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Madison City Guideby J. Kultgen and J. Ahrens |
 Madison Travel Pictures
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 Overview - Madison is a progressive if not liberal town built around the duality of a state capital and a university town. One of the top 10 cities to live in rated by Outdoors and Money Magazine. Bums are known by name and treated to coffee by the throngs of idealists prancing down State Street. The notion of this used to be romantic up until Starbucks waltzed in and fucked up the vibe.
What is the city know for - All kinds of crazy shit went down during the Vietnam War including a bombing of the chemistry building where Dow Chemical was funding research. People died and riots ensued throughout the University. There is an incredible documentary called The War at Home that was nominated for an Academy Award in 1980 that chronicles the political turmoil at the time. Nowadays, the riot scene is basically a bunch of douche bags rolling over cars when the Badgers win a big game. Frank Lloyd Wright has a fuck load of work in and around Madison. The Monona Terrace is the latest. It looks like a white bubble. And I have never really figured out if it is ever open. Madison is the world's binge drinking capital. If State Street is a monarch, the guy that pops a wheely down it each morning is its Prince. Time of year to visit - Cold weather sucks and Madison has a whole shit load of it. The summers are great and allow you to take advantage of the beautiful lakes that surround Madison. Your chances, however, of doing a keg stand increase with cold weather. Most commonly used phrase - Where’s the Kegger? The Madison Scene - I’m not gay despite what a lot of my friends think. As I said college was an experimental time and opportunities to find a gay scene in Madison were abundant. Unfortunately all the places I knew of such as The New Bar and Rod’s (the only club I’ve ever been to actually have glory holes) burnt to the ground. The last few times I’ve visited I’ve been on the prowl for girls who’ve just finished finals and don’t have enough money to get drunk on their own. Events and Festivals - – I can’t tell you when any of the major festivals in Madison are because the over abundance of people has screwed each one up. The Mifflin Street Block Party has been hardest hit by unruly outsiders. The days of nitrous tanks, drum circles and an open door policy have been replaced by corporate sponsorship, cops and smaller drum circles. At its height 30,000 people peacefully co-existed on 3 blocks. It doesn’t seem like the current neighborhood can support that kind of community. Halloween is considered to be the largest celebration of its kind in the Midwest, but we all know how people in Wisconsin like to say how big their shit is. Regardless it’s Halloween and a spectacle nonetheless. Rhythm and Booms held in July is the Midwest largest firework display scored by the local symphony orchestra – who rock! Clubs / Bars - The Essen Haus, The Great Dane, Jenna’s and The Plaza are all good places to score solid food and drink. State Street Brats has the word Brat in its name. The Cardinal is gay crazy. Paul's Club has a tree growing through the middle of it. On rare nights you can find PCP laced marijuana cigaretts underneath top hats.  Concert Venues - Lot’s of bands call Madison their home. None of which you know of except for Garbage. Butch Vig – the drummer and producer of Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins and Sonic Youth – calls Madison his home. At one time Madisonites loved these bands……excluding Garbage of course. Check out The Union Rathskeller or Terrace during the summer. The Overture Center is Madison’s newly constructed performing arts space. Time will tell whether this creates more character in Madison or sucks the life right out of State Street.
Taking a Lover - College students and bars go together like PB&J. Chances are the person you bring home will pass out before you get home. This will ruin the evening so consider a follow up engagement canoeing on Lake Mendota or a Wednesday symphony concert on the Capital Lawn. Bring a box of wine just to let him or her know how much you want to nail them. Hustling for Cash - Tons of plasma and sperm clinics. You can also sign up for an endless supply of medical studies. Expect to pocket 100, a bed for the weekend, and a free tshirt. Food - The best BLTT on the planet can be found at The Radical Rye on State Street. Supposively the guy who owns the place spent some time DownTown for his part in the Chemistry Building bombings. Frankly this guy could have raped me and I’d still eat his sandwiches. Just that Tasty! Madison has the most competitive restaurant market in the U.S. with over 300 new places opening and closing each year. Jolly Bobs Jerk Joint and Buraka are proof in themselves that if you visit a chain restaurant in Madison you’re a sucker.  Getting Medicated - I know people who haven’t left Madison because they’ve become such great friends with their suppliers. These people tend to live in basements. A pitcher of beer goes a long way in Madison and a free wheeling spirit at any of the aforementioned bars will most likely lead you to your vice.
Weirdest Scene - If you see Art Paul Schlosser tooting his Kazoo on State Street to the magical song – Can my T-Rex Come Swimming in your Swimming Pool – immediately stop and spend as much time as possible with him. Local Information Sources - The greatest satirical newspaper of all time, The ONION, got its start in Madison. Pick up a free copy at any of the 2000 coffee shops in town. If you’re more mature and like Jazz I’d suggest picking up a copy of The Isthmus. Lodging - With so many dorm rooms available you shouldn’t have to worry. If you got cash try to hook up with Shirley Manson at The Edgewater Hotel. Getting There and Away - Madison has a local airport otherwise Milwaukee’s General Mitchell Airport is 1.5 hours away. Taxis into town run $15 from the airport. Modes of Transportation while in Town – If you are staying anywhere around State Street you should be able to walk everywhere. You can also rent bikes at the Williamson Street Bicycle Shop for the day. The city plants hundreds of red painted bicycles for drunkards to ride home. If you find one, ride it, but don't lock it up when you are done. A Bit About the Source - Three of the best years of my life were spent in Madison while attending university. I was in an experimental time and Madison proved to be a fuckin’ petri dish. Websites The Daily Page - Isthmus Website Madison Farmers Market MadisonInns - Bed and Breakfast portal Madison Hostel - Book a hostel City of Madison - Official City Website Guide Comments
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