|
Happy Tuesday, Madison. In today’s edition: Mobile PET/CT imaging, The Nutcracker, Family Nature Program, and more.
Let’s get to it — Cait Baker
|
📰 In the news
Influence starts in Madison: Time magazine’s 2026 Best Colleges for Future Leaders ranked UW-Madison 22nd overall and sixth among public institutions, based on a Statista analysis of 4,800 influential leaders’ résumés — read the full story.
Cutting-edge diagnostics on wheels: Edgerton Hospital has expanded access to advanced imaging with a mobile digital PET/CT, partnering with Shared Medical Services to bring United Imaging’s uMI 550 closer to patients across area communities — read the full story.
A smarter way to chart: A randomized trial from UW Health found ambient AI scribes cut burnout and documentation time by 30 minutes daily, prompting expansion to about 800 clinicians and an open-source implementation guide — see the playbook and results.
Protect your nest egg: Savvy investors are turning to gold amidst today’s inflation, national debt, and market uncertainty for a reason. It holds its value when everything else feels shaky. Case in point: it’s up ~62% since January. If you’re curious about adding it and other precious metals to your portfolio, American Hartford has a super helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free, and definitely worth a read — check it out here.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per 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.
|
🫶 We got your back
Safer celebrations for pets: Holiday cheer is great. Just keep it off your pet’s plate. UW veterinary clinician Sam Bilko warns that fatty, spiced, sugary dishes and items like garlic, onions, grapes, raisins, bones, gravy, and unbaked dough are unsafe. Follow the 10% treat rule, offer plain swaps or boneless skinless turkey, and call a vet fast if they ingest something risky. Get holiday pet safety tips.
The future of lake health: Madison’s Common Council is holding “Love Our Lakes,” a hybrid briefing on how the city protects and restores its lake system. Streets, Parks, and Engineering staff will cover pollutants, stormwater runoff, erosion, and climate change, plus data-driven collaborations. It’s informational only, with no votes or public comment, though residents can submit questions ahead. Learn how to submit questions.
A smarter movie night: Skip the megaplex and settle in at The Marquee Cinema, a 330-seat venue with dual 35mm projectors, HD presentation, and top-tier sound. Programmed by WUD Film, the lineup ranges from fresh releases to classics, perfect for a proper big-screen fix.
Hear me out: My mom’s been asking people to repeat themselves 5,281 times too many for years. She always avoided hearing aids like the plague — they’re clunky, obvious, expensive, not really worth it. I always thought “she’s not wrong” until I saw these new invisible hearing aids going viral. In the same boat? Now’s a great time to check them out before unused health benefits expire on the 31st.
Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I discovered Keranique’s hair regrowth system. Everything with them is surprisingly easy: no quizzes, no pills, no choosing between dozens of products. Just grab the kit and follow the instructions. The best part? It’s $75 off right now + you’ll get your money back if you don’t love the results.
|
📆 Around town this week
All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.
This week
🎻 Hunt Quartet Recital @ Arts + Literature Laboratory | Tuesday (12/16) at 7:00pm – The Hunt Quartet is filling Arts + Literature Laboratory with Ravel’s shimmer and Schubert’s Rosemunde, free to attend, donations encouraged. Grown-up chamber vibes without the fuss, and your contribution helps the same players bring music into Dane County classrooms, which beats another streaming queue.
❄️ Winter Solstice Celebration @ The Tinsmith | Thursday (12/18) at 6:00pm – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to swap fleece for vintage Hollywood glam, this is it. The Tinsmith is throwing a Solstice toast with Sam Ness and Emily Volland, tarot, cocktails, a red carpet photobooth, and a portion of ticket sales supporting Madison’s DAIS.
🌿 Native Landscaping for Homeowners @ Middleton Public Library | Thursday (12/18) at 6:00pm – Think your lawn needs to look like a golf course? Jeff Epping will show how native plants can turn your yard into a low-maintenance, pollinator-friendly oasis, at Middleton Public Library. Learn what to plant, what to ditch, and why the bees will thank you.
🥂 Gala @ The Edgewater Hotel | Friday (12/19) at 5:00pm – Dress up for Black Men Coalition’s third-annual Revitalize Gala, a fundraiser backing education, financial literacy, supported employment, transportation, and youth baseball across Dane County. Expect good company, an old fashioned or two, and the pleasure of small talk that actually does something for our neighbors.
🖼️ Surrealism Holiday Reception @ Carnelian Art Gallery | Friday (12/19) at 5:00pm – Holiday cheer, but make it surreal. Carnelian on King Street wraps the year with a delightfully weird exhibition and a free reception, with light bites and an artist talk from Helen Klebesadel. Come for the dreamlike vibes, stay for the cookies, leave smugly cultured.
This weekend
🐦 Christmas Bird Count @ Multiple Locations | Saturday (12/20) at 6:00am – Think you can tell a chickadee from a nuthatch before coffee? Join Madison’s annual bird count, a bit of citizen science with 23 zones, captains, and spots that fill fast. Trek with a team, or tally from your feeder, then trade sightings with bird nerds.
🥕 Farmers’ Market @ Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center | Saturday (12/20) at 7:30am – Skip the mall and find your holiday spirit the way we like it, local and well-fed. DCFM’s Holiday Farmers’ Market has artisan cheeses, winter greens, baked goods, wreaths, and giftable jams. Bring a big tote, a budget, and your patient browsing face.
🌲 Holiday Nature Walk @ Goodman Community Center | Saturday (12/20) at 10:00am – Savor the quiet magic of the Winter Solstice with a peaceful stroll along Starkweather Creek. This guided outing celebrates the slow return of longer days while exploring the creek’s winter beauty. Free, welcoming, and family-friendly—just bundle up and show up for a refreshing dose of nature.
🩰 The Nutcracker @ Wisconsin Union Theater | Saturday (12/20) at 2:00pm – Head to the Wisconsin Union Theater for Dance Wisconsin’s 48th Nutcracker, complete with live orchestra, local singers, and all the holiday magic you actually enjoy. Think snow, sweets, and a Mouse King who still has not learned his lesson. Hot chocolate, carolers, and nostalgia included.
🌲 Family Nature Program @ University of Wisconsin-Madison | Sunday (12/21) at 1:30pm – If you need an excuse to pry the little ones from screens, the Arboretum’s Winter Solstice family walk and hands-on activities deliver fresh air, curiosity, and tired bedtime faces. Free, no registration, meet at the Visitor Center. Wear sturdy shoes, adults required, weather permitting.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
|
🎶 Live music & entertainment
|
🏠️ This house is wild
Listed by: Evan Braun (Stark Company, REALTORS)
On Madison’s west side, this duplex lines up two bright 2-bed, 2-bath units with finished lower levels, bonus living rooms, and extra storage. Each unit adds in-unit laundry and a private garage stall, a winter win. Sunlit, roomy layouts keep things comfortable, while newer furnaces and water heaters simplify the punch list.
Out back, a big fenced yard handles gatherings, gardens, and fetch. Minutes to downtown, UW, and west-side shopping, it reads as low-maintenance, high-convenience, and primed for either long-term hold or house-hack flexibility.
Take a peek inside →
|
|
|
