Have you been to Madison, Wisc?

[Elmorton]

Awhile back, there was a vacations thread where someone mentioned that Madison was their favorite US city to visit for a vacay, and I remembered that when DH and I were looking for a nearby midwest city to visit for a little mini-cation. DH and I will be going there in a couple of weeks to celebrate our anniversary.

We''ll be arriving on a Friday afternoon and leaving on Sunday morning. We figured out that Taliesin (Frank Lloyd Wright''s studio/home), while out of the way, doesn''t add distance to our drive home, so we''re going to go there on Sunday afternoon. The tours range from sortof expensive to expensive ($80 per person!) so if anyone has been there and has some insight as to WHICH tour to take, that would be great too. We both love FLW - but we also don''t need to spend $160 on a four hour tour if it''s not absolutely necessary for a great experience.

If you''ve been to Madison (or Spring Green!), can you please post some "must-sees" or things we should do? Trip Advisor hasn''t been much help (usually I get SO much info there!). We''ve heard that there is a place called Belini''s near the UW campus that has great Italian and I found a Tapas restaurant online. But other than that, we could really use recommendations for EVERYTHING - things to do during the day, dinners, lunches, nightlife - the whole works.

 

[neatfreak]

I HAVE I HAVE!!! Hehe, well I live here. So I guess that counts.

1. If you like Farmer's Markets, the Saturday morning one here is AMAZING. One of the best/biggest in the country. That is a must do.

2. Walking State St. Great street that runs from the University to the Capital. It's really the entire downtown, and is pedestrian only.

3. There is always music at the Terrace (part of the UW) on the weekends, it's right on the lake and is beautiful.


I can go on and on...what kinds of things do you guys like? I can come up with more.

Bellini's is ok...it's about 3 blocks from where I live. If you want a nicer Italian restaurant I highly recommend Lombardino's. It's not right downtown, but it's easy to find, and it DELICIOUS!

Another favorite of mine is Restaurant Muramoto (off the capital). It's a non-traditional Japanese restaurant that is just phenomenal.

What other kind of food do you like? We're foodies so we've been to most restaurants in town. I'd be happy to provide an entire list of places for you.

 

[Elmorton]

Neatfreak, THANKYOU!!!

DH and I are budget foodies We both absolutely adore finding hole-in-the-wall places with great food, but we definitely enjoy upscale restaurants too - and we'll try anything. We both love Thai, Japanese (DH isn't crazy about sushi, unfortunately, because I am), Mexican...basically, if it's not from the US, we'll love it. Not that we have anything against American - we both dig BBQ, but since we're in Iowa, we have plenty of choices for American hearty staples on a regular basis. We will DEFINITELY go to the farmer's market, too! Thanks for the suggestion. Since it's Wisconsin, there will be cheese, right?!?! Not gonna lie, I am looking forward to the cheese, haha.

Performing arts - DH and I are definitely into music - jam bands, jazz, bluegrass (although Wisconsin is probably a bit north for that?), rock, blues - really, if it's live, we'll probably like it. We both love theater, comedy...we're pretty much game for anything. The Terrace sounds like something we'll definitely check out.

We both really like visual arts as well, contemporary and classic. We're huge learning dorks - we'll go to ANY museum - though we did pass on a Buffalo Bill museum recently, haha. Both of us are history junkies. We also like zoos, but there's a pretty cool zoo here, so we might be zoo-ed out for awhile.

I wouldn't mind doing a little shopping, esp. if there are neat boutique-y shops, but DH will tire of that pretty quickly. Is that mostly what downtown is like?

Sports - are there any teams playing right now? OH - what about stuff on the water? Are there rental places? Beaches? I really know NOTHING about Madison except that it's got lakes and a university We're active people, but not overly athletic.

Bars/nightlife - we love places where we can sit and talk and people watch (and hear eachother). Since it is an anny trip, I'll probably want to go places where we can dress up a little and not look completely out of place. We're in our mid-twenties, so we've outgrown the sorority/frat bar scene but still try to be a little bit hipster. For me, extra bonus if there's a fun martini list, and for DH, extra bonus if the place brews its own beer. He loves microbrews.

Hmmm...I've probably given you WAY too much info (I'm really excited that you replied!) but if you do have a minute to shoot some suggestions my way I'd be so grateful! Thanks!!

 

[~*Alexis*~]

I used to live in WI so I can give you a few ideas....if you want a good hotel...the Madison Concourse is a great place to stay. Plus it is central to downtown and it is great for an easy place to walk to off of state street. There are some great places to eat right off of state street. You need to try the mac and cheese pizza....its actually really good....check out the student paper because they have some great free places to music and the theater stuff....FLW house is cool but you dont need to take the whole tour to get the idea....

