City Cast Madison

There have been many things said about Madison. Our own mayor once proposed “77 Square Miles Surrounded By Reality” as our official motto. A flamingo is our official city bird, due to a college prank decades ago. But much like our families, you only get to talk smack when you’re on the inside. To the rest of the world, we are fiercely loyal and proud. We are so much more than freezing cold, cheese-eating drunkards. On today’s episode, Bianca Martin and Molly Stentz defend Madison’s honor and place in history to their big boss, City Cast CEO David Plotz. Here's what else we mentioned on the show:🏖️ Want to check out the design ideas for redoing Madison's waterfront? Here are the sketches. Tell the city what you think of 'em.🗳️ Tuesday's Madison Mayoral ForumWanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm.Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter and Instagram! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if we told you lions would be roaming State Street, devouring heads of lettuce and licking the doors of local businesses? Another day in the life in Madison? Yes, and it’s all part of the celebration of Lunar New Year, happening around the world from January 22 to February 5.In Madison, we’re celebrating on State Street with the Lion Dancers of the Zhong Yi Kung Fu Association. We caught up with owner and lead instructor Nelson Ferreira for a sneak peek.  🦁 See the Lion Dance at Lisa Link Peace Park 🦁 See the Lion Dance at the Madison Children’s MuseumOther events we mentioned on the show:📸 Book a Family Portrait Session at the Madison Public Library💘 Send us your best or worst date story! Online dates, blind dates, accidental dates… we want to hear your stories for our special Valentine’s Day edition. Leave us a voicemail: 608-318-3367Wanna talk to us about an episode? Drop us a line at madison@citycast.fm. Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter and Instagram! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From potholes and speeders to construction in your neighborhood, local government can make your life easier… or it can infuriate. Who do you want making choices on your behalf? All 20 members of the Madison Common Council are up for election soon… with some interesting twists in some neighborhoods. Producer Dylan Brogan gives us the scoop on who’s on your ballot. Read all about the candidates in Dylan’s article: How the Madison City Council Races are Shaking Out. To register to vote, change your address or find your polling place, check MyVote.WI.Gov. And if you wanna practice voting, check out the City Snow Plow Naming Contest. Yes, they’re letting us pick the names. Don’t let us down. In other news, learn about those really old canoes pulled out of Lake Mendota.And do you have an exceptionally bad (or good!) date story that you can share? We’re collecting YOUR stories for our Valentine’s Day episode. Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. Keep ‘em short! And first names are fine, no need to burn it all down.Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. You can also say hi on Twitter and Instagram!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Madison has no shortage of talented musicians. But how do you discover and find great new bands?The folks at Tone Madison listened to hundreds of new releases and highlighted some of the best new local songs and albums from 2022. We caught up with publisher Scott Gordon to hear a few of his favorite picks. Check them out for yourself: Here’s Tone Madison’s top songs of 2022, pt. I pt. II pt. III and Tone Madison’s top 20 records of 2022.Also, Madison’s musical odds and ends of 2022And here’s a link to the Dump the Hate online dumpling-making class we mentioned.Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm.Want some more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter and Instagram!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Dane County Jail has problems. Originally built in 1953, officials say it’s outdated, dangerous, and inhumane. It has lead pipes and asbestos. Locks get stuck shut. It has no medical beds or room for rehabilitative programs. County officials have been trying for years to find a plan — and the cash — to build a new jail, so they can finally close down the oldest units on the top floors of the City-County building. The county says they need an additional $14 million to seal the deal and build a six-floor, 825-bed building next to the County Courthouse in downtown Madison. Will taxpayers go for it? Costs are escalating by the minute. Meanwhile, the sheriff is shipping inmates to other counties, sometimes hours away, until a safer jail is built. We talk to Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett about the controversial jail project — which, at a price tag of $167 million so far, is the most expensive in county history. Also, here’s a link to the Taking Control of Your Student Loan Debt webinar we mentioned!Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm.Want some more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter and Instagram! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stella’s Hot and Spicy Cheese Bread has long been a staple of the Dane County Farmers’ Market. The huge loaves are stuffed with gooey hot cheese, flecked with red pepper and are best eaten by tearing off a huge hunk as you stroll around contemplating eating more vegetables. And now, Brian Winzenried of the famed Stella’s family is taking the cheese bread to Panama. What began as a pandemic trip has blossomed into a new business venture, opening this spring. Not only can you enjoy a taste of home while on vacation, but you can learn to bake alongside Brian in his new kitchen, Gamboa Baking Co. And here‘s how you can celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this weekend: “I Have A Dream” Scholarship Ball at Monona Terrace on Saturday Ecumenical Service at First Unitarian on Sunday Youth Call to Service at Central Library on Monday Madison-Dane County celebration at Overture on Monday State of Wisconsin celebration at the State Capitol on Monday Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm.Want some more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter and Instagram! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Winter… it divides us into lovers and haters. Whether you’re Team Snow-filled Wonderland or Team Bitter Chill, living in the Midwest, there’s a whole bunch of things you need to know to survive. Come for the biggest alternate side parking hack we know, stay for the great salt debate. We talk to former Cap Times reporter Abby Becker, who wrote a guide on How to survive and thrive in a Madison winter for Madison Minutes.Want to learn more about alternate side parking? Find out more and sign up for daily reminder texts here.Sign up for Metro Transit text updates here.Find out more about the new salt use ordinance here.Looking for more winter resources from the city? Here’s a great place to start. Want some more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for the Madison Minutes morning newsletter.Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Twitter and Instagram!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Madison School Board has voted: High school students can continue to take dedicated honors classes for core courses like English, math and science. But the district will also expand a program called Earned Honors, where students in regular classes can opt for more rigorous work and get honors credit.But some teachers are frustrated by the current system of sorting kids by achievements, pointing out that it’s become racially segregated. Deidre Jarecki teaches tenth grade English at LaFollette High School in Madison and she’s irked by the slow progress toward helping all students succeed.Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm.Want some more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter and Instagram!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy New Year! And that means it’s resolution season. We asked you for what you wanted to see in Madison in 2023, and you delivered. Plus, the team— Bianca, Molly, and Dylan— share their hopes for the city.Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm.Want some more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter and Instagram!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s cozy season and we’ve invited one of our favorite bartenders to show us some fancy winter cocktails we can make at home. They’re perfect for whipping up at your holiday gathering or enjoying cozied up in front of the fireplace. Jeremy Bazely, bartender at the Muskellounge, shares his recipes for Mulled Cider, A Very Blitzened Bianca and Cranberry Ginger Soda. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm.Want some more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter and Instagram! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices