Category Archives: Madison

Trivia 2013: A Space Oddity is Here!

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KVSC’s 50-Hour trivia marathon Friday 5 p.m. to Sunday at 7 p.m.

34th annual 50-Hour trivia marathon is based in St. Cloud, MN but teams play all over the world

34th annual 50-Hour trivia marathon is based in St. Cloud, MN but teams play all over the world

WSB Twitter and Facebook followers have no doubt noticed the multitude of messages recently about Trivia 2013: A Space Oddity. For 34 years this 50 hour trivia contest has gathered together 1,500 players to challenger their minds and their teamwork. Started on the campus of St. Cloud Statue University in 1980 to combat dorm-related cabin fever; it has grown beyond central Minnesota as the internet has allowed teams to have players as far away as the Iraq and Afghanistan war zones.

Nine questions per hour are read over the air on 88.1 KVSC-FM, the SCSU student/community radio station (a high-powered version of WORT). One to three questions during the hour are open at any one time and have various point values. Unlike the larger contest in Steven’s Point, teams can call and guess as many times as they want while the question are open. The team with the most points wins mostly bragging rights and a cracked traveling Trivia Urn.  Continue reading →

City Proposes Improvements to Capital City Trail

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Intersections ordered closed by State Railroad Office not addressed in plan

The City of Madison is eyeing improvements to the Capital City Trail bike path and is seeking feedback from residents. District 6 Alder Marsha Rummel along with traffic committees from MNA and SASYNA neighborhood associations requested the draft report.

The plan examines each intersection that crosses a street in District 6 (from Blair to Waubesa Street), recommending improvements at 13 intersections including raised pavement, added sineage, bump outs, and the yet-to-be-approved diagonal crossing at the Atwood//Dunning intersection. Continue reading →

Snow Emergency Until Friday Morning

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Park on ODD side of street for next two days

From The City of Madison: The City of Madison has declared a snow emergency.  That means that alternate side parking restrictions will be in effect throughout the entire City of Madison including the downtown/isthmus snow emergency zone.

Madison residents are asked to remove all vehicles from the street if possible.  Residents who must park on the street this evening should park on the ODD house numbered side of the street.  Vehicle sparked on the street Thursday evening January 31st should also be parked on the ODD house numbered side of the street.  Violations of the alternate side parking rules are punishable by a fine of $60 throughout the entire City of Madison.  Violators could also be towed.   Continue reading →

Throwback Thursday: UW Toboggan Run

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Courtesy: University of Wisconsin

Courtesy: University of Wisconsin

The University of Wisconsin posted the above photo on Facebook from circa 1911 of an epic toboggan run from Observatory Hill to Lake Mendota. According to an accompanying blog post, the run was 1200 feet long including wooden and ice segments. By 1930 it got even more sophisticated with lights and concrete.

The last time I was on an actual toboggan was at Camp Upham Woods for winter retreat with the Madison Boy Choir maybe circa 1985 . The camp (operated by the State of Wisconsin) had a six-person wooden toboggan and  “enough snow” was never a problem. Looking at the UW picture, its good that they had a narrow track to guard against wipeouts. The Upham Woods run was an approximately 200-foot wooden track without sides which left lots of opportunity for jack-knifing into a glorious clouds of powder.

Gateway Sculpture Seeks Support

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Facebook page launched to boost interest and donations

The tree sculpture will be located on the Williamson Street median.

The tree sculpture will be located on the Williamson Street median. Created by Artist Dave Danforth

Driving west on John Nolen Drive sometime in the future motorists will round the corner onto Williamson Street and behold a tall metal sculpture in the form of a tree. The Williamson Gateway Sculpture will be located on the median at the west end of Willy Street as a greeter for the Marquette Neighborhood.  Continue reading →

Green Turret Brings Retail to Mickey’s

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Come down for a beer and maybe that Hay Rake you have been needing

A wide selection of "recycled treasures" available at The Green Turret including some wooden skis and a knife holder.

A wide selection of “recycled treasures” are available at The Green Turret including some wooden skis and a knife holder.

You might not have noticed it, or maybe you have; but since last July there are hidden treasures for sale on the second floor of Mickey’s Tavern. The Green Turret, named for the iconic Victorian-esque architectural feature that gives Mickey’s its unique appeal, deals in what proprietor Marybeth Gaffney says are recycled treasures; not really antiques, but interesting older items.

Passing from the bar area in Mickey’s to the back rooms we have all walked past that stairwell and wondered what was at the top. Was it an apartment for some lucky soul who lived above this hipster haven, not minding the bands late into the night and the lively chatter on the patio in the summers?  Continue reading →

Small Planes Don’t Kill People

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Why Otis Redding and other beloved musicians died

Otis Redding in front of his airplane. Courtesy: Zelma Redding

A few days ago was the 45th anniversary of the crash of Otis Redding’s plane in Lake Monona as it approached Truax Field in Madison on December 10, 1967. I wouldn’t be born until six years later; but sometime in my tweens, when my parents first told me of the very famous person who crashed in little ‘ol Madison, I was immediately transfixed.

At the time I devoured information about the crash, going to the Main Library to look up old microfilm (how quaint!) of the Wisconsin State Journal and The Capital Times editions from the days after the crash. Now soooo many years later as a seasoned professional pilot, I have some educated theories as to the likely cause of the crash, and a desire to battle perceptions that general aviation aircraft (often referred to as “small planes”) are dangerous.

The truth is, and the statistics bear it out, its usually pilots that kill people, not planes.  Continue reading →

Winter Solstice Celebration

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The 10th anniversary of the Starkweather Solstice Bonfire is at dusk (4:30 pm) on Friday, Dec 21 at the Olbrich Park ball diamond.

This is the 21st event (twice a year).  Volunteers are welcome.  No weather postponement date. Contact John Steines is you are available to help with traffic, set up, or as a fire guard.

Winter Solstice 2009

Continue reading →

City Gives Tips for a Green Holiday

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The City of Madison Streets Division has a new section on their website where you can find tips on how to green up your holiday and save the planet. According to Recycling Coordinator George Dreckman, we generate 25 percent more waste during the holiday season.

Among the suggestions are using more china and silverware instead of serving food on paper plates and plastic cups, giving gift certificates for local events and services, or giving the gift of your time.

“Two of my favorite gifts are cloth shopping bags and rechargeable batteries,” Dreckmann said.  “It will help your friends reduce waste all year round.”

You can view the website here