Al Capone''s hideout is about a 45 minute drive if you want to look it up, there are tours over there too....

I will think of some more....that off the top of my head....

 

[sumbride]

My BIL and SIL live in Madison and it''s FABULOUS! On Friday nights, most of the bars and restaurants do a "Fish Fry" and it''s really good. The Great Dane is one of the best places for that. Loved it! And yes, Saturday morning Farmers Market is lots of fun. The hot cheese bread is famous, and of course you can buy cheese... cheese curds... cheese... etc... and save room for some frozen custard of course! You can get it on campus, fresh made, but there are also lots of places around town... can''t remember where we went but it was GREAT.

Taliesin is a must do! I think we did the 2 hour tour. That was enough. We saw pretty much everything.

Shopping... there is a giant shoe store that is kind of fun. The Shoe Box

 

[kcoursolle]

I did my undergrad there and I looooovvveeeed it there!!

Madison is a great place for a quick vacation. I like NF''s idea of the farmer''s market and lounging around on the terrace. In addition, for nightlife you might want to try going to the Essen Haus. It is a german style bar that serves beer in big glass boots and plays polka, such a riot!!

There is a great (more expensive) restaurant called Harvest near the capital that uses organic locally grown produce/meat and has really good food. For cheaper food check out state street. My favorite is an ethiopian restaurant...called Baraka/Buraka, something like that???..., I can''t remember the name.

Botique shopping, coffee houses, and bars are also fun on state street. The crowd in the bars is a little young on State Street, but gets older and more professional around the capital. The Great Dane as Sumbride mentioned is a great bar near the capital that brews it''s own beer. It''s definitely a great beer town if you like beer!

If by chance you are there when they have a football game, it''s really a great time. The crown is pretty intense and they have an incredible stadium.

Depending on the weather you can take a sailing lesson on lake mendota. I think they meet at the terrace.

 

[neatfreak]

Ok, I'll have to do this in shifts! We'll start with some restaurants. I'll assume you have a car, but won't send you too far astray.

1. Lombardino's is really fabulous. It's on the pricier side, but would be great for "the" anniversary dinner. Not downtown, but easy enough to find. I can give you directions from your hotel if you want. Website: http://www.lombardinos.com/.

2. Restaurant Muramoto is also amazing and great for your DH because although it does have fabulous sushi, it isn't all sushi. They have a number of grill items too. It's a smallish plates type place and if you go nuts it can be expensive, but can also be reasonable if you don't over order. It's downtown right off the capital. Website: http://www.muramoto.biz/

3. If you want a down home Wisconsin place (and the best cheese curds in town IMO and a darn good fish fry), you'll want to hit up The Old Fashioned. Reasonable prices, great beer and food. Again, right downtown off the capital. It's quickly become a Madison institution for a reason (I *personally* think it's better than the Great Dane, but many will disagree. The GD is a good sub for the Old Fashioned if you want). Website: http://www.theoldfashioned.com/

4. There are a number of good Indian places, I really like Maharani. Again, right off the square. Great lunch buffet: http://www.madisonmagazine.com/diningguide/?xstate=view&restaurant_id=605

5. Weary Traveller. It's not right downtown, but is a great late night food place and is very easy to find. Yummy deliciousness. I don't think I've ever had anything bad there, and the prices are really reasonable. Last time Nicole Richie and Joel Madden were in town, they went here. Don't know if that is a selling point or not, but it's delish.
http://www.thedailypage.com/theguide/venue.php?venue=1038&widget=searchWidgetSwapOut('Eats','Movies','Music');

6. Himal Chuli and Chautara (fancier)- both are Nepalese restaurants, right next to each other, and both are delicious. They are on State St.


Lunch places:

1. Mediterranean Cafe. YUMMY!!!! The owners are awesome and you get an entire meal for like $6-7. Only open for lunch. It's on State St. near campus. http://www.madisonmagazine.com/diningguide/?xstate=view&restaurant_id=180

2. Marigold's Kitchen. This is wonderful for brunch too, it will be insane on Saturday for breakfast and closed on Sunday. But it's worth it. http://www.marigoldkitchen.com/

3. Cafe Soleil (lunch during the week and pastries/cookies/breakfast items on Saturdays). It's the cafe offshoot of the fanciest restaurant in town (L'Etoile). All local stuff, very busy on Farmer's Market Saturdays but delish.


That should get you started...I'll keep adding as I think of more places I love. Most of these places are very reasonable and even the most expensive (Lombardino's) is reasonable for a fancy place IMO.


For activities: What weekend will you be here? I can look in the Isthmus (the weekly paper-must grab when you come into town, it's free and tells you about everything going on).

