“It’s been great serving everyone who’s come through our doors - and seeing some familiar faces! Cheers to local flavors, craft beverages, and live music” reads the opening announcement Instagram post. | Photo by @beckinasec
Looking for the next new restaurant hitting Madison’s food scene? Check out these buzz-worthy places to eat and drink in the Isthmus — plus, some spots coming soon. Keep tabs on this list to stay ahead of the cuisine curve. And don’t forget to bookmark it.
May openings
HWY 1 | 2701 Monroe St. | Fast-casual
Goodbye, Miko Poké. Hello, HWY 1. While Madison’s first-ever poke shop is closing, it’s being replaced by a fast casual restaurant owned by the same folks. They are planning to remodel and reopen sometime in June, this time with a menu inspired by Mexico.
April openings
GlouGlou | 11 N. Allen St. | Bistro
From pop-up to permanent. If you loved all of GlouGlou’s previous pop-ups with natural + organic wines, you’ll love knowing a brick-and-mortar is expected to be open in May. Pour one up for us.
Orchard | 881 W. Verona Ave. | Seasonal flavors
This local restaurant is taking farm to table to the next level by partnering with The Cider Farm. Many of the drinks here showcase apples from the local farm + chefs make a diligent effort to locally source all other ingredients for dishes too.
Music Video Bingo | | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | The Seminole Tap | $10 | Watch videos and fill out your card each time one of your songs is played + the playlist features two themes: women in music and songs of the summer.
Friday, May 16
Gallery Night + Muse | 7-10 p.m. | Madison Museum of Contemporary Art | Free | Explore the museum and stick around afterwards for specialty cocktails and music at this 21+ event.
Saturday, May 17
Middleton Art Walk | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Capital Brewery | Free | Stroll through the area to find dozens of artists with works on display, a bier garden, and vendors with jewelry, clothes, and accessories.
Pints for Pups | 1-4 p.m. | Garver Feed Mill | Cost of purchases | Meet adoptable dogs from Underdog Pet Rescue of Wisconsin, Inc. + $1 of each beer purchased will be donated to the local nonprofit.
Sunday, May 18
WORT: WORTStock 2025 | 11 a.m.-7 p.m. | Warner Park | Free | This long-running festival is back with live music, beer from 20 local breweries, and a wide range of food vendors.
Monday, May 19
Movie Soundtrack Karaoke | 10 p.m. | The Rigby | Free | Keep the weekend fun going by belting out your favorite song from your favorite movie — we humbly request you refrain from singing “Lava Chicken” from the “Minecraft” movie.
Tuesday, May 20
Cris Jacobs | 8-11 p.m. | The Bur Oak | $18+ | Prepare for an exciting night of soul and blues music from this talented singer and guitarist from Baltimore.
Wednesday, May 21
All Levels Yoga with Kelsey | 5-6 p.m. | Goodman Community Center | $5 | Drop into this weekly class for a relaxing and rejuvenating stretch session.
The city of Madison set a lofty goal to address local affordable housing: 15,000 new homes by 2030. Officials also released a housing tracker so we can keep an eye on progress. (WMTV 15)
Travel
Now departing to the Big Apple. American Airlines is launching nonstop flights from Madison to LaGuardia Airport in New York City beginning Monday, Sept. 1. Bonus: The New York airport has a dazzling fountain that performs water shows all day. (Wisconsin State Journal)
Coming Soon
Madison Public Market is set to open on Saturday, Nov. 1, and it offered a sneak peek to local media. The local hub will have 31 merchant stands, mostly offering food and drinks. (Wisconsin State Journal)
Ranked
Two Madison locations were nominated as the best in the country by USA Today’s 10Best poll. Capitol Square cracked the top 10 for best public spaces, and the Capitol City Trail was named as a top recreational trail. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
Outdoors
Welcome back, Brittingham Boats. If you are looking to get on the water, stop by to rent a paddle board, kayak, fishing boat, or paddle boat. It’s operating under spring hours, but summer hours will go into full force starting Saturday, May 24. (WMTV 15)
Transit
A $240,000 grant will be used to make roads safer in Fitchburg. The Common Council approved a new initiative that aims to reduce crashes to zero by a to-be-determined year. (WMTV 15)
Edu
Aldo Leopold Nature Center is launching a $3 million campaign to invest in its future, and opportunities for local youth. The “Building Our Legacy: Sustainability Now & Into The Future” plans to bring enhanced youth programming + future for the Nature Center. (Wisconsin State Journal)
Community
Did someone say celebration? Get loud in the library (or outside of it, at least) as the Forward Marching Band leads a mini-procession from Capitol Square to Central Library to kick off the 150th Anniversary Party at Central Library this Saturday, May 17 at 10 a.m. Join the fun.*
Real Estate
Victory Homes of Wisconsin is redefining your weekend plans. Imagine strolling through beautifully-crafted model homes, open for your exploration every Saturday and Sunday, 12-4 p.m. Whether you’re dreaming of a custom build or seeking inspiration, these homes offer a glimpse into endless possibilities. Take a tour.*
Number
48 million. That’s how many Americans hear so poorly that their quality of life suffers — think: missing out on convos, concerts, and un-captioned movies. Fortunately, this hearing aid changes the game. Try out its dual processing technology for yourself with a free 45-day, no-risk trial.*
Stat
50%. That’s how many dogs over the age of 10 will develop cancer in their lifetime. In addition to lots of tears, pet cancer care can cost you lots of money. Luckily,this pet insurance plan could reimburse you up to 90% on applicable pet care costs.*
Check out the new South Terminal updates at the MSN Airport. | Photo by Dane County Regional Airport, Shawn Harper
Traveling via plane is fun — jet-setting over beautiful blue waters or rolling hills, taking in cloud formations, and landing in a completely different location in a matter of hours is unlike anything else.
The whole navigating the airport part? Less exciting, and sometimes pretty stressful. To help make your time at Dane County Regional Airport as smooth as possible, we’ve created a guide that covers everything from gates and parking to details on the airport’s 17 nonstop flights.
Current airport updates
In April 2024, Dane County Regional Airport celebrated the completion of its $85 million south terminal expansion project that included more gate seating, restroom additions, and the implementation of eco-friendly HVAC systems. Enjoy.
What to know
TSA | Approximate wait times for security lines at Dane County Regional Airport can be found at each TSA checkpoint — travelers with TSA PreCheck must enter through the south checkpoint area, inside door one.
REAL ID | There are few things worse than being turned away at the airport because you don’t have the proper paperwork. Make sure you have a REAL ID before arriving, or you won’t be departing.
Summertime’s humidity + extra time in the sunshine can take a toll on your hair. Add these five essentials to your haircare routine to keep your locks nourished all season long:
Happy Thursday, Madison. Don’t let today’s scattered storms dampen your mood. It’s looking like a perfect weekend for getting outside, and we’ve got a hiking guide so you can quickly find a trail.
‡‡Please note: Comparison based on 12-month plan prices for compounded semaglutide from 12 leading competitors as of December 2024.
