Archive for the ‘Things to do’ Category

NYE 2016 in Madison

Saturday, December 24th, 2016

Image courtesy of digitalart at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Here’s a rundown of major parties happening on New Year’s Eve in Madison:

  • Barolo, Black Locust and Julep: Various food and drink specials and DJ.
  • Bowl-a-Vard: Live performance by Vinyl Thunder.
  • Cardinal Bar: DJs, cocktail buffet and dancing until 5 a.m. Cover is $15.
  • Concourse Hotel: Dinner, comedy and dancing. Accommodation and dining packages range from $199-$459.
  • DLUX: Premium open bar and passed hors d’oeuvres. Tickets are $85.
  • Edgewater Hotel: Escape to New York with ice skating and a ball drop. Tickets are $100.
  • Essen Haus and Come Back In: All-you-can eat and drink, plus live music. Tickets are $75-$80.
  • High Noon Saloon: Several tribute bands, including for Black Sabbath. Tickets are $10.
  • HotelRED: A party called FANCY with all proceeds going to Gio’s Garden. Tickets are $99.
  • Ivory Room: A Masquerade party with open bar. Tickets are $60-$250.
  • Liquid: Includes a $1,000 money shower. Tickets are $25-$200.
  • Majestic Theatre: DecaDance, featuring 100 years of dance music. Tickets are $25.
  • Plan B: Glitter, Glitz and Glam, with drag performances and a Fireball toast. Tickets are $10-$15.
  • Red Zone Madison: Live performance by Cherry Pie. Tickets cost $15-$40.
  • Tavernakaya: Roaring 20s party with DJ. Cover is $10.

If you aren’t interested in these big parties, keep in mind that many restaurants are having New Year’s Eve dinner specials, and many bars will have some sort of drink special to ring in 2017.

Halloween in Madison 2016

Sunday, October 23rd, 2016

So how many Ken Bone costumes are we going to see this year? With Halloween falling on a Monday this year, Madison will have a couple more days to party, including:

Wednesday, Oct. 26

Thursday, Oct. 27

  • Buccaneer’s Ball 2016 (free): Hoofers and 100state are joining forces to throw a party that begins at 7 p.m. in the basement of the Argus bar.

Friday, Oct. 28

  • Downtown Trick or Treat (free): If the kiddos didn’t get enough trick-or-treating at State Street businesses on Wednesday, they can head to Middleton and do it all over again from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at dozens of locations.
  • Halloween Spooktacular (free): Yes, this is an egg hunt in October, and it starts at 5:45 p.m. at Winnequah Dream Park in Monona. Afterward, enjoying an outdoor movie with free popcorn.
  • A Freakin’ Halloweekend ($10): The High Noon Saloon hosts this two-day event in which local bands dress up as their favorite “mega-bands.” Examples include the Right Stripes as the White Stripes on Friday and the Scars as the Cars Maneater as Hall & Oates on Saturday. Shows start at 8 p.m.
  • Halloween Party (free): This generically named party commences at 8:30 p.m. at Nau-ti-Gal. Includes a costume contest and performance by Riled Up.

Saturday, Oct. 29

  • Hilldale-o-Ween (free): This is a three-day long celebration. Activities include cookie decorating on Saturday and trick-or-treating on Monday.
  • Spook-tacular Halloween Bash (free): Design your own candy bag from 9:30 a.m. – noon at the DreamBank.
  • Halloween Costume Parade ($10): Starting at 2 p.m. at Library Mall, follow the parade to the Capitol for an event that supports Primates Incorporated.
  • Halloween Karaoke (free): Sing and purchase specific drinks to earn tickets for raffle prizes at Come Back In. Starts at 9:30 p.m.
  • Halloween Bash ($8): Badger Bowl’s final night before it closes for good will feature a performance by Cherry Pie and a costume contest.
  • Freakfest ($10 advance/$15 at the gates): Madison’s official Halloween party takes place from 7 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. on State Street. This year’s headliners include Diane Coffee and Sweet Spirit. If you want to save a few bucks, head to the bars early, before the gates on State Street are erected.
  • Night of the Dead ($15): This annual event at the Barrymore pays homage to the Grateful Dead through Terrapin Flyer and Evergreen Grass Band, starting at 8 p.m.
  • 80s vs. 90s Halloween Costume Ball ($10): The almost-monthly 80s vs. 90s party is always popular, but the Halloween version is always really popular. Dress up as a TV/movie character or music icon to participate in the costume contest. Doors open at 8, and I recommend arriving soon after.

Sunday, Oct. 30

  • Halloween at the Zoo (free): Activities include face painting and a pumpkin decorating contest from 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the zoo.

Monday, Oct. 31

  • Baby’s First Halloween (free with admission): Take the little ones to this costume contest and dance from 9:30-11 a.m. at the Madison Children’s Museum.
  • Reel Big Halloween ($22.50/$25): How about some ska on Halloween? Reel Big Fish is performing at 8 p.m. at the Majestic.

Summer bucket list 2016

Thursday, June 23rd, 2016

(This is an update of a previous blog post.)

When you live a northern state like Wisconsin, you have to really take advantage of the seemingly few warm days we have. Madison, like Milwaukee, Chicago and other nearby cities, really crams a lot of events together from May to September.

Here is a list of things I look forward to doing each summer in and around Madison:

  • Community festivals such as Verona Hometown Days
  • Dane County Farmers’ Market, followed by Bloody Marys at Genna’s (which is open at 10 a.m. Saturdays during Farmers’ Market)
  • Concerts on the Square
  • Bike Night at Quaker Steak
  • Boating on Lake Mendota
  • Tubing on the Sugar River
  • Concert at Breese Stevens Field
  • Memorial Union Terrace
  • Governor Nelson State Park
  • Golf outings
  • Sand volleyball
  • Mallards Duck Blind
  • Brewers tailgate
  • Betty Lou Cruise
  • A double-feature at Highway 18 Outdoor Theatre
  • Live on King Street
  • Mad-City Ski Team show
  • Maxwell Street Days
  • Taste of Madison (and Taste of Madison judging)

What’s on your summer to-do list in Madison? Let us know in the comments section.

    North Italia Urban Air

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