sleep mask and a cooling gel eye mask are included in this spa set named one of Oprah’s Favorite Things in 2023.
Golf practice net | $99.99 | Golfers can perfect their swing before stepping out on the course with this golf net great for backyards, basements, or even the living room.
Barefoot Dreams lounge top | $99 | There may be no better gift than something luxuriously soft, cuddly, and cozy — this lounge top fits the bill.
Mom’s story book and Dad’s story book | $24.95 | Prompt them to write down memories, advice, and stories in these guided journals.
Neck + shoulders heating pad | $39.99 | This electric heat wrap helps with back pain, muscle aches, and de-stressing.
Local pick:Olbrich Botanical Gardens | $6+ | Whether you’re paying for general admission or grabbing tickets to a specialty event, you can’t go wrong with one of the most scenic gardens in Madison.
Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey | $25 | You don’t have to worry about this lipstick flattering them — Black Honey is designed to look incredible (and different) on everyone.
Stella Cole | 6:30 p.m. | Oveture Center | $160 | Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and cocktails while this jazz singer performs her own renditions of classic songs.
Reggie Watts | 8:30 p.m. | Majestic Theatre | $39+ | Spend an evening with this talented musician, beatboxer, actor, and comedian.
Saturday, May 3
Union Omaha vs Forward Madison FC | 5 p.m. | Breese Stevens Field | $24+ | Our local soccer club looks to get back on track against this struggling squad from Nebraska.
Birding in Madison School Forest | 7-9 a.m. | Madison School Forest | Free | Wake up with the early birds on this morning walk and you may see warblers, thrushes, tanagers, and orioles.
Monday, May 5
Scoops & Stories | 10:30 a.m. | Grand Crossing Park | $1 | Parents and kids are invited to this free storytime that also offers $1 scoops of ice cream, playtime, and books from the library.
Tuesday, May 6
Bingo Night | 6:30-8 p.m. | Working Draft Beer Co. | Free | Sip local beer and snack on Sal’s pizza while stamping your bingo card on your way to victory.
Wednesday, May 7
Extra! Extra! Eat All About It! | 7 p.m. | Goodman Community Center | Free | Two foodies and researchers are sharing their findings after scanning historic newspapers for recipes and food tips.
This is the event of the summer that will have you reminiscing about your own camp days. | Photos courtesy of Aldo Leopold Nature Center
Remember the joy of summer camp? Relive those memories with a twist of adult fun at Camp Aldo.
Featuring summer camp activities and locally-brewed beverages, Camp Aldo is an exciting day of adventure, fun, and games in support of children’s outdoor education programs at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center, happening on July 12, 2-7 p.m.
Camp games, songs, crafts, competition, and adventure await at this unique event designed to have you feeling nostalgic for summer camp.
For the first time in 25 years, Madison is adding a new library. The Imagination Center at Reindahl Park received a $4 million grant from the state, providing enough funds to start construction. A groundbreaking is on Thursday, May 8. (WMTV 15)
Health
Construction is underway on a 12,000-sqft orthopedic surgery center at 8124 Forsythia St. Officials behind the project expect it to be completed by spring 2026. (Wisconsin State Journal)
Ranked
A new poll named Lane’s Bakery in Madison the most popular small business in Wisconsin. The survey included 3,000+ respondents, each one asked which small business they would be willing to drive more than an hour to reach.
Coming Soon
From popup to permanent. GlouGlou announced it’s opening a bistro at 11 N. Allen St. It will feature all of its classic wine offerings + small, shareable dishes. The owner is hopeful to open next month. (Wisconsin State Journal)
Biz
Economists estimate the NFL Draft in Green Bay generated $100 million, thanks to its 600,000+ total visitors. The Packers also met plenty of new faces throughout process — see them all here. (ESPN)
Open
Chabad of Madison, a Jewish community center, is now open at 1711 Monroe St. In addition to a kosher kitchen and Jewish library, it offers event space, classrooms, and play areas. (FOX 47)
Outdoors
Happy trails are found in Madison. That’s according to a new ranking from USA Today’s 10best, which placed the Capital City Trail as the No. 6 best recreational trail in the US.
Sports
Milwaukee lost in overtime to Indiana, 119-118, despite leading by 7-points with less than 50 seconds to go. Ouch. That wraps up the season for the Bucks who have been eliminated from the NBA Playoffs. We’re also hoping for a speedy recovery for Damian Lillard, who requires surgery.
Featured
Madison barber Ryan Connor is turning heads with his sharp cuts. He’s a finalist in the CT Barber Expo in Connecticut for the rookie of the year award. This competition is known as the Grammy’s for haircuts, per its website. (WMTV 15)
Cause
Imagine walking through a beautifully designed home, knowing that every corner supports an important cause. Victory Homes of Wisconsin has partnered with St. Jude to create the St. Jude Dream Home® Showplace. Curious to see how this dream home is making dreams come true? Donate + learn more.*
Pet
$5,000. That’s how much you may have to drop if your dog or cat tears their ACL — a surprisingly common knee injury in pets. To the rescue: pet insurance. With this plan, 90% of that cost could be reimbursed.*
Stat
540,000+. That’s how many customers choose this hearing aid when it comes time to make that decision for their loved ones. See why.*
Finance
Last chance to invest in the “Uber of mobile phones.”Mode Mobile grew 32,481% from 2019-2022, and just secured their Nasdaq ticker with plans for a potential IPO. The opportunity to invest at $0.26/share closes today.†*
Job
Hiring just got easier. Post unlimited job listings with us for free on the 608today Job Board + connect with the right candidates faster. We’ve got your back.
You’ll find Mural Alley on the backside of the Madison East Shopping Center. | Photo by 608today
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.
We are 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.
Mural Alley, 2707 E. Washington Ave. | By The Bubbler + various artists
In 2018, the Darbo-Worthington Neighborhood and City of Madison approached the owners of the Madison East Shopping Center about a community art project. Organized by The Bubbler, local artists teamed up with Madison teens to create five murals. Here are a few:
“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.
Swim trunks with pockets. These quick-drying swimsuit trunks have a hidden pocket built into an anti-chafe compression liner — perfect for keeping phones, keys, and cash safe on beach days.
A new library is on the way for the first time in a quarter of a century. If that isn’t a sign to go get a library card, I don’t know what is. I use mine nearly every week thanks to resources like Libby, which is also free. I’ve been burning through audiobooks this year, and you can too, without any subscription fees or pesky interruptions.
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