 

[neatfreak]

Farmer's Market: You want cheese, you've got it. Make sure to go to the HOOKS cheese tent. You cam sample away, and then buy your favorites. I recommend them in particular just because they have some amazing aged cheddars, but there are probably 20 other cheese vendors too. Also make sure to buy some cheese curds at the farmer's market!

 

[neatfreak]

Bars: Old Fashioned is a great place for beer, not dressy, but lots of choices. Great Dane is a microbrewery, your DH would really like it I'm sure. Not a dressy place though. Essen Haus is a riot when they have live polka, but certainly is a bit over the top. The opposite of a quiet hipster bar.

Weary Traveller is certainly a hipster bar of choice...Genna's Lounge is another...outside of downtown a bit we love going to the High Noon Saloon for music, lots of great bands play there.

I'd say the ultimate hipster type bar in Madison is Natt Spil. There is no sign on the door, it's cramped, loud DJ, but good drinks! It's at 211 King St, which is right off the square, and next to the Great Dane. But you might walk by it a few times due to the lack of signage...I believe they only take cash, but they do have an ATM.

Dressier: One of my favorites just closed which is really sad (Cocoliquot)...so I'll have to think of some more that are not undergraduate infested. Crave is a place that tries a bit too hard IMO, but it's a martini bar with a great selection of drinks! If you stick around the capital area for bars they are more young professonal places. The closer you get to campus the more likely they are to be undergraduate infested.

 

[Elmorton]

Only have a min - but I wanted to just say THANK YOU Neatfreak, Sumbride, Alexis, and kcoursolle!! I''ll definitely thank y''all properly in the morning, but I''m just so excited now after skimming through your suggestions!! I can seriously TASTE the cheese curds. Sounds like we made an EXCELLENT vacay choice!!

 

[sumbride]

Be sure to try both regular and deep fried cheese curds! My heart hurts just thinking about the beer battered cheese curds... but WOW are they good!

 

[sumbride]

Oh, and if you want a good novel to get you in the mood for Taliesin, read "Loving Frank". It''s about the affair he had with Mamah Cheney, the woman who lived with him there. It''s a really great story. Though it is a novel, there is a lot of research behind it as well and having been there, I really enjoyed it, but I think it would be a good prelude to the visit as well.

 

[Elmorton]

Sum, I was flying back home today and I read my whole book on my way to my destination, so I was in the airport before my flight looking for a new book, and the bookstand had Loving Frank.

I''m LOVING the book! Thanks so much for the suggestion. I''m about half-way through and cannot put it down.

 

[perry]

Madison is my favorite city in the US (and I''ve been around a bit).

I grew up 30 miles north of there, did 5 years in the US Navy, returned to Madison for college (lived 4 blocks off the Square on West Main st for a couple of years, and lived by Camp Randal for the other years), and returned a decade later to live in the area for about 4 years. Jobs took me away; but I visit frequently as my parents live in Madison.

A weekend vist to Madison - with a trip to Spring Green and FLW...

In a weekend... Heck I could spend a weekend just in Madison and not even scratch all that I would want to do. I could get lost for a week in the Spring Green area.

Let me present a different option of Madison for those on a budget. If you are in good shape and used to walking a lot you can do all of this without moving your car from the hotel (as long as you stay on or near the Square: The Concourse or some others).


Sat AM: The farmers market is a must. I''d suggest being their by 8 AM - 9 at the latest and don''t eat breakfast as you will find plenty of great food to eat around the square. Traditions are to buy a 8 oz bag of cheese curds (less than 1 day old) and munch on them (you probably have no idea how good these are). Split it between the two of you to save room for other goodies. Plan on 1-2 hours to circle the square.

Now that you are full (and have some interesting goodies to drop in the hotel room) - I''d take in a couple of museums. The UW-Wisconsin Geology museum is really good and interesting - and much better than many similar musuems in much larger cities (ask at the hotel where it is and how to get their - It''s in the Geology Building). Do some research on the hours.

The UW Art museum is also not bad (and very very good for a city the size of Wisconsin). Of course, the Wisconsin Historical Society museum is on the Square, and the State Capitol has a museum or two tucked away in it as well.

Shopping - just walk up and down State Street (and the campus in on the other end of state street). Are you into books. Madison has a vibrant number of used book stores - with several of them on the Square or State Street.

For lunch (early to mid afternoon) pick any one of a dozen restaurants on State Street. If you are not into elegent - but want tasty basic food for a reasonable price get a Gyros, fries, and soft drink at one of the Greek themed restaurants on State Street (The Parthenon was my personal favorite) . The Gyros are much different in Madison than elsewhere (I have not found a good gyros outside of Madison) - and I used to eat one at least once a week when I was a student there (this is not a diet meal - and split one between the two of you if you are light eaters or not that hungry)

For late afternoon (and assuming the weather is good) - spend some relaxation time on the Memorial terrace, or on the park along lake Monona.

