January 6, 2022 - The weirdest + most wonderful museums around the Isthmus

Hello Sunday.

January 16 2022

Today, let’s take a gander at some of the area’s weirdest + most wonderful museums, ready to arm you with some off-the-wall knowledge sure to impress your friends and family. While a few of these spots are closed due to seasonality and/or COVID, be sure to keep them on your radar.

Madison skyline | Photo by @kenton_a_fowler

National Mustard Museum | 📍 7477 Hubbard Ave., Middleton | 💰 Free | 🚘 ~15 min from 608

Over 6,000 mustards from all 50 states + more than 70 countries — if not in a museum, where else would you store all of these treasures? From collectible mustard pots to antique pins and advertisements, the National Mustard Museum is a testament to “the king of condiments.”

Pro tip: speak with the “confidential condiment counselors” in store for tips on best practices when buying + using mustard

Circus World Museum | 📍 550 Water St., Baraboo | 💰 $4.99+ | 🚘 ~1 hr from 608

Circus World celebrates both the historical + entertainment value of the Wisconsin circus legacy. Clown around for hours while you explore a collection of 260+ authentic circus wagons, see live shows, and experience the magic of a day at the circus.

Pro tip: children under 5 get free admission

Prairie Moon Sculpture Garden and Museum | 📍 52727 Prairie Moon Rd., Fountain City | 💰 Free | 🚘 ~3 hr from 608

An old dance pavilion transformed into a bizarre sculpture park intended “to kill old-age boredom.” Farmer Rusch spent years collecting sculptures, unusual machines + other odd mementos while curating his creative space. Today all that remains is a sculpture park so vividly bright and unique you just may think you’re in a Disney scene.

Wisconsin is chock full of rich + quirky history — and it’s got the museum lineup to prove it. Let us know if we missed your favorite off-the-beaten-path museum or gallery in America’s Dairyland.

MORE WEIRD + WONDERFUL MUSEUMS THIS WAY

Use the buttons below to share this story with quirky BFFs, your neighbor with the weird collections, and anyone else who loves exploring all the wacky fun this region has to offer.

EVENTS

Today

Wisconsin vs. Iowa | Thurs., Jan. 6 | 8 p.m. | Kohl Center | $33+ | Watch the Badgers men’s basketball team take on Iowa in the first game of 2022. 🏀
Derek Hibbs: Ramshackle | Thurs., Jan. 6 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Tandem Press, 1743 Commercial Ave. | Free | Explore an exhibition of work by former UW-Madison student Derek Hibbs as he illustrates working-class survival in the face of inequality.
Women’s Group Run | Thurs., Jan. 6 | 5:45 p.m.-6:45 p.m. | Movin’ Shoes, 528 S Park St. | A 3-5 mile evening run for runners with a pace range from 9-12 minutes per mile with a mix of runners, joggers, and walkers. All Women (cis and trans) are welcome, including non-binary and gender-nonconforming individuals who want to be in a women’s space.

Friday

Wisconsin Punk Fest | Fri., Jan. 7 | 7 p.m. | High Noon Saloon | $15 | A part of the 4-night, 9-genre, 3-venue festival celebrating prolific artists from the Badger State.
First Friday | Fri., Jan. 7 | 4-7 p.m. | Monroe St. | Free entry | Later shopping hours + surprise pop-ups from the west side neighborhood.

Saturday

Stuart Stotts & Tom Pease: Kids in the Rotunda Digital Performance | Sat., Jan. 8 | 9:30 a.m. | Virtual | Free | Join Wisconsin storytellers for family-friendly humor + movement.

Sunday

Sock Class | Sun., Jan. 9 | 3-5 p.m. | Fiddlesticks Knits, 1976 Atwood Ave. | $50 | The first class of a series where participants learn to knit a sock. 🧶

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

MORE TO DO THIS WEEK

NEWS NOTES

Weather

13º | Cloudy | 10% chance of snow ☁️

Development

Madison City Council has unanimously approved a plan envisioning hundreds of millions of dollars for development + improvement for the South Side, along Wingra Creek. New housing and retail, an expansion to Penn Park, and development to complement Madison Area Technical College can all be expected of the project. (Wisconsin State Journal)

Health

Public Health Madison and Dane County are expanding COVID-19 testing hours at the South Park Street clinic located at 2230 S. Park St. — open from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. The additional hours will allow for 200+ extra appointments per day. (Channel3000)

Community

The City of Madison Streets Division has 32 trucks out on the roads, but drivers should still remain cautious this week. With temperatures too cold for salt, crews are utilizing sand on main roads to help improve conditions. Drivers can expect salt to go down on Saturday pending improved weather. (Channel3000)
Ice fishing is back for the season + the DNR has some reminders for safe sporting this winter. While no ice is safe ice — be mindful by sticking to areas known to be safe or previously used, wear inflatable gear, and remember that fishing with friends is safest. 🎣 (NBC15)

Award

State Street’s very own Parthenon Gyros ranked as the No. 2 gyro in the country, according to Mashed: “…you can’t go wrong with the good old-fashioned Classic Gyro. It’s everything a gyro should be.” 🥙 (Channel3000)

Travel

The Dane County Regional Airport saw an uptick in holiday travel from the 2020 season. 2021 saw just over 2,000 flights per month as opposed to the 1,300 flights at the same time last year. While overall flight numbers are still down from the 2019 season, the positive rebound indicates travel is moving in a good direction for 2022. ✈️ (IB Madison)

Sports

The UW-Madison men’s hockey team has canceled its upcoming series against Ohio State over COVID-19 concerns within the Badgers program. Wisconsin is still set to face off against Michigan State on Fri., Jan. 14. 🏒 (NBC15)

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#608TODAY

Calling all artists 📢

📸 @danecountyparks

Dane County Parks is now accepting storm drain mural applications for 2022. Businesses, organizations + all other community groups interested in having a storm drain mural are encouraged to apply — application deadline is Tues., Feb. 15.

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THE WRAP

Editor’s Pick: City Editor Ryan here 👋 fun fact about me — if I could only eat one food for the rest of my life, it would be doughnuts. When it comes to doughnuts, we hold no judgment. Different shapes, sizes + flavors are welcome here. I’m always looking to expand my horizons, send me a note and let me know where your favorite dozen is from.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? We covered 100 January events + the Dane County winter market