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Hello Madison! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning.
In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Back to the Future: The Musical, Ladysmith Black Mambazo live, and Wisconsin Vintage Fest + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Today’s sponsor, Spot Pet Insurance, is something I wish I had before a late-night emergency vet visit left me with a $10,000 credit card bill. It’s cheaper than Netflix… and means you never have to choose between your pet and your savings. It takes less than 5 minutes to sign up – get started here.
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📰 In the news
Time-traveling musical spectacle: Back to the Future the Musical will light up Madison at the Overture Center March 10 to 15, bringing the beloved films to the stage, with tickets still available — see dates and ticket info.
Rethinking winter road treatment: UW researchers said salt brine outperformed rock salt on Wisconsin highways, cutting salt use by 40% to 72% while keeping road performance similar, backing state efforts to make brine central — see what the study found.
Community generosity in action: The sixth annual WMTV Diaper Drive continues today in Madison, with donations matched up to $75,000 to support families struggling with diaper costs and other basics — learn how you can help.
Gold & silver are hot: Coming off gold’s best year since 1979, the momentum is carrying well into 2026 with silver remaining one of the most talked-about assets. Curious why they’re back in focus? American Hartford Gold has a free guide that explains what’s happening and how people are approaching it today. It’s free – and definitely worth a read.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Highlights this week:
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🐾 One pet emergency can cost $10,000+
Together with our sponsor Spot Pet Insurance
Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache.
From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving.
As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Spot.
It’s super affordable and reimburses up to 90% on qualified vet bills. It was too late for me, but it’s not too late for you. Sign up today.
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🫶 We got your back
Upgrade your trail kit: Whether you’re planning a frosty dog walk or a quick Driftless hike, Fontana Sports has local know-how, warm layers, and trail-ready essentials to keep you moving. Browse a dialed selection from Patagonia, The North Face, Smartwool, and Osprey, plus neighborly guidance that makes gearing up easy.
Small plates, big vibes: Low-stress, shareable dining lives here, minus the fuss. At Mint Mark, expect produce-forward plates, a playful cocktail lineup, and an airy, sunlit room that feels like an exhale…perfect for friends who like to graze, sip, and linger.
Upgrade movie night: UW Cinematheque quietly delivers the good stuff, from carefully curated classics to new international standouts, plus the occasional 35mm print or fresh restoration, so you can ditch autopilot multiplex picks for films that actually linger. A weekly ritual worth sharing with a friend.
Access cash without selling your home: A reverse mortgage can help anyone over 62 cover everyday expenses, support healthcare needs, fund home improvements, or even reduce pressure on 401(k) withdrawals – all while staying in your home. Longbridge offers a free calculator to estimate how much flexibility your home could provide, with no commitment required.
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📆 Fun for the whole fam
Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
🤝 Meet & Greet with MPM @ Garver Feed Mill | Saturday (3/7) at 8:00 AM – Thinking your house could use a bit more Irish luck and a lot more dog hair? Swing by Garver Feed Mill to shop the market, meet adoptable pups from Ma, Paws and Me, and maybe leave with a four-legged roommate, not another novelty T-shirt.
🧬 Waisman Center Day with the Experts: Down Syndrome @ Waisman Center Developmental Disabilities Clinic | Saturday (3/7) at 9:00 AM – Experts, families, and self-advocates are gathering at the Waisman Center for a straight-shooting look at Down syndrome research and clinical care, plus a panel with voices you actually want to hear. Show up for community and coffee, or register to join virtually.
📖 Madison Reads Leopold @ UW-Madison Arboretum | Saturday (3/7) at 1:00 PM – Slip into the Arboretum Visitor Center for a come-and-go community reading of Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac, plus pieces by Robin Wall Kimmerer, Margaret Renkl, and Alberto Ríos. Leopold helped shape this place, so let the land have the mic, free, no registration.
🐾 WildSide Discovery Day! @ Dane County Humane Society Equine Barn | Sunday (3/8) at 9:00 AM – Skip errands for a couple hours of bone study, microscopes, and crafts at the DCHS Equine Barn. All ages, self-paced, with turtles, a hawk, and nerdy talks, plus optional laser tag for the inner child you swear is just for the kids. Tickets are $15.
🗝 Wisconsin Vintage Fest @ Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center | Sunday (3/8) at 11:00 AM – Swing by Monona Terrace for a one-day vintage spree, impossible to resist. Over 80 handpicked vendors with Y2K-and-earlier gems, from denim and jewelry to toys you swore you’d never see again, and yes, free admission. Relive your glory years, upgrade your closet, thank me later.
👸 Princess Playdate @ Wisco Kidz Place | Sunday (3/8) at 12:00 PM – Let the tiny royals reign at Wisco Kidz Place on the east side, with singing, dancing, and twirling, all included with Open Play admission. You get climate-controlled chaos, they get storybook magic, and your living room avoids a glitter coup. Princesses by Princess My Party.
⏰ Back to the Future: The Musical @ Overture Center for the Arts | Tuesday (3/10) at 7:30 PM – Consider this your permission slip to time-travel via aisle seat. Back to the Future is now an award-winning musical with gleaming tech, big laughs, and “Power of Love,” and yes, the DeLorean hits 88. Use your Broadway subscription, and call it quality time.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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🔥 Worth a peek
We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.
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📻 Madison report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 53°F – Low: 39°F – Precip: 4%
Patchy fog before 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. East wind 0 to 5 mph. Later: A chance of rain after 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
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Tomorrow – High: 51°F – Low: 40°F – Precip: 57%
Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 51. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Later: A chance of rain after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Someone Googled you this week 👀
It may feel like an invasion of privacy, but unfortunately It’s the new normal. Whether you’re joining a committee, selling something locally, dating again, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up online.
Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.
Thankfully, there’s a really easy way for you – or someone you care about – to clean up outdated results that no longer tell the real story. Learn more here.
This house is wild
Timeless 1920s charm in Madison pairs wood floors and millwork with smart updates. The showstopper kitchen offers an oversized island, gas range, and storage. A living room with gas fireplace connects to a sunroom. Upstairs is a primary with double closets, and a finished attic with heat and AC adds flexible space near West High, Camp Randall, and Wingra Park.
Take a peek inside →
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