For evening: There is always a variety of music entertainment in Madison; check with the Hotel on who or what is playing where. Also, find out what the UW theater is doing.

Is it a clear starry night and you like astronomy: Find out if the UW observatory is open to the public that night (they are open 1 or 2 nights a week to the public weather permitting - for public use as the terms of the donation that built it).


As far as the Taliesin; will this be a once in a lifetime trip. Then the expensive tour is probably worth it.

But, you might want to picknik at Shot Tower (Tower Hill) state park near Spring Green and tour it on the way as well. All for a couple dollars admission for a state park day pass.

Perry

ps: neatfreek, we should meet up sometime

 

[sumbride]

Date: 6/2/2008 1:08:31 AM
Author: Elmorton
Sum, I was flying back home today and I read my whole book on my way to my destination, so I was in the airport before my flight looking for a new book, and the bookstand had Loving Frank.


I''m LOVING the book! Thanks so much for the suggestion. I''m about half-way through and cannot put it down.

I''m so glad!!! I had the same "cannot put it down" feeling but I insisted on reading it slowly so I could make it last longer. Until I got to the end. Then I locked DH out of the bedroom and said "I''m READING!!!"

 

[Elmorton]

I just realized that in preparing to go out of town last week, I never did actually properly thank everyone who has given their suggestions!!

Neatfreak, thanks so much for your restaurant suggestions for the anniversary dinner AND websites! I'm already hungry!! I really can't wait to go check out the Terrace in the evening too. And for the suggestion for Hooks. I'm honestly excited about the cheese! We're going to be there on the 13-15, and we'll definitely pick up the student paper for ideas. Oh, and the bar suggestions are great!! Thanks!!

Alexis, Thanks for the info! I'm VERY curious about mac and cheese pizza! Sounds bizarre but also tasty

Sumbride, Thank you for the recommendation of the Shoe Box! That sounds like a must for me, though DH might not be all together thrilled, he'll just have to deal. Reading the descriptions of Taliesin in Loving Frank, I'm getting SO ready for this trip...but WHOA you could have warned me about the ending! Or..I should have done a quick Wiki search. I was pretty shocked when I reached those chapters (I re-read a few pages thinking "No, no, no this can't be how it went!"), but after getting over the ending, I'm now even more curious to see how Taliesin looks today.

Kcoursolle, thanks for the suggestions!! DH and I cracked up at the idea of Essen Haus and I think we may definitely check it out. DH also loves the suggestion of The Great Dane for the beer. We'll definitely look into doing a sailing lesson - I've never done it and have always wanted to.

Perry, WOW! Thank you so much - you created a perfect itinerary! I love the suggestion of the geology museum - that's definitely something we wouldn't have thought of to check out. Thanks so much to take the time to post, we will definitely use your plan!

I really hope I didn't skip over someone...your responses have been WONDERFUL! Thank you so much. I'm completely afraid that I won't want to return home! Sounds like Madison is a great place. I can't wait for the farmer's market, especially. Now let's just keep those fingers crossed for pretty weather

 

[perry]

Here is a link to the geology museum: It''s open till 1PM on Saturday. I am sure you will spend an hour or so in it (figure about 20 minutes of brisk walking from the square).


http://www.geology.wisc.edu/~museum/


The Art museum is open till 5:00 PM - and on the way back to lower State Street from the geology museum (about 1 block from State St). Here is the link.

http://www.chazen.wisc.edu/visit/index.htm

Have fun, and let us know how it works out.

Perry

 

[sumbride]

Date: 6/2/2008 7:00:15 PM
Author: Elmorton

Sumbride, Thank you for the recommendation of the Shoe Box! That sounds like a must for me, though DH might not be all together thrilled, he''ll just have to deal. Reading the descriptions of Taliesin in Loving Frank, I''m getting SO ready for this trip...but WHOA you could have warned me about the ending! Or..I should have done a quick Wiki search. I was pretty shocked when I reached those chapters (I re-read a few pages thinking ''No, no, no this can''t be how it went!''), but after getting over the ending, I''m now even more curious to see how Taliesin looks today.

I couldn''t tell you!!! I just couldn''t! I learned it on the tour and it shocked me then, but while reading the book, even though I KNEW what happened, it was still riveting and terrifying! Be sure to pay attention to the pottery on the fireplace. They''ll tell you about it there too. It''s such a gut-wrenching story. Too awful to be true, but it is.


Oh, and my DH liked the Shoebox as much as I did. Hopefully your DH